Yesterday I was told the story of the crazy man in town. I’d seen him around town before- no shoes, grass stuffed up one nostril but I usually gave him a wide berth and we left each other alone. Yesterday however he came up to me and, in a very polite salvo, started asking me questions- what was my name? where am I from? Do I have brothers and sisters? – the usual questions. I politely declined to give my phone number and it was about that time when some friends from work noticed I was conversing with him. They shoed him away and sternly told me I was not to talk to that man. ‘Why?’, I asked, sure he is a little abnormal but he seemed harmless enough and even a little lonely. Then came his story, or at least the local legend of his existence. This man used to be a rich merchant inAddis Ababa, the capital city. But he was greedy and he started worshiping the devil in exchange for riches and prosperity. He indeed did become very rich. After a time however, the devil drove him mad and possessed him with evil spirits. He returned to live with his family in my town. Now, according to the locals, he goes around town and tries to get as much personal information about people as possible. Names, phone numbers, life histories, house location and the like. Then, because he’s possessed by these evil spirits, he uses this information to cast harmful spells on these people and their families. “But magic doesn’t exist”, I said, trying to appeal to my friend’s heavy Protestant background. “Oh yes, magic exists, it is the work of the devil and he does it, tell him nothing about yourself, nothing.”
It was the first real look I had into the way very ancient beliefs melded with the newer and very fervent protestant religion, unfortunately to this man’s detriment. Shunned and ignored, this poor guy with mental problems is left all alone in the community. He’s annoying but I’m convinced he’s harmless and I’m sure he’s less likely to bring sickness to you or your cows than I am.
