AfricanMagick.com Featured in European News Daily
European News Daily has featured an interview with Mr. Dongo Remi, a traditional African healer based in Brussels, Belgium. Mr. Remi speaks out against accusations of foul play in the psychic community.
Brussels, Belgium, November 04, 2011 --(PR.com)-- It has become popular once again to shine a spotlight on issues of human trafficking between Africa and Europe. The new spin is the use of human body parts in witchcraft rituals. Psychics, particularly of African origin, have been largely marginalized and unable to respond. European News Daily reviewed one Mr. Dongo Remi - "Tata," or "Father," to his followers - to see his take.
European News Daily tracked down Mr. Remi at his shop in Brussels, Belgium - African Magick - and asked about Mr. Remi's view of the use of human remains, body parts and even living human sacrifices in African rituals and witchcraft:
Remi: "An absurdity. Like something you would see in a Hollywood movie. Nobody is using human body parts to cast spells in Europe. I run a large shop in Brussels and I sell religious items, figurines, oils, incense. There are no human hands or skulls or anything like you would see in a movie."
So what of claims that human blood is used in African rituals?
Remi: "Extremist and sensationalist. You may find many people who claim to be psychic and proscribe all type of magical ritual. They may sell something they claim is human blood. To tie a person. Or to rid an evil spirit. But this is not real. You have to use good common sense."
European News Daily inquired further into questions regarding other types of sacrifice - specifically that of animal sacrifice:
Remi: "Yes, it is true. Almost all African traditions have animal sacrifice. I am from the Congo and I have seen Africans sacrifice animals in magical rituals. We do sell parts of animals in our store. They are mostly bones. Bones of bats, of racoons, many other animals. In fact we have a protected right to sacrifice animals in our rituals. But never a human being. That is just not true."
European News Daily asked; it ethical to sacrifice an animal?
Remi: "With every animal sacrifice in Africa it is used to feed a community. The animal is not sacrificed and thrown away. It is killed humanely and it is consumed. You must ask yourself if it is ethical to eat meat. If you are a vegetarian you may say it is never good to kill an animal. But this is a protected right of ours to practice our religion. We never harm animals or cause them pain. The spirits of the animals are offerings to the African deities and the meat of the animals, in my shop in Brussels, I donate to a homeless shelter.
Remi: "I take all animal sacrifices and I give them to a butcher who is on the same street. He cleans and prepares them and sends the meat to a shelter for the poor and homeless. The sacrifices that we do feed poor people."
Mr. Remi is one of the better known psychics in Brussels. He told European News Daily that people travel from all over Europe, even from as far as Australia and the United States of America, to visit him. But as an immigrant, even one running a successful business, Mr. Remi has faced persecution.
Remi: "People tell me that what I do is from the Devil. But we do not believe in Devils. We believe in God just like you and I. I donate most of what I make to causes in Africa."
European News Daily was able to confirm this. Mr. Remi is highly regarded for his work among doctors in the Democratic Republic of Congo to help spread modern medicine to individuals too superstitious to accept it without the blessings of a traditional priest. What has not been paid for by the Congolese government has been paid by the proceeds of Mr. Remi's own magic shop in Brussels.
The practice of psychic ability and magic - especially in the case of traditional African religions involving sacrifice - is one of great controversy. But in the case of the mainstream media and African immigrants a new form of extremism and discrimination has taken hold. This is one that demonizes traditional religion even to the extent of sensationalizing it.
A final question European News Daily had for Mr. Remi: Is it true that he met with the Pope?
Remi: "Yes, but we just shook hands. There were almost one hundred African spiritual leaders from all over Africa. This is nothing special."
A modest response from the man who may be the most famous psychic in all of Belgium.
Richard Linus of European News Daily held this interview on October 25, 2011 at the store and personal home of Mr. Dongo Remi.
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European News Daily tracked down Mr. Remi at his shop in Brussels, Belgium - African Magick - and asked about Mr. Remi's view of the use of human remains, body parts and even living human sacrifices in African rituals and witchcraft:
Remi: "An absurdity. Like something you would see in a Hollywood movie. Nobody is using human body parts to cast spells in Europe. I run a large shop in Brussels and I sell religious items, figurines, oils, incense. There are no human hands or skulls or anything like you would see in a movie."
So what of claims that human blood is used in African rituals?
Remi: "Extremist and sensationalist. You may find many people who claim to be psychic and proscribe all type of magical ritual. They may sell something they claim is human blood. To tie a person. Or to rid an evil spirit. But this is not real. You have to use good common sense."
European News Daily inquired further into questions regarding other types of sacrifice - specifically that of animal sacrifice:
Remi: "Yes, it is true. Almost all African traditions have animal sacrifice. I am from the Congo and I have seen Africans sacrifice animals in magical rituals. We do sell parts of animals in our store. They are mostly bones. Bones of bats, of racoons, many other animals. In fact we have a protected right to sacrifice animals in our rituals. But never a human being. That is just not true."
European News Daily asked; it ethical to sacrifice an animal?
Remi: "With every animal sacrifice in Africa it is used to feed a community. The animal is not sacrificed and thrown away. It is killed humanely and it is consumed. You must ask yourself if it is ethical to eat meat. If you are a vegetarian you may say it is never good to kill an animal. But this is a protected right of ours to practice our religion. We never harm animals or cause them pain. The spirits of the animals are offerings to the African deities and the meat of the animals, in my shop in Brussels, I donate to a homeless shelter.
Remi: "I take all animal sacrifices and I give them to a butcher who is on the same street. He cleans and prepares them and sends the meat to a shelter for the poor and homeless. The sacrifices that we do feed poor people."
Mr. Remi is one of the better known psychics in Brussels. He told European News Daily that people travel from all over Europe, even from as far as Australia and the United States of America, to visit him. But as an immigrant, even one running a successful business, Mr. Remi has faced persecution.
Remi: "People tell me that what I do is from the Devil. But we do not believe in Devils. We believe in God just like you and I. I donate most of what I make to causes in Africa."
European News Daily was able to confirm this. Mr. Remi is highly regarded for his work among doctors in the Democratic Republic of Congo to help spread modern medicine to individuals too superstitious to accept it without the blessings of a traditional priest. What has not been paid for by the Congolese government has been paid by the proceeds of Mr. Remi's own magic shop in Brussels.
The practice of psychic ability and magic - especially in the case of traditional African religions involving sacrifice - is one of great controversy. But in the case of the mainstream media and African immigrants a new form of extremism and discrimination has taken hold. This is one that demonizes traditional religion even to the extent of sensationalizing it.
A final question European News Daily had for Mr. Remi: Is it true that he met with the Pope?
Remi: "Yes, but we just shook hands. There were almost one hundred African spiritual leaders from all over Africa. This is nothing special."
A modest response from the man who may be the most famous psychic in all of Belgium.
Richard Linus of European News Daily held this interview on October 25, 2011 at the store and personal home of Mr. Dongo Remi.
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