Julien Bonhomme Examines Genital Theft Panics in Sub-Saharan Africa

Anthropologist Julien Bonhomme's book "Les voleurs de sexe" (Seuil, Bibliothèque du 21e siècle) investigates a disturbing phenomenon: since the 1970s, hundreds of people across some twenty Sub-Saharan African countries have reported having their genitals stolen or shrunk by strangers through a handshake. While no physical theft occurs—victims retain their organs—the belief triggers mob lynchings of accused "sorcerers," resulting in numerous deaths confirmed by media. Bonhomme, free from paternalistic bias, explores multiple non-exclusive factors: familial, emotional, cultural, social, political, religious, and ethnic (xenophobia). He also highlights the role of mobile phones in spreading rumors, calling the mix of mysticism and technology explosive. The book offers a nuanced understanding of how crises in African societies fuel such collective delusions.