Witchcraft in the pewa is a deeply ingrained belief and practice among certain tribes and communities in Africa. The pewa, also known as the sangoma or traditional healer, is widely respected and sought after for their knowledge and abilities in spiritual healing and divination. However, within this role, there is also a darker side associated with witchcraft. In many African cultures, witchcraft is believed to be a real and potent force that can cause harm and misfortune to individuals and communities. It is seen as a way for people to gain power and control over others by using supernatural means. This includes causing illness, death, and other negative outcomes through the manipulation of spiritual energies.
This includes causing illness, death, and other negative outcomes through the manipulation of spiritual energies. Within the context of the pewa, witchcraft is believed to be a tool that can be used for good or evil. While most pewas are seen as being benevolent and using their powers for healing and guidance, there are also those who are believed to practice witchcraft for malicious purposes.
Sugar Sugar Rune- by Moyoco Anno
Sorry these are coming late, but here’s the 25th magical girl anime, Sugar Sugar Rune. Off the bat I can say it is a cute show, and it is not entirely the typical magic girl. The plot seems basic at first, but becomes intricate with drama and good guys turning bad, and so are the characters. Ironically the witch type of magic they use is unique as most magic girls don’t use what westerners traditionally consider magic. All in all, I don’t like it, but I don’t hate it either.
What is the anime about?
The Magical World is having their crowning ceremony where the future queen is chosen between two young witch candidates. To determine who will be queen they send the witches to the Human World where they compete to collect the hearts of boys. The one who has the most by the end of the competition is the winner. This time the two candidates are not only best friends, but also complete and total opposites, Chocolat Meilleure (daughter of a former competitor from the last competition) and Vanilla Mieux (daughter of the current queen). Aided by a guardian/pop idol, Rockin Robin, and their furry companions, they first set out to collect hearts, but they soon realize that they have many other things to deal with. An evil king named Glace, mysterious boys, and a friendship strained by rivalry. Yup drama bombs.
Heart Rankings
So the girls collect these stones, which house the emotions someone feels towards another thing. Doing so tends to dull the intensity of that emotion in a person; however, if it is strong a second heart appears instantaneously. The Magical world uses these gems as an energy source. Each type of heart varies in emotion/strength/color.
❤ Yellow/jaune is surprise and the lowest heart.
❤ Orange is infatuation.
❤ Green/vert is friendship.
❤ Blue is respect.
❤ Rainbow is amusement
❤ Pink/Rose is limerence (romantic attraction with an obsessive need to have their feelings reciprocated).
❤ Purple/violet is forbidden love.
❤ Red/rouge is passionate love.
❤ Black/noir is hatred/jealousy/fear.
❤ White/blanc is a purified noir heart and is used to turn familiars into their former forms.
Who are the central characters?
Chocolat Meilleure [In French, meilleure is comparative form of the word ‘good’ so when translated it becomes ‘better’]
❤ Extroverted, aggressive, energetic, forceful, and tomboyish, Chocolat is the most popular witch in the Magical World. She expects to be just as loved in the Human World, but her intimidating nature causes all the boys to fear her (yet her personality lets her become close friends with boys rather then a love interest). She is never afraid of creepy crawlies or snakes, and she introduces herself by threatening to kick anyone’s ass if they cross her. She has a caring and loyal personality (like all magical girl protagonists) and always encourages Vanilla, but she acts as if she does not and is prideful. Her familiar is Duke, and her mom is Cinnamon (there is a huge wtf moment when you learn who is her father).
Her spell is Sugar Sugar Rune! Choco-Rune!
Vanilla Mieux [In French, mieux is comparative form of the word ‘well’ so when translated it becomes ‘better’]
❤ Vanilla is the opposite of Chocolat and the second candidate to be the next witch. She is extremely shy, gentle, sensitive, and kind, but because of how timid she is if she is nervous and scared she immediately starts crying and is a bit clumsy. She is organized, intelligent, compassionate, and cute so she is very popular among boys in the Human World (not so much in the Magical World, which is not good for her, since she is the current princess). Compared to Chocolat Vanilla is very dutiful, but at one point she does start to feel insecure and inferior to Chocolat, which leads to a lot of drama involving the Ogre Kingdom. Her familiar is Blanca, and her mom is Candy. Her love interest is Houx.
Her spell is Sugar Sugar Rune! Vani-Rune!
Pierre Tempete de Neige
❤ The most popular boy in school, handsome, and the president of the student council, we all know that this is Chocolat’s romantic interest. He’s captain of the fencing club and tennis club, and he as a fanclub of crazy, mean middle school girls. He, however, has a cold heart and is quite mysterious, nonchalant, and uptight. He also proves to be the basic tsundere, as he slowly reveals his feelings. He is involved in most of the drama, and his past is part of a huge plot twist, so I cannot say anything else without giving away something important.
Duke and Blanca
❤ Duke is Chocolat’s familiar and a frog. He is laid back with a “go with the flow” attitude. He isn’t very helpful, but he does have an extensive knowledge on hearts. He has an intense rivalry with Blanca, and he is also a giant flirt. There is a plot twist with him, revealing his past and some important familial ties. Blanca is Vanilla’s familiar and a sassy mouse. She can be snobbish and mean as she teases others, but she is really loyal to Vanilla. She really wants Vanilla to win and will do anything, even cheat. Her story is not as important to the story of the show, so I don’t mind revealing a little bit. She was once a witch, who lost her heart to a human (she fell in love), so as punishment she became a familiar.
Cinnamon Meilleure and Candy Mieux
❤ These are the mothers of Chocolat and Vanilla. I will say nothing here, except that they were previous Queen candidates. From the start we get that Candy is selfless, caring, and a great queen. Little is known of Cinnamon (without ruining the story). Just keep an eye out for them and their story.
Houx and Soul (their names are the french words for holy and willow)
❤ They are twin brothers who are also childhood friends with Chocolat and Vanilla. Both have a crush on Chocolat, even though Vanilla likes Houx. They both go to the Human World to protect the girls. They are brash, brave, and always getting into trouble.
❤ Chocolat and Vannila’s guardian in the Human World. He is a pop idol, and steals the hearts of his fans during his concerts. He seems rude and straight forward, but he does have a caring heart. He’s also over 6000 years old.
How is the artwork?
The art is definitely cute and a bit unique. The eyes are enormous, the chins are thin and pointy, the legs and arms are long, and the outfits are extravagant. Its obviously a shoujo with lots of pink.
What makes this awesome?
The manga is better then the show, with a lot more drama. The magic reminds me of the western version of witches you think of during Halloween. Another unique aspect of the show is that the girls’ hearts can become black, when they fall into “despair,” and their hearts can be saved. Its like a nicer version of Madoka.
These individuals are often seen as having strayed from the correct path and are considered to be "witch doctors" or dark pewas. The belief in witchcraft in the pewa is deeply rooted in the traditional spiritual practices and belief systems of the African communities. It is often intertwined with other aspects of traditional culture, such as ancestral worship, animal sacrifices, and divination rituals. The pewa is seen as a mediator between the spiritual and physical realms, and the practice of witchcraft is seen as a means of tapping into these supernatural forces. However, the belief in witchcraft in the pewa is not without controversy. Some individuals and groups argue that it perpetuates fear, superstition, and harmful beliefs and practices. They believe that witchcraft accusations and the associated violence and persecution that can arise from them are harmful and should be rejected and discouraged. In conclusion, witchcraft in the pewa is a complex and deeply ingrained belief and practice within certain African cultures. It is seen as a powerful force that can be used for both good and evil, and is often associated with the role of the pewa as a spiritual healer and diviner. While there are those who argue against the belief in witchcraft, it remains an important aspect of traditional African culture and belief systems..
Reviews for "Exploring the Gender Dynamics of Witchcraft in the Pewa"
1. Jessica - 2/5 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Witchcraft in the Pew," but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The author seemed to have a very biased perspective, and instead of providing a balanced and well-researched exploration of the topic, it felt like a one-sided rant against any form of alternative spirituality or belief system. I felt that the book lacked depth and failed to offer any meaningful insights or new information. Overall, I was disappointed with the lack of objectivity and intellectual rigor in this book.
2. Michael - 2/5 stars - "Witchcraft in the Pew" came highly recommended to me by a friend, but I found it to be quite disappointing. The book felt very repetitive, often rehashing the same points without offering any new or thought-provoking arguments. Furthermore, the author's writing style was dry and monotonous, making it difficult for me to maintain interest. I also feel that the author took a very narrow-minded approach, failing to consider the complexities and nuances of the topic at hand. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book to others looking for a comprehensive and well-rounded exploration of witchcraft and its relationship with religion.
3. Mark - 1/5 stars - I found "Witchcraft in the Pew" to be an entirely unfounded and uninformed attack on alternative spiritual practices. The author's lack of understanding and refusal to do proper research on the subject matter was evident throughout the book. It seemed like a blatant attempt to demonize any belief system that doesn't conform to mainstream religious norms. Instead of providing an objective perspective, the author relied heavily on personal anecdotes and biased assumptions. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a fair and accurate portrayal of witchcraft.