Heike Behrend (Stralsund, 1947) studied Ethnology and Religious Sciences in Munich, Vienna and Berlin, and film at the Berlin Film and Television Academy. He taught at different universities in Germany and Europe, carried out ethnographic fieldwork mainly in East Africa and shorter research stays throughout the African continent. She is the author of several books and director of ethnographic documentaries such as Satan crucified. A Catholic witch hunt in western Uganda or Maria Akatsa, prophetess.