-Analysis-
Cultural
Comparisons
Interviews & Analysis
Syncretism
Succession
Behavior
Psychological and physical healing
Syncretism
Similarities:
Gambian witchcraft and Korean Shamanism have strong ties and syncretism with other religions. There are two reasons why both religions have syncretized with other religions. First, both religions had to survive the threat of outside religions, such as Islam in Gambia and Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism in Korea, so they decided to syncretize to not get eradicated. Second, both religions have strong tendencies to syncretize because it is so deeply woven into the roots of the countries that it is almost present in any aspect of society.
Differences: The type of religion
Gambian witchcraft: Gambian witchcraft is strongly syncretized with Islam. The majority of the population in Gambia is Muslim, and the majority of the Muslims tend to be involved with a lot of witchcraft practices. The people are almost reliant on a lot of the witchcraft leaders/practitioners called Marabouts, while also visiting the Mosque to follow Islam. A lot of the witchcraft borrow elements of Islam, including verses and ideas from Islam to carry out their healing or educational practices.
Korean Shamanism: Korean Shamanism is strongly syncretized with Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. Although, currently, there are almost non practicing Daoism and Confucianism, a lot of the elements of Daoism and Confucianism have been implemented into Korean Shamanism. It is more syncretized with Buddhism with a significant amount of the Buddhist population seeking Shamanism practices. Due to the variety of religions syncretizing with Korean Shamanism, the ideas of nature, afterlife, and morality are all included into Korean Shamanism.
Succession
Similarities:
Both religions follow two methods of becoming a Marabout or a Shaman. The first method is the ancestral passing. Some marabouts and shamans would have an ancestor, whether it be a close relative or direct descendent, that used to be a marabout or shaman before where in which the power would get transferred directly through the family line. The second method is through the direct calling from a spirit or power to engage in Marabout or Shamanism practices.
Differences:
Gambian witchcraft: Most of the Gambian Witchcraft practitioners follow the first method of transition of power. Due to the great amount of Marabout in the community, there are a lot of people who have closely related relatives who have practiced Marabout. Therefore, most people get their powers and knowledge through the teaching from their ancestors that have practiced Gambian Witchcraft.
Korean Shamanism: Compared to the Gambian Witchcraft, most of the Korean Shamans claim to gain their power from the direct calling of a spirit. Although there are cases of ancestral passing, those are very rare cases, and most people just get random callings out of nowhere for a sign to become a Shaman.
Behavior
Similarities:
Both religions do not have a set method that they follow. They do not have a scripture that must be followed, so every practitioner has their own method of practicing. However, they all have similar goals and objectives in their practices. The main two objectives of the two religions are to try to achieve physical and psychological healing. In order to achieve these goals, both religions use charms. They call it Juju in African Witchcraft and bujeok (부적) in korea, but they are used in the same way, either to wish upon good or bad luck or for the healing and well being of an individual.
Differences:
Gambian witchcraft: Gambian witchcraft is continually being viewed positively amongst the population in Gambia. This happens due to the reliance that the Gambian citizens have on Gambian witchcraft practitioners. Rather than going to doctors or Imams, a lot of people tend to just seek the Marabouts of Gambia for help.
Korean Shamanism: It has a very negative perception amongst the Korean population because of the immense globalization and modernization that the country has gone through. This has created a lot of hate towards the Shamans, pushing them to the outskirts of the country.
Psychological and physical healing
Similarities:
Both religions engage in psychological and physical healing methods for the people. They have similar forms of physical healing, as they both use herbs. These herbs are made using their own special and unique method for the sick person to consume. They also both use similar methods of psychological healing, as they are both engaged with counseling/therapeutic practices by listening to their customers' concerns and trying to reason with them.
Differences:
Gambian witchcraft: There are various ways in which Gambian marabouts heal people. One’s that have ties with Islam implement Quran verses into their “herbs or charms” to make it effective. However, there are other types of marabouts who have strong ties with animism, using nature as a source of power. The specifics of these methods are not
Korean Shamanism: No religious syncretism in terms of healing. Each Shaman has their own way of healing that they learned through the spirit in which they draw their power from. The exact