Witchcraft Branding Against the Elderly: Implications on the Wellbeing of the Aged
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Abstract
Witchcraft branding remains a pervasive, yet historically under-examined, human rights and public health crisis affecting vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly. This seminar paper provides a comprehensive examination of the phenomenon of witchcraft accusations directed at the aged and its profound, multi-dimensional implications for their physical, psychological, and socio-economic wellbeing. To deconstruct this phenomenon, the paper rigorously applies Scapegoat Theory and Labeling Theory. Scapegoat Theory illuminates how communities facing severe socio-economic frustrations displace their aggression onto defenceless elders, while Labelling Theory elucidates the irreversible social death that occurs once an elder is branded a witch. Furthermore, the paper provides a thematic literature review highlighting the intersection of ageism, poverty, and religious extremism. Ultimately, the paper concludes that witchcraft branding constitutes a severe form of elder abuse. It calls for targeted gerontological policies, the integration of behavioural health education into primary care to demystify the aging process, and the strict legal enforcement of human rights protections for the elderly in Nigeria.
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