Sitarane
Encyclopedia
Simicoudza Simicourba (1858–1911), otherwise known as Sitarane, was a thief and murderer on the island of Réunion
.
. He arrived on the island of Réunion
in 1889 at the age of 30 to work under contract as an indentured labourer
on land belonging to a Mr Morange in Saint-Benoît
, having been assigned the ticket number 10 8958. Two years later, he left this employment and went underground. In 1906, he met two other criminals: Pierre-Elie Calendrin (1869–1937), the leader of the gang, who had a reputation as a witch doctor, and Emmanuel Fontaine (1886–1911), with whom he committed numerous acts of theft, some of which were undertaken in a mysterious and audacious way, and then three murders, where the victims' throats were cut during their sleep (it is claimed, however, that they were responsible for around a dozen murders).
The evil trio terrorised the inhabitants of Saint-Pierre
until their arrest in 1909, along with around ten accomplices.
The investigation also revealed that the three bandits had drunk and collected the blood of their victims as part of Calendrin's occult practices. Calendrin himself denied everything at the trial and was handed a sentence of forced labour for the rest of his life. The two others were sentenced to death and were sent to the guillotine.
Just before his execution, Sitarane asked to be baptised.
According to the tradition of witchcraft
on the island, many sorcerers call upon Sitarane's spirit when performing black magic
.
It is also claimed that anyone planning a crime or a hold-up, or who is planning to misappropriate inheritance or murder their mother-in-law, prays at the grave of Sitarane at night so that his evil spirit might help them in their plans.
A story is still told of a man who, one night, left a butcher's knife at Sitarane's grave and then used it to murder his mistress who was watching a variety show in the square in front of the town hall with ten thousand other people.
It was the same cult that led Noël Clarel, a labourer working on archaeological digs at Pointe du Diable (a cape near Saint-Pierre
), to take an 11-year-old child to a ravine and then strangle him. While undertaking his own digs at night in the hope of discovering the treasure that was supposedly hidden there, Clarel believed that finding it depended on sacrificing a child.
French author and historian Daniel Vaxelaire has written at least two books on the subject of Sitarane.
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
.
Biography
Simicoudza Simicourba (1858–1911), otherwise known as Sitarane, was born into a family of witch doctors in the Portuguese possessions of MozambiqueMozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. He arrived on the island of Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
in 1889 at the age of 30 to work under contract as an indentured labourer
Indentured servant
Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
on land belonging to a Mr Morange in Saint-Benoît
Saint-Benoît, Réunion
Saint-Benoît is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Réunion, about 40 kilometres southeast of Saint-Denis, the capital.-Geography:...
, having been assigned the ticket number 10 8958. Two years later, he left this employment and went underground. In 1906, he met two other criminals: Pierre-Elie Calendrin (1869–1937), the leader of the gang, who had a reputation as a witch doctor, and Emmanuel Fontaine (1886–1911), with whom he committed numerous acts of theft, some of which were undertaken in a mysterious and audacious way, and then three murders, where the victims' throats were cut during their sleep (it is claimed, however, that they were responsible for around a dozen murders).
The evil trio terrorised the inhabitants of Saint-Pierre
Saint-Pierre, Réunion
Saint-Pierre is the third-largest commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the southwest side of the island of Réunion.-External links:*...
until their arrest in 1909, along with around ten accomplices.
The investigation also revealed that the three bandits had drunk and collected the blood of their victims as part of Calendrin's occult practices. Calendrin himself denied everything at the trial and was handed a sentence of forced labour for the rest of his life. The two others were sentenced to death and were sent to the guillotine.
Just before his execution, Sitarane asked to be baptised.
Influence
Curiously, only the name Sitarane remains alive in local folklore and history, and today his grave - bedecked with flowers and candles - is the focus of a genuine cult.According to the tradition of witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
on the island, many sorcerers call upon Sitarane's spirit when performing black magic
Black magic
Black magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
.
It is also claimed that anyone planning a crime or a hold-up, or who is planning to misappropriate inheritance or murder their mother-in-law, prays at the grave of Sitarane at night so that his evil spirit might help them in their plans.
A story is still told of a man who, one night, left a butcher's knife at Sitarane's grave and then used it to murder his mistress who was watching a variety show in the square in front of the town hall with ten thousand other people.
It was the same cult that led Noël Clarel, a labourer working on archaeological digs at Pointe du Diable (a cape near Saint-Pierre
Saint-Pierre, Réunion
Saint-Pierre is the third-largest commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the southwest side of the island of Réunion.-External links:*...
), to take an 11-year-old child to a ravine and then strangle him. While undertaking his own digs at night in the hope of discovering the treasure that was supposedly hidden there, Clarel believed that finding it depended on sacrificing a child.
French author and historian Daniel Vaxelaire has written at least two books on the subject of Sitarane.