The Melanesian Institute for Pastoral and Socio-Economic Services
Melanesian
Institute

SARV research

Four decades of Melanesian Institute publications on sorcery, witchcraft and related violence.

The Melanesian Institute has researched and published on sorcery, witchcraft and sorcery accusation related violence since the 1980s. This is a guide to that body of work, across the Institute’s four publication series.

These are references, not downloads. The Institute is working to make digital copies available; in the meantime, enquiries about obtaining any of these titles can be sent to medcom@melanesianinstitute.network.

Point series

  1. ZOCCA, Franco (2009) Sanguma in Paradise: Sorcery, Witchcraft and Christianity in PNGPoint No. 33Explores connections between traditional sorcery and Christian faith through fieldwork across six provinces.
  2. BARTLE, Neville (2005) Death, Witchcraft, and the Spirit World in the Highlands of Papua New GuineaPoint No. 29Tensions between Melanesian Christian faith and indigenous beliefs about death, spirits and witchcraft.
  3. MANTOVANI, Ennio (1984) An Introduction to Melanesian Religions: A Guide for Church WorkersPoint No. 6Presents Melanesian magic as intertwined with religion, poetry and art.

Catalyst and Point articles

  1. MACDONALD, Mary (1981) Sorcery and SocietyCatalyst, Vol. 11, No. 3
  2. OSBORNE, Kenneth (1982) Counselling in Sorcery CasesCatalyst, Vol. 12, No. 3
  3. DYE, T. Wayne (1984) Theology of Power of Melanesia, Part 1Vol. 14, No. 1–4
  4. ANDREW SSF (2004) Sorcery Watch Project's Philosophy for a Coordinating UnitCatalyst, Vol. 34, No. 2
  5. DAMIEN, Casper (2005) KUMO: Witchcraft in the Simbu ProvinceCatalyst, Vol. 35, No. 2
  6. KAIMA, Sam (2005) Kwaak: Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Dispute SettlementCatalyst, Vol. 35, No. 1
  7. MCCALLUM, P. Maurice (2006) “Sanguma”: Tracking Down a WordCatalyst, Vol. 36, No. 2
  8. URAME, James (2008) A Review of Research Done on the Belief and Practices of Sorcery and Witchcraft in the Simbu ProvinceCatalyst, Vol. 38, No. 2
  9. GIBBS, Philip (2010) Witch Killing and Engendered Violence in SimbuVol. 40, No. 1Women face six times higher rates of violence than men in relation to sorcery accusations.
  10. YAMBU, Nicholas (2010) Unfinished BusinessCatalyst, Vol. 40, No. 1
  11. ZOCCA, Franco (2010) Gender and Accusations of Malevolent Sorcery and Witchcraft in PNGCatalyst, Vol. 40, No. 2
  12. KUMAN, Gabriel (2011) Sorcery, Witchcraft and Development in Papua New GuineaCatalyst, Vol. 41, No. 1
  13. AHRENS, Theodor (2011) Accusations of Witchcraft and the Formation of Death SquadsCatalyst, Vol. 41, No. 2
  14. GABUTU, Gandi (2012) Sorcery and Magic according to the Motu, Koita and Koiari PeoplesCatalyst, Vol. 42, No. 2
  15. MCCALLUM, P. Maurice (2014) Sanguma, or Killing by Stealth on the North Coast of New GuineaCatalyst, Vol. 44, No. 2
  16. BERNARDO, Joel Yco (2017) Preliminary Communications and Dialogues on Sorcery Accusation Related Issues in EngaCatalyst, Vol. 47, No. 2
  17. BERNARDO, Joel Yco (2018) Cross-Cutting Issues: Rethinking “Sorcery Discourse” as an Emic Critique of Social ChangeCatalyst, Vol. 48, No. 1

Occasional papers

  1. SCHWARZ, Nick (2011) Thinking Critically about Sorcery and Witchcraft: A Handbook for Christians in Papua New GuineaOccasional Paper No. 14
  2. SCHWARZ, Nick Kliaim Tingting long Poison na SangumaTok Pisin editionA Tok Pisin version of the handbook for readers less confident in English.

Melanesian Mission Studies

  1. ZOCCA, Franco and URAME, Jack (2008) Sorcery, Witchcraft and ChristianityMelanesian Mission Studies No. 5Examines the resurgence of sorcery beliefs in the PNG Highlands through literature review, media analysis and an annotated bibliography.