Renowned writer and scholar David Maillu says he plans to establish a groundbreaking institution, the University of Witchcraft. This university would be dedicated to study and preservation of African witchcraft, medicine divinity and sorcery.
Mailu, an expert in cultural values and spirituality shared the vision for the university on a Facebook post, highlighting its focus on the academic exploration of African witchcraft, which he argues has long been misunderstood and demonised.
In his post, Maillu recalled his previous public lectures on the topic, including a notable session at Machakos University, where rumor spread on social media claiming that the institution was offering a degree in witchcraft.
He followed up with a similarly successful lecture at his home in Mathemboni, which sparked an ongoing conversation online.
“After the lecture someone stormed the public by publishing a fake claim on social media that the university was offering a degree on witchcraft,” he posted
Maillu says the misunderstandings surrounding African witchcraft have resulted in the suppression of important knowledge that could benefit the society.
“African witchcraft, which holds an incredible volume of invaluable knowledge, is an awfully misunderstood and tabooed subject. It was demonised by colonials who conspired to create the word ‘witchdoctor’, an appellation that does not exist in African culture.
“The so-called ‘African witchcraft’ includes medicine, divinity and sorcery. Colonials saw this as one thing and called it African witchcraft. They set Christianity against it,” Maillu wrote.
The proposed University of Witchcraft would seek to rectify this misrepresentation by offering formal education in traditional African medicine, biochemistry, psychiatry, spirituality and philosophy.
According to Maillu, the institution will fill a critical gap in academic and scientific understanding of African spiritual practices, which have long been neglected or dismissed by mainstream educational systems.
He further called for financial support from philanthropists and institutions to make the university a reality. “I have the knowledge without the structure for delivery. I am looking for financial help from individual philanthropists and institutions for this noble cause.”
While the university structure is still in its infancy stage, he says that he has already acquired land for the campus, along with some preliminary buildings.
“I am prepared to start the university from the scratch. To start with, I am looking for any chartered University anywhere in the world for affiliation,” read the post in part.
The concept of the university by itself is sure to ignite debates around the boundaries of academic research, spirituality and cultural heritage.
However, he remains steadfast in his belief that African witchcraft, far from being a relic of the past, holds invaluable knowledge that can inform scientific and philosophical inquiries.
Mailu is a prominent figure in African studies, he describes himself as the president of African Spirituality. He has spent years advocating for the recognition of traditional practices that have been highly disregarded.