The Social Change and Development in Africa Working Group met on Monday April 2 for a lecture by Ikram Getachew (University of Florida) titled, “Ruqa: Healing, Power Struggle and Women in Ethiopia.” Ikram used the presentation to discuss her research on exorcism—its change and continuity, analyzing impacts of society and gender, and how it exists as a modern, formal medicalized practice in Ruqa (healing/treatment) centers.
Following the spirit possession of a family member, Ikram’s family was conflicted in how to proceed with treatment. Responses to spirit possessions involve power struggles between different groups seeking to perform treatment including Sufi sheiks, Protestants, and reformists. Ikram experienced some of these power struggles first hand, and then continued her research through interviews and analysis of social media and books.
Ikram argues that in these cases, the female body is being used as a battleground for political and religious power struggles. Often, women who are affected by spirit possession are not involved with determining how they will be treated. Instead, their families dictate treatment based on political and religious affiliations. In some cases, causes of spirit possession are used to leverage claims against specific religious leaders in an attempt to divide religious communities. Proposed treatments as well as perspectives on spirit possession and exorcism are used to further political and religious objectives among these groups.