“Anidayi Anebira A’Nyase nini” (Welcome back Ebira People) – In this article, I’ll be shedding light on a crucial topic that holds significant cultural importance. I was tasked with giving a speech on this during my time at school in Ekiti state back in 2015. Hence, I believe it’s essential for all Ebira youths to understand the concept of Magun within Ebira tradition.
What is Magun?
Magun, derived from the Yoruba language where “Ma” means “Don’t” and “Gun” means “Climb,” has found its way into Ebira culture, signifying a prohibition against certain actions. The practice of Magun in Ebiraland has its roots traced back to Yorubaland, evident in the ingredients used for its preparation, sourced from Yoruba tradition.
As outlined in an article on Pulse.NG, Magun serves as a deterrent against sexual promiscuity, with parents, in-laws, lovers, or spouses employing it to prevent infidelity. This traditional charm is often placed without the individual’s consent, typically through subtle means such as placing a broomstick or thread on a doorstep or walkway for the person to cross over.
The consequences of violating the Magun charm can be severe. For women, unfaithfulness may result in various afflictions like strange illnesses, boils, smallpox, increased sweating, or even death. Similarly, men who cheat may experience adverse effects such as crowing like a rooster, enlargement of the genitals, headaches, convulsions, or somersaulting.
Perhaps the most notorious manifestation of Magun occurs when an adulterous woman and her lover find themselves physically bound together, with the man’s penis stuck in the woman’s vagina, causing excruciating pain until the husband intervenes to lift the spell.
Despite its controversial nature, Magun remains deeply ingrained in Ebira tradition, serving as a potent deterrent against infidelity and reinforcing the importance of marital fidelity within the community.
Magun in Ebira Tradition.
For centuries, Magun has been employed as a means to catch a wife engaging in extramarital affairs or to curb the promiscuity of women. What’s particularly startling is that this charm is often placed on a woman without her knowledge.
3 Types of Magun
- Magun laced on Sticks of Broom
- Magun laced on a thread
- Magun prepared on a padlock
In the practice of Magun, a stick of broom or a thread is often strategically placed on the floor for a woman to unknowingly walk over. Once she steps over the thread or broomstick, the charm is activated, and its effects take hold.
Another method involves lacing the Magun charm onto a padlock with a key. The charm is prepared on the padlock, and once it is locked, the key is removed and given to the woman. Simply holding the key triggers the effects of the charm.
4 Different Effects of Magun
- During the act of intercourse, a woman and her lover may find themselves stuck together, unable to detach. This occurrence, likened to being glued together, can result in severe consequences, including death or public humiliation for the couple involved.
- In a different scenario, if a man engages in sexual relations with a woman who has been enchanted with Magun, he may begin to mimic the crowing of a rooster. According to tradition, this crowing will occur three times, with the man meeting his demise after the third crow.
- Another prevalent variation of Magun involves the man somersaulting three times after engaging in sexual activity with a woman under the charm’s influence. Similar to the effects seen in the chicken Magun, the man’s somersaulting culminates in his death after the third somersault.
- Another consequence of Magun is extreme thirst. Interestingly, the more the afflicted person requests water, the closer they draw to death.
Despite the seemingly incredulous nature of Magun, numerous stories attest to its potency in affecting the lives of lovers. One such incident occurred in 2015 in Cross River State, highlighting the widespread presence of this charm in Nigeria.
Magun’s notoriety extends beyond local anecdotes. In 2001, acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani released the movie “Thunderbolt: Magun,” delving into the enigmatic allure of the charm and its consequences.
Despite its prevalence, Magun has not succeeded in curbing or slowing down extramarital affairs significantly. The boldness required to employ such a charm is not possessed by many.
Thank you for reading. Please share your questions and contributions below. In my next article, I will discuss how to identify a woman with Magun and how to prevent engaging in intercourse with someone under its influence.
