Witches, Westerners, and HIV: AIDS and Cultures of Blame in Africa

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is mysterious in origin, diabolically efficient in its transmission, and devastating in its consequences. Cultural discourses attempting to explain where it comes from, who gets it, and who dies have proliferated in local and national cultures around the world, and these discourses frequently come into conflict with scientific explanations. Witches, Westerners, and HIV is the first in-depth study investigating and comparing beliefs about witchcraft and conspiracies surrounding HIV/AIDS in Africa. Alexander Rouml;dlach, an anthropologist who spent nearly 10 years living, working, and conducting research in Zimbabwe, examines these beliefs, their effects, and how they are utilized by individuals. He shows how sorcery, typically associated with "traditional culture", and conspiracy, usually analyzed in terms of national politics and international inequality, are in fact closely linked and mutually operationalized. Finally, he analyzes the importance of these beliefs for HIV/AIDS advocacy and public health programs, explaining the ways in which cultural misunderstandings are contributing to the failure of many well-intentioned efforts. Witches, Westerners, and HIV advances our understanding of the cultural dimensions of health and disease, and offers essential lessons for health professionals, HIV/AIDS advocates, and anyone committed to finding successful approaches to alleviating an epidemic of disastrous global proportions.