Expenditures on Malevolent Magico-Religious Powers: Empirical Evidence from Benin

Alison Lang; Philippe LeMay-Boucher; Charlemagne Codjo Tomavo

doi:10.1017/asr.2018.136

Expenditures on Malevolent Magico-Religious Powers: Empirical Evidence from Benin

Alison Lang
, Philippe LeMay-Boucher
, Charlemagne Codjo Tomavo

School of Social Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

222 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study investigates household expenditures on magico-religious powers in Southern Benin, with a novel focus on malevolent powers. Of 126 households, 18 percent reported expenditures on malevolent powers within the previous thirteen years. Investment in such powers for malevolent purposes was found to be significantly less frequent than for cure or protection. In line with existing literature, the following factors were found to be positively correlated with investment in malevolent powers: (1) living with a partner; (2) jealousy of economic success; (3) conflict within a social circle. Expenditures on powers for cure and protection are positively correlated with expenditures on malevolent uses.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	154-180
Number of pages	27
Journal	African Studies Review
Volume	62
Issue number	4
Early online date	25 Mar 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/asr.2018.136
Publication status	Published - Dec 2019

Keywords

Benin
West Africa
empirical analysis
household expenditures
magico-religious powers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cultural Studies
Anthropology

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10.1017/asr.2018.136

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title = "Expenditures on Malevolent Magico-Religious Powers: Empirical Evidence from Benin",

abstract = "This study investigates household expenditures on magico-religious powers in Southern Benin, with a novel focus on malevolent powers. Of 126 households, 18 percent reported expenditures on malevolent powers within the previous thirteen years. Investment in such powers for malevolent purposes was found to be significantly less frequent than for cure or protection. In line with existing literature, the following factors were found to be positively correlated with investment in malevolent powers: (1) living with a partner; (2) jealousy of economic success; (3) conflict within a social circle. Expenditures on powers for cure and protection are positively correlated with expenditures on malevolent uses.",

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AB - This study investigates household expenditures on magico-religious powers in Southern Benin, with a novel focus on malevolent powers. Of 126 households, 18 percent reported expenditures on malevolent powers within the previous thirteen years. Investment in such powers for malevolent purposes was found to be significantly less frequent than for cure or protection. In line with existing literature, the following factors were found to be positively correlated with investment in malevolent powers: (1) living with a partner; (2) jealousy of economic success; (3) conflict within a social circle. Expenditures on powers for cure and protection are positively correlated with expenditures on malevolent uses.

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JO - African Studies Review

JF - African Studies Review

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ER -

Expenditures on Malevolent Magico-Religious Powers: Empirical Evidence from Benin

Abstract

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Philippe LeMay-Boucher

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Expenditures on Malevolent Magico-Religious Powers: Empirical Evidence from Benin

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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Philippe LeMay-Boucher

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