Sociology Professor Mensah Adinkrah presents at Witchcraft Symposium in Norway

Sociology faculty member Mensah Adinkrah traveled to Oslo, Norway, March 12-14 to participate in Heksefest, an international symposium that brings together scholars, artists and cultural commentators to explore the historical and contemporary meanings of witchcraft.

His presentation, “Witchcraft Beliefs and Witch Hunts in Ghana,” examined the persistence of witchcraft beliefs in contemporary Ghanaian society and the social dynamics that sometimes culminate in accusations, persecution, and violence against alleged witches.

The presentation drew extensively on his widely cited book, Witchcraft, Witches, and Violence in Ghana (2015, Berghahn Books), as well as several of his peer-reviewed publications on witchcraft in Africa. Adinkrah highlighted the sociocultural foundations of witchcraft beliefs, the mechanisms through which accusations are made, and the broader implications of witch hunts for human rights, social cohesion, and justice in Ghana.

In another segment of the program, Adinkrah was paired with Professor Liv Helene Willumsen of UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, Norway, for a dialogue titled “Witch Hunts Across Localities and Temporalities.” The discussion explored the historical and contemporary manifestations of witch hunts in different cultural settings, comparing experiences across Africa and Europe.

Drawing on their respective research traditions, the two scholars examined how witchcraft accusations have unfolded across different historical periods and social contexts, as well as the social, cultural, and political forces that sustain such beliefs and practices. The dialogue was moderated by movie producer and curator Una Mathiesen Gjerde, who guided the conversation and facilitated audience engagement on the enduring global relevance of witchcraft accusations and witch hunts.

Adinkrah’s participation in the symposium underscored his standing as a leading international authority on witchcraft beliefs, accusations, and related forms of violence in Africa. The presentation also contributed to ongoing scholarly discussions about the intersection of belief systems, social conflict, and community responses to perceived supernatural threats. Through his engagement at the Heksefest Symposium, Adinkrah helped bring greater academic attention to the Ghanaian experience within the broader global discourse on witchcraft, belief, and violence.

“It was a singular honor to share the stage with internationally renowned witchcraft scholars such as Professors Silvia Federici and Liv Helene Willumsen,” said Adinkrah. “Since my arrival, I have been contacted by three Norwegian graduate students who have expressed keen interest in learning more about my research on witchcraft in Africa. I look forward to future invitations and opportunities to present and engage with fellow witchcraft scholars across the globe.”