Italian race row senator blames voodoo curse
A Congolese curse has caused death, injury and an encounter with a rare snake, says right-wing senator accused of racism

An Italian senator who labelled Italy's first black minister an orang-utan says a curse put on him by the minister's father has led to two broken fingers, a spate of operations, his mother's death and an encounter with a rare breed of snake.
Roberto Calderoli, a senator for the right-wing Northern League, says that Cécile Kyenge's Congolese father cast the voodoo curse in revenge, The Times reports. In the past year, Calderoni claims that he has had six operations and has broken two fingers and two vertebrae. He also ascribes his mother's death to voodoo, and said that his discovery of a two metre-long snake in his home this year was also due to the "macumba" curse.
Calderoli said he is now considering asking the Pope to recommend an exorcist. "I don't know if I should put an advert in the paper or call [Pope Francis] directly," he tweeted, "but I must absolutely find an exorcist."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The senator caused outrage last year when he said at a public rally that Kyenge reminded him of an orang-utan. He now faces prosecution for his remarks.
Kyenge's father denied that he had placed any kind of curse on Calderoli, the Daily Telegraph reports.
"We are Christians like him, we have forgiven him and our prayer was only meant to encourage him to make statements befitting his role," he said.
Cécile Kyenge arrived in Italy in 1983 and is an Italian citizen. She is now a European MP.
"I ask myself what religion Mr Calderoli practises," she said. "I am Catholic and therefore do not believe in many other practises and rites and I don't agree with his statements, which I consider irreligious."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 29, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - my way or Norway, running orders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 tactically sound cartoons about the leaked Signal chat
Cartoons Artists take on the clown signal, baby steps, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Roast lamb shoulder with ginger and fresh turmeric recipe
The Week Recommends Succulent and tender and falls off the bone with ease
By The Week UK Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published