EXORCISING WITCHCRAFT: THE RETURN OF THE GODS IN NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS ON THE JOS PLATEAU AND THE BENUE REGIONS OF NIGERIA

This articles looks at anti-witchcraft cults and the spiritworlds among the Eggon of the Jos Plateau and the Tiv of theBenue valley of central Nigeria. These cults, which were oftenanti-colonial in origin, were suppressed by the colonial authoritiesand strongly discouraged by Christian missionary activity. Morerecently they have demonstrated a dynamic resurgence, not onlyin Nigeria but elsewhere in Africa. The history of various Eggonand Tiv exorcist movements are examined in the context of NewReligious Movements in formation. However, the conclusion isthat the cults are not so much a revival of indigenous religiousbeliefs but that the old gods never went away.