War and the supernatural: former Congolese soldiers recall the ritual practices used to prepare for battle

By Dostin Lakika, Research Associate, University of the Witwatersrand

War takes a toll on soldiers’ bodies and minds. To prepare for battle, soldiers are taken through various forms of training. Part of this training aims to strip candidates of their civilian values and inculcate military culture.

While armies have access to an array of contemporary strategies and weaponry during training, one element isn’t often discussed: the rituals incorporated in training and those performed before engaging in warfare.

Rituals include the magico-religious practices performed for various purposes, such as seeking blessing, power or protection or even imbibing…

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