Overcoming Challenges: A Non-Witch's Path to Success in a Witch School

I am not a witch attending school. I find it absurd and offensive that people would even suggest such a thing. It is a stereotype perpetuated by ignorance and prejudice. I am just like any other student, pursuing an education and trying to better myself. I have dreams and aspirations, just like everyone else. However, instead of being supported and encouraged, I am often shunned and ostracized because of this unfounded belief.

The film switches abruptly to a child observing a woman carrying a pot of water on her head. Seeing the child, the woman falters, the pot slips, the water spills. The woman shouts that the child is a witch. A courtroom scene ensues, presided over by a woman in uniform hearing testimony that the child is a witch. She is carefully neutral but it’s clear she’s concerned for the girl, who observes all but says nothing. When the child refuses to speak to deny that she’s a witch, the officer appears resigned. She confers with a higher official who takes the call in his bathtub where he’s being soaped and scrubbed by a well dressed woman. The girl’s fate is sealed, she is delivered to the witches’ compound.

While she is removed from the field work to serve other purposes by the local leader who consigned her to her status, including being asked to pick the criminal from a line-up and serving as the source for white eggs promoted on TV, the ribbon is never removed. One of my biggest dreams is to learn Swahili and to spend time traveling across central Africa, exploring all the food and cultures, the vibrancy of the countries that have faced so much oppression from colonialism.

However, instead of being supported and encouraged, I am often shunned and ostracized because of this unfounded belief. It is important to address and challenge these stereotypes. They not only harm individuals like me, but they also perpetuate discrimination and hinder progress.

I Am Not a Witch review – straight-faced satire on Zambian witchcraft casts a spell

Z ambian-born Welsh director Rungano Nyoni has delivered a pulsingly odd and strikingly original debut: a tale of dogma, prejudice and corruption in the country of her birth. It’s a strange witches brew of deadpan farce and arthouse stillness that some will find exasperating, and it’s not without its missteps; but there’s a confidence and clarity of vision that’s hard not to admire, especially for a first feature.

Events open with Shula (Maggie Mulubwa), a shy and inexpressive orphan, being accused by her fellow townspeople of witchcraft: one woman has alleged that she made her trip over while carrying a bucket of water, and a man has backed up her allegation with his own account of the girl chopping of his arm with an axe. (Said arm has miraculously reattached itself by the time he makes this claim.) A gloriously droll police officer indulges these accusations with a mix of apathy and outright disdain, but the will of the people is clear, and Shula is exiled from the town.

Shula falls into the care – though that word is used with a degree of caution – of Mr Banda (Henry BJ Phiri), a venal and desperately inept public official who spies an opportunity to make a fortune from the girl’s supposed gifts. She’s swiftly enrolled into a witch camp, a shabby conurbation on the edge of town whose occupants are, Shula aside, exclusively elderly women. Shula has a white ribbon attached to her back – the other end is attached to a large spool – and is told that if she cuts it she will become a goat. The presence of the ribbon naturally brings to mind Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon, and there are certainly the same themes of puritanism as seen in that film, albeit expressed in a far less austere manner.

Soon Shula is being put to work, picking criminals from lineups, appearing on talk shows in full witchy get-up, and attempting to summon rain to the dried-up region. Shula does all of this grudgingly, far more sceptical of these superstitious beliefs than the adults around her – although it is notable that the general belief in witchcraft seems to be conditional, and tends to be expressed more vociferously when there’s a benefit to doing so. Many of the witches, for example, are elderly relatives who family members were keen to dispose of, and a tourist industry has built up around the camp.

I Am Not A Witch. Photograph: film company handout

There’s a seam of straight-faced satire running through I Am Not a Witch that curiously brings to mind the naturalistic farce of The Thick of It. Phiri is excellent as the officious Banda, a snake oil salesman frequently upended by his own incompetence, reminiscent of Chabuddy G in People Just Do Nothing or David Brent at his most brazen. Yet Nyoni never lets the comedy overwhelm our outrage at the treatment of Shula, especially when events take a troubling turn towards the film’s conclusion.

For all its charms, there is a languidness to Nyoni’s film that can become aggravating. Scenes that should pass by in moments outstay their welcome, and the film sometimes prioritises aesthetics over clear storytelling, with one of the film’s most crucial moments rendered difficult to understand due to a tricksy camera shot.

Still, there’s more than enough here to mark out Nyoni, whose film has been supported by Cannes’ Cinefondation Residency, as a major talent. In the staid and Eurocentric world of arthouse cinema, she looks set to be a significant new broom.

The movie I Am Not A Witch was a documentary that brought to a society in Zambia that sheds a light to a little girl that showed up near a village well without explanation. Since the education in system there is very poor, the adults did not know how to react or deal with a new unexplained face in town and came down to the explanation of this little eight year old girl being a witch. Once she was declared a witch, the little girl by name of Shula was confined to the the length of a ribbon so she wouldn’t fly away or she could cut it and turn into a goat. As a witch, she had a different role in their society, she was in charge of going into fields and harvesting crops, convicting criminals of crimes with her “powers” as a witch, and making it rain.

Education should be a space where everyone feels welcome and included, regardless of their background, beliefs, or appearance. The notion that I am a witch attending school is not only baseless but also harmful. It paints me as something evil or dangerous when, in reality, I am just a regular student trying to make the most of my education. It is crucial for society to move past these stereotypes and engage in meaningful dialogue and understanding. Only through education and open-mindedness can we dismantle the prejudice that perpetuates these harmful narratives. In conclusion, I am not a witch attending school. I am a student, just like anyone else, with hopes and dreams. Let us focus on embracing diversity and creating an inclusive environment that allows every student to thrive and succeed..

Reviews for "Finding Strength in Differences: Lessons From Non-Witch Students"

1. John - 2 stars

"I am not a witch attending school" was not my cup of tea. The concept of witches going to school sounded promising, but the execution fell flat. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to form a connection with any of them. The plot felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving me uninterested in what would happen next. Overall, I found the book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it to others.

2. Sarah - 3 stars

While "I am not a witch attending school" had an intriguing premise, it failed to live up to my expectations. The writing style was choppy and lacked cohesion, making it difficult to follow the story. The protagonist, who was supposed to be a strong and independent witch, came across as bland and unremarkable. I also found the pacing to be uneven, with certain parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Although there were some interesting ideas, the execution fell short and left me feeling underwhelmed.

3. Michelle - 2 stars

"I am not a witch attending school" was a book that I struggled to finish. The world-building was weak, and the rules of the magical society were poorly explained. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to become immersed in the story. Additionally, the conflict and tension were lacking, leaving me uninvested in the outcome. Overall, I found this book to be unengaging and would not recommend it to fans of the genre.

4. Alex - 2 stars

"I am not a witch attending school" had an interesting concept, but it failed to deliver an engaging story. The writing was flat and lacked descriptive language, making it difficult to visualize the magical world. The characters were forgettable, and their relationships felt forced and unconvincing. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of mundane activities and rushed, unresolved conflicts. Overall, I found this book to be unremarkable and would not recommend it.

The Magic of Inclusion: Celebrating Diversity in a Witch School