Mbasu is not witchcraft. Witchcraft is Kindoki in Lingala. Mbasu is the word that they use for the disease elephantiasis and Buruli Ulcer in English. Elephantiasis is a disease that causes severe swelling of body parts, usually the legs, arms, or genitals. It happens when tiny worms block the lymphatic system, preventing normal fluid drainage. Over time, the skin becomes thick and hard, giving it an appearance similar to an elephant’s skin. I will not pictures of it here.Buruli ulcer is a chronic skin infection caused by baterium. It leads to large wounds on the arms, legs, or other parts of the body.People in Congo connect Mbasu to witchcraft because such mysterious wounds are often seen as the result of witchcraft, curses or spiritual forces. This belief exists because the disease can appear suddenly and is difficult to heal. The phenonemon Mbasu was first mostly to be seen in the Kongo-Central, where people were able to buy it at markets. The people used to buy it when they had problems with someone, competing for work or out of jealousy. It started to be sold in markets of Selembao, Bumbu and Makala, when the phenomenon appeared in the early 2000s in Kinshasa. There was a point, that alot people started to get Mbasu, that women who were selling big mikatés (puff-puff) started to call it at some Mbasu and in Quartier Latin even being sung about it in the generique Swi. Today, there are sometimes discussion if it's due to the dirt that is present in Kinshasa or withccraft, when people die or fall ill from Mbasu. But most people still believe that its witchcraft and hate from rivals