Sofia Busk (Danish School of Journalism)
Black Birds
Gold
International Picture Story
Deep in the countryside, in the highlands of Tanzania, lies the Kalembwana reservation. Those dealt a bad hand by sickness and the misfortune-stricken from all over the country travel here to be treated and have wicked spirits exorcised, following 100 year old cultural traditions. Shaibu Ally Magungu is the witch doctor at the Kalembwana reservation. Black Birds is a story about beliefs in the supernatural and being possessed by evil spirits.
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A young girl is kneeling on the ground. One of Shaibus’ assistants is standing with a razor blade in his hand. He starts out by removing the hair in the girl's armpits, then the eyebrows and finally the hair on her head. The people from the girl's village are suspecting that the girl is possessed and have taken her to Kalembwana to get the evil spirit exorcised.
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A man arrives early in the morning after traveling for two days. Now night has fallen and he is ready to receive the ritual, which will secure success in business.
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It is taboo, but very common to be treated by a witch doctor in Tanzania. 10 to 30 people arrive every day to Kalembwana and sometimes a whole village will show up for a treatment.
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The witch doctor Shaibu Ally Magungu uses animals, leafs and roots for his medication. Every ingredient serves a purpose and only he knows how to mix them in order to make the potions work.
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A young woman tries to escape from the reservation. She is mentally ill and afraid of what is going to happen to her.
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Evil spirits cannot be seen and it is believed, that the evil spirits are everywhere. They float around and hold the power to possess people. The evil spirits can cause sickness and misfortune.
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Mr. Dan has become mentally ill after mixing medication from five different witch doctors. Now he is getting treatment at the Kalembwana reservation.
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Shaibu Ally Magungu has been a witch doctor, or traditional healer, since 1984. He was raised by his grandmother, the great witch doctor Kalemwana who laid name to the reservation and who has taught him all he knows.