Marabouts have always aroused a certain enthusiasm and uncertain curiosity in France. Today, highlighted by the Pogba affair, they find themselves in the spotlight. Between promising business, fraud and placebo effect, the secret world of marabouts continues to fascinate.
To begin, we need to clarify who marabouts actually are. Often confused with charlatans and scammers, real marabouts are traditional practitioners who rely on African spirituality to offer their services. They possess ancestral knowledge passed down from generation to generation and are believed to have clairvoyance and healing abilities.
Among them, Cheick Issa stands out. This African healer who has been living in France for more than 10 years has attracted attention thanks to his experience with high-level athletes. He claims to be able to treat the recurring injuries of a footballer during key moments of his career using plants and potions. Faced with financial issues and pressures in the sports world, it is not surprising that some athletes call on marabouts to try to resolve their problems.
But what about the effectiveness of marabouts? For some, it’s simply a scam, a way of taking advantage of people’s gullibility to extort money from them. For others, it is above all a placebo effect, a belief which can create a feeling of comfort and hope in those who consult marabouts. It is difficult to decide on this question, because each experience is subjective and depends on one’s beliefs.
What is certain is that the practice of marabouts raises complex questions. Can we really condemn a practice that offers psychological support to certain people, even if it is based on traditional beliefs and practices? Can we accept the fact that individuals are exploited in the name of seeking happiness and solving their problems?
It is obvious that marabouts arouse as much interest as mistrust. Their popularity is constantly growing, as shown by the Ifop study which reveals that nearly three out of ten people in France believe in spell and witchcraft. However, it is essential to exercise discernment and not be blinded by miraculous promises.
In conclusion, marabouts continue to fuel debates in France. Their mysterious world is both fascinating and controversial. Lucrative business, scam or simple placebo effect, it is difficult to disentangle the true from the false. The decision to consult a marabout is up to each person, but it is important to keep a critical mind and be wary of false promises. In any case, the craze for marabouts does not seem ready to die out.