Meanwhile, although the founder of the movement advocated submission to local authorities, young men claiming to be his messengers attacked elders and sorcerers.
The smith is the ultimate sorcerer, who - while being visibly forging - is dealing with invisible forces which he masters or manipulates.
Religious rituals are rarely shown on stage and there is a notable absence of sorcerers, priestesses and processions.
He is a very powerful sorcerer, who seems to control the power to give and to take life.
The colonial state had dismissed witchcraft eradication discourse and prohibited anti-witchcraft leaders from selecting sorcerers (wachawi) to eradicate it.
The smith is also one of the strongest sorcerers (mologre).
Thus, priestess, sorcerer, and witch became synonymous.
Some revivalists thought him a greedy sorcerer.