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In Burkina Faso, tragic events (sudden death, illness, accident…) or extraordinary occurrences are inevitably interpreted as the result of a malevolent intervention. A culprit must therefore be identified. Having grown up in this culture, Adrien Bitibaly has observed from an early age the importance of traditional religions in Burkinabè society. Among the manifestations of these beliefs, accusations of witchcraft have always intrigued him. As a child, the objects or places he was told were possessed or haunted appeared entirely ordinary to him, and he never understood what could have led to such denunciations.

Witchcraft remains elusive, supernatural, unverifiable. Yet, the consequences of an accusation are very real: inequalities and discrimination suffered by the accused (as these accusations overwhelmingly target women) are widespread.

As an adult, with Quatre Yeux, Adrien Bitibaly traveled across the country to meet traditional priests—individuals endowed with the "ability" to determine whether a person possesses malevolent powers and should thus be identified as a witch.

What is their role in this social practice? Holders of a power whose conditions of exercise remain unknown to most, can they nevertheless be mistaken? His photographic work seeks to show what can trigger accusations of witchcraft. His aim is to explore the genesis of a popular belief rather than to prove a truth.

This book has received support from Cnap and the PACA Region.