Suffer Little Children: "Saving Africa's Witch Children" brings change - and also tension

An award-winning documentary co-produced by a Dutch filmmaker focuses on the plight of Nigerian children accused of witchcraft. It has brought positive change, but also tension to their community.

The British documentary Saving Africa's Witch Children, tells the story of thousands of children who are branded as witches by charismatic preachers in Nigeria and then either killed or tortured in horrifying excommunication ceremonies, often by their own parents.

Children like 9-year-old Mary who during a religious ceremony in a Pentecostal church, is identified as a witch by a prophetess. Her parents accuse her of killing her younger sister. They pour hot caustic soda on her head and body and then abandon her in a forest.

The film drew the local authorities' attention to the childrens' plight and it was decided to take measures to end such practises.

The attention generated by Saving Africa's Witch Children, however, has not made everybody happy in the community

The full article can be read HERE (Radio Netherlands)

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