By Leo Igwe
Religious rituals are not often what they are believed to be. So, African governments must be vigilant and take measures to combat religious abuse of children on the continent. Violations during religious ceremonies are rampant, and they negatively impact the lives of children and the future and development of society. In past years, some cases have been reported of children drowning and dying during baptism, or exorcism. For instance, in 2016, there was a case of six children who died in the course of a baptism ceremony in Ivory Coast. According to the report, at about 5 am on Monday, two self-acclaimed prophetesses, Maud Dzvuke, and Jane Ruvinga took 9 children to a stream for this ceremony in Muriwo village.
The weather was freezing. One of the children sensed danger and escaped from the scene. He went and informed the elders of the community. But others, Blessed Muvadi, 1, Emmanuel Dzvuke, 7, Tafadzwa Dzvuke, 5, Tinotenda Dzvuke, 3, Patience Pfumbidza, 9, and Shamiso Pfumbidza, 4., were not lucky. They could not flee. Six of them died after undergoing a baptism under the cold weather. Two others, in critical condition, were taken to a hospital for treatment. There has not been any report of whether they survived or not.
Interestingly, when someone from the community arrived at the scene and saw the children frothing from the mouth, the prophetesses asked him to take the children to their shrine for prayers. The children were taken to the shrine, and there they passed away. If they had rushed them to a hospital, not a shrine shrine, at least some would have survived. The prophetesses fled the scene, but the police later arrested them. They charged Dzvuke and Ruvinga for culpable homicide. The police in Ivory Coast must be commended for intervening in this case. Hopefully, the police prosecuted the prophetesses and punished them for their crimes. The government needs to restrain other so-called men and women of god from indulging in reckless and irresponsible religious practices.
But this was not an isolated incident or a practice peculiar to Ivory Coast. In 2022, a three-month-old baby was among 15 people who drowned during a baptism ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa. In Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Liberia, etc harmful religious practices are widespread, and children are often targets and victims. Many religious actors, including priests and priestesses, prophets and prophetesses, pastors, imams, marabouts, sheikhs, diviners, and traditional healers abuse children in the name of baptism, exorcism, or healing. They use cold and freezing water to baptize them. These religious actors dip children in cold streams, rivers, or oceans. God men and women beat and flog children with sticks and brooms in the course of deliverance or exorcism. They torture kids, deny them food and sleep in the name of expelling demons. Many faith and traditional healers administer poisonous concoctions and substances to children in the names of healing. These abuses result in childhood trauma, health damage, and, as in this case, death. Unfortunately, these charlatans largely get away with their crimes. No one brings them to book, or holds them accountable or responsible for these infractions. Religious violation or murder of children, as in this case, is perpetrated with impunity.
Africans must wake up from their religious slumber and protect their children. Children in Africa deserve better. Many children in Africa find themselves in situations where they lack basic amenities and protections. They should not be subjected to horrific abuses in the name of religion or faith of their parents and guardians. Baptism and exorcism are matters of faith and add no value to child growth and development. They are of no existential consequence to children. In cases where the children do not die as a result of these ritual practices, they grow up psychologically scarred. These harmful religious practices end up inflicting some trauma, which children deal with for the rest of their lives.
State authorities must fulfill their duties and responsibilities to children. They should take necessary measures to protect them from these ignorant and mischievous prophets and prophetesses. Governments should strive to end abuses linked to exorcism, baptism of children, and other forms of religious abuse in the region.
Leo Igwe is a humanist and sent this piece from Ibadan, Oyo state.
