For other uses, see Juju (disambiguation).
Juju or Ju-Ju is a word of either West African or French origin[1] used previously by Europeans to describe the traditional West African religions.[2] Today it refers specifically to objects, such as amulets, and spells used superstitiously as part ofwitchcraft in West Africa.[3]
Juju can also be used as a kind of Geis to enforce a contract. In a typical scenario, a juju spell will be placed on a Nigerian woman before she is trafficked into Europe for prostitution, to ensure that she will pay back her traffickers and won't escape. The witch doctor casting the spell requires a payment for this service.[4] Juju is also commonly used in an attempt to affect the outcome of soccer games.[5]
The term juju, and the practices associated with it, travelled to the Americas from West Africa with the influx of slaves and still survives in some areas, particularly among the various groups of Maroons, who have tended to preserve their African traditions.
Contrary to common belief, voodoo (known as Vodun in West Africa) is not related to juju, despite the linguistic and spiritual similarities. Juju has acquired some karmic attributes in more recent times. Good juju can stem from almost any good deed: saving a kitten, or returning a lost book. Bad juju can be spread just as easily. These ideas revolve around the luck and fortune portions of juju. The use of juju to describe an object usually involves small items worn or carried; these generally contain medicines produced by witch doctors.
[edit]References
- ^ http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/juju
- ^ Augustus Ferryman Mockler-Ferryman, Imperial Africa: the rise, progress and future of the British possessions in Africa, Volume 1, 1898
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary. (1971). Oxford University Press.
- ^ "People & Power - The Nigerian Connection". Al Jazeera. 11 June 2012.
- ^ Stefan Lovgren (June 30, 2006). "World Cup Witchcraft: Africa Teams Turn to Magic for Aid". National Geographic News.
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