Witchcraft and social mobility

The social hierarchy is usually represented in the form of a pyramid or a staircase with several steps. You can ＂stand still＂ on the ＂steps＂ and ＂landings＂ of the social staircase, but you can also ＂go down＂ or ＂go up＂. Social mobility, like an elevator, enables us to move between the ＂floors＂ of the social hierarchy. What are the most common examples of legitimate social mobility? A prestigious education. A career in politics, the army, the church or public service. A successful marriage. Extraordinary knowledge, talents and skills. An economic phenomenon. Illegal social mobility is membership of criminal gangs or mafia clans. Embezzlement of public funds. Illegal trade. While all these ＂elevators＂ can take you to the top of the social pyramid, there is another rather special ＂elevator＂ in Ivorian society that is sometimes ignored by European sociologists. These are the rites of black magic and human sacrifice.