Murder for body parts

What it is

Murder for body parts refers to the intentional killing of a person to remove organs or tissue. These parts are used in traditional medicine or sold on the black market. In southern Africa, this is often called medicine murder or muti murder. Practitioners believe these items grant strength or business success. Globally, criminal groups kill for the illegal organ trade. This separate motive focuses on profit rather than spiritual belief. Both forms result in violent death and mutilation.

Where it comes from

Historical records show anatomy murders in 19th-century Europe. Perpetrators like Burke and Hare killed for medical dissection. In Africa, ethnographies document these killings since the 1800s. Early cases may have been sanctioned by chiefs for agriculture or war protection. Modern forms emerged with industrialization and commerce. Political instability in the 1990s increased opportunistic killings. The practice evolved from ritual sacrifice to commercial exploitation.

How it is done

A client commissions a healer to create a potent medicine. A victim is selected, often through payment or abduction. The victim is taken to an isolated location. Mutilation occurs while the victim is alive to increase potency. Organs like eyelids, lips, or internal tissues are removed. These are mixed with plants and cooked into a paste. The paste is applied to the body or consumed. In illegal trade, organs are harvested quickly for sale.

Tools and materials

Healers use human flesh and organs as key ingredients. Common parts include soft tissue, eyes, and reproductive organs. These are combined with local medicinal plants. The mixture is cooked into a potion or paste. Victims may be drugged with substances containing gold particles. The resulting medicine is carried on the person.

What it is for

Clients seek enhanced personal force or personality strength. This power is believed to bring success in business or politics. Some use it for protection against enemies. Others seek wealth or social status. In the illegal trade, the purpose is purely financial gain. Criminal organizations sell organs to wealthy patients. Both motives rely on the perceived value of human remains.

Who does it

Healers known as inyanga or sangoma prepare the medicines. They guide clients on which body parts are needed. Clients commission the killings to achieve specific goals. Women can also be perpetrators, as seen in historical executions. Healers hold significant influence in these transactions. Their role bridges spiritual belief and physical violence.

Peoples and places

The practice is most documented in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini. It affects communities across southern Africa. Nigerian diaspora groups have been involved in UK cases. Botswana has recorded high-profile incidents involving children. The practice crosses ethnic lines but remains concentrated in urban areas. Different regions report varying frequencies based on local stressors.

What people believe

Practitioners believe human parts contain vital energy. This energy transfers to the user upon consumption or application. Children are often targeted for their perceived purity. The agony of the victim is thought to enhance potency. Beliefs persist despite legal prohibitions and modern medicine. Skeptics view these as superstitions driving violence.

When it is done

Killings often spike during political or economic crises. Times of uncertainty increase demand for protective magic. No specific festivals trigger these events. Abductions occur randomly or when targets are vulnerable. Nighttime is preferred for secrecy. The timing aligns with moments of perceived need for power.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Anthropologists study the link between stress and ritual violence. Researchers note increases during political transitions. Historians compare African practices to European anatomy murders. Legal scholars analyze the difficulty of prosecution. Sceptics argue that belief drives the demand. Evidence comes from court records and witness testimonies.

Compare and confuse

This differs from standard witchcraft by focusing on physical extraction. It shares traits with the illegal organ trade but adds ritual elements. European anatomy murders were motivated by science, not spirit. Modern muti murder blends tradition with criminal enterprise. Confusion arises between legitimate healing and violent crime.

Questions people ask about Murder for body parts

Good reading and sources

• BBC News | UKBBC, Article
• Mexico arrests drug leaders nephewAl Jazeera, Article
• Joshlin Smith's mother, Kelly, jailed for kidnapping and selling her in South AfricaBBC, Article

• Murder for body parts on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data