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9S
#
# e spW tm *
I t s prep&ratlqM* wbl«h l a l a th* ha»a« o f
o l4 weaaa o f g lA # tm dor p a to r t f f o w e m e t t@ tak en t h a t th e
$l#o@ im l a # w # 4 f Rot #ogm 4 on tho g rin d o to m , end tb o t non#
Of I t t o t e s t e d before th e gods have te e n g iv e# .
W a r jW t a s te d t o sea I f i t 1* ready* t n t # # & &
Om^Lt o r t e s te d by s t i r r i n g w ith a t v l r l e r *
O rdinary
^ es t o be
ThGOgh ih e m arried
# * # # o f th e v i ll a g e %a.er no ? a r t e th e r th a n being p re s e n t e t
# e r e l i g i o n s r i t e s on snob oooaslons, i t I s th e dnty o f th e
c h i e f w ife In whoso co u rty ard th e oeremony m i l ta k e pla&e* t o
smear w ith dang th e s p o t share th ey w ill poor and t o c a rry th e
b e e r In th e khlrodwana b ask et need In benoor o f th e gods.
o o e aslo n i s one o f jo y .
W
The women have a lre a d y I n s H H k e l l -
hood sung iean an songs s p e c ia l t o th e occasion amid joyous t r l l —
l i n g s while p rep a rin g th e b e e r and, sin c e In a d d itio n t o t h e
s p e c ia l b e e r o f the gods, m o b o rd in a ry b e er w ill have %**& pf*"p a re d , a wide c l ro le o f r e la tiv e s * inoiodlng th o se o f th e elves*
w ill have been in v ite d .
When th e queen h e ld h e r th u g sla oeremony In AhgKSt* 1 # # *
D id! was despatched a t 8 o 'c lo c k In th e morning t o fatc L
M agoso.the cow d ed icated to th e q u e e n 's m other, f o r th e h a rv e st
g iv in g should ta k e p lace f a i r l y e a r l y In th e day, though in 2fs@*
its® th e m l® is o fte n observed In the breach and we have seen
cs-reiaenlee tak e place a f t e r midday.
As I t l a n o t a ssy to d riv e
home one cow of a h e rd , a l l wore d riv en and p a t In to th® &&*&( v illa g e c o u rty a rd ) whore everyone had g a th e re d ,
# a n gag**#*
h in d lo g s had bean t i e d , tb* c h ie f wife o f Rulogwane* daoaaaad
b r o th e r o f th e c h ie f to whoso R e a lly th e quean i s k h a ^ i, appeared
lie *1
a ealabaah of tw»#f # 4 tb* g##*#*a
W ade (& staring * f m @ a#* % » w*i&-*ao*B *W#i4# * f %b* # e**r*),
r o a r in g aeme o f t&# b e e r i s a wooaen p la tte r * eke beaded i t to
th e # & ea who* bolding th e bead* l a her baa&e, plnoed I t b efo re
Kegore w ith th e ear**# *a*re l a beer* Begovo o f Bqbale (one o f
t h e a a r l i a e t k la g s)* b e e r o f th e new c o m .
a* eay stop tb l*
epidem ic (wind) t o which yon have exposed * a ,
y our beads*
R a re , tee* ape
We see n e ith e r people (su b je c ts) a c t r ic h e s ;
w#
see o nly th a t poverty which you have l e f t f o r us* (Su-vo syalw%
Kagoifo a y u h a le , a a v s ls a masra a. Bqpbabe.
d io h efc 1c,
Qe le n a lo r* w u lelah o .
Lekhuno a r c l e ro n e .
Be r e #
ihltnsiene
h e Wstbo a r e v a -rone*,
h e rauruga cenu su-wo*
M m moonu PS.
•m n e vena th s lu va n@*@ l e re gls^eho yona f g l a ) *
Ibe cow s ip ”
pad & l i t t l e o f th e b e e r which bad m eallo le a v e s placed on it*
whereupon a l l p r o s tr a te d them selves in g re e tin g (bp l,?,$ba) *&&*
on* o r two women r e n t th e a i r w ith t h e i r joyous t r i l l i n g s ,
a#**"
tim e s (but i t was om itted on t h i s o ccasion) tM beads a re placed
round tb # neck o f th e caw end l e f t t b e f s f o r th* whole d ay .
The d e d ic ated cow having been t n t i e d , a l l new re p a ire d to
th e c o u rty a rd o f th e c h ie f w ife o f aulogwane where they s a t rowed
th e s h r in e , th e queen ana sons and d au g h ters near b y , w ives fo r*
th o r away, w hile th e sm all c h ild re n were made t o k n e el on th e
slmpe an th e low er sid e o f th e sh rin e (a mound o f e a rth ) bands
to g e th e r and palm s u p .
Pouring o u t b e e r on tb * ground, t%*
qu#en maid a p ra y e r s im ila r t o t h e p rev io u s one, adding t h a t th e
gods ^ s t
tail
on# a n o th e r and n o t le sv # anyone o u t*
Then#,
■ drifting a l i t t l e , h e r s e l f , - she placed th e calabash on th e ground
n e x t persoB t o tak e np and O fim #
Baoh on* In t u r n
-
f&ao#* # e gonrd ea th e gropM f o r th e next to ta k e a p ^ t a i a l l
th # v e la tlv e e (exelnding * lv * s) bad aruBk,_*b*n I t wa* retq fn ed
t * She qBe#8»
;
3b* dpadk oao# mo?» saying* *aa she give# th e
gad* m e t n e t rem ain bnngry*
aadLSWubK th e oslabaab n p sid e down on th e moqnde
%b* a n e ii aWLl*
Aren lap p ed np t h e b e e r from th e ground * and t r i l l i n g and h% lAsba
marked th e end o f th e ceremony#
:
Be* p o ts o f b e e r f o r th e crowd t h a t had g a th e red ware b rm g h
a n t and g en eral drin k in g began.
A fte r a w h ile th e men to o k o u t
t h e drums and began dancing an o ld danoe* th e m atagsa.
B i*r#-
a f t e r th e women began the sacre d less* * songs to *bi*b m # a 8 d
aomen danced in a rin g in th e oonrtyard o f the c h ie f w ife#
gneen h e r s e l f b e a t th e b ig drum.
The
I t was new n e ar s u n s e t.
Suddenly @ w a ll lik e th e b le a tin g o f a she*
was h eard ;
another*
th e n a n o th e r. I n th e d ire c tio n o f th e bush behind th e v illa g e *
I t was th e mwiqsjane. a n c e s tra l s p i r i t s ..come t o j o in i n th e jb y
and r e v e lr y o f th e l i v i n g . ( t h e i r p a r t i s played by one o f t* d
e ld men from a d if f e r e n t v illa g e who* eedretad in th e bush*
w h is tle o u t commands and songs on s p e c ia l In stru m en ts).
th ey
opened (hu sumaith e n e x t song and jjolm d in th e sin g in g o f th e
women, a i l i n th e w h istlin g language which people moke o u t by i t #
to n # ,
l a t e r mere b e e r was brought o u t and when th e swi^alano
began * new song no one took any n o tlo * .
f l f you a re d rin k in g
b e e r , what a re *a to drink** earn* th e w a lls o f th e a*l&&j&8eaBd
a p o t o f b e e r was brought to th e bush by a few o ld e r men.
###*
o ln g ana sin g in g continued t i l l th e sm all hours o f t h e morning
:
am
tb*
* f tbQ w l ^ j a o A #s*pp@&r$A $* th e
elf ;
3#a#&#, t&# W #Al grove of the a&ad «p*oe»e*_Ana tb* r$vail@r#*_
w p g r **a *#*& # * * ***r *?
j W W k %"»i&r<»a #
W .
#*
;
q p i m * # * # **&y ImperSeet mamMfe of t a * f*y*& %f*qp *** *
d & w * # * r f a a m * * * W t beyond t h i n t&ere s m no # # * # * # * %#*
& **# tb * b a rv * * t g iv in g sir tb a ***ea and t k e t o f o th e r *»*]&*»
a m * people pour f i r a t on th e a h rin e , o nly l a # r giving th e &W&'»
e a ts # enim al to d rin k and where th e re l e no neared m W % * @#ty
%h# ghrlne #111 re c e iv e a l i b a t i o n .
in Moving t o & new v i l l a g e p * * # * ** h o t aiwaya tredWua to
remove th e sh rin e ( I f th e re I s one) t i n
th e d o c to r adv ise* them to do so .
a* a r o a u lt o f jKUUGka*
th e s e ttin g np o f & ***
o b fla e i n * sm all fam ily o o n e ls tin g o f a a id e # , h e r eon an* &&&
w ife and te e c h ild re n *** * sim ple a f f a i r .
** s e t a n t e a r l y 1*
th e morning * i th th e g b a d l,..a f r ie n d o f mfA* ehe ha* b e e n W l e d
t , perform the oeronomy and on a r r i v a l found t h a t *o p re p a W lo n s
bad a s y e t been mad*,
docking #a* 1% p ro g ress and I t *** n e t
u n t i l two hour* la t e r ,s h e * *&1 ba* e a te n ,th a t th e n e r e m w y W * *
Th@ k hadi had in th * meanwhile re p a ire d t o th e e ld v illa * * *&!*&
* a e nos f a r , t o fe tc h a pie** * f **11 *** o f th e e ld sb fin * ,
W * to g e th e r w ith a r i v e r sto n e , and a pl*o* * f k h lth w l antbeap
she p la c e d on & & ** t a s k a t w ith c e r ta in charms t h a t bad h # *
given b y th e d o c to r.
Ib es* were;
a pl**» * f &*%**& # 1 0
lo n g h a i r s , s k in o f * w ild p ig and o f * *»*
(which lo ck ed i l k * y e n * * c o tto n wool) *** m B E K
some
*
g ^ t ta d bean bought f o r d e d ic a tio n to th e fa th e r* # moth*? * f W
*# i t # ihwdOgriaagja*
o f i t a @#B*
:
a& edity # f A riying i t b o w #** * ***8# #f#&p$jb8f 4#l*y*
At
a h o # B o+blook W& 9 9 i t ha* %*en tl@d to tb& verandah. pBat^tke
gaw rnm y began,
*** doing;
m at no enow* took m o h n otioe o f v h a t th e khadi
th e fa m ily m erely s a t ta lk in g
*) b i r d th e y had r o a tte d .
*86
jo k in g ADd e a tin g
No r e l a ti v e s had been o o ile d to th e
oaremony.
Qhewing a p iece o f root* th e khadi sp a t on two sp o ts on th e
le f t- h a n d a id * o f th e entronoe where eb rin e a were t o he s e t # p .
a*?lB g dog a h o le abe i n s e r t e d * ^Ijlgw ane holho th e r i v e r y # W 4 )
k h ith o n l. h a l f th e lamp o f e a r th from th e o ld sh rin e and h a l f th e
obarme idln h p h aielven by the d o c to r.
I b i s was th e sh rin e #
f& tbar* g ra n d fa th e r o f th e yoong v illa g e bead.
her
I n th e aeeand
b o le , th e abfinB o f th e mother (grandm other t o th e V tlle g e bead)
w&re pq t only some o f th e lump o f e a r th and dbarme.
The hole*
were ooverod over w ith n e at mounds o f e a r th .
D ithuoula o f th e deceased* a b a ttle - a x e and s p e a r and two
p la c e s o f e lo th (th e grandmother bad bean possessed) were p is s e d
n e a r th e sh rin e s and matazwa le s a lo brought in * o alsb ssb plaoad
In * sm all f l a t b a sk et ( te e n s ) .
I n to a wooden d is h th e khadi
poured beer* added * l i t t l e medicine* plaoed i t In * f i s t bsWket
and o ffe re d I t w ithout a word to tb s g o a t,
abea i t drank* th e y
t r i l l e d and expressed s u rp ris e t h a t so w ild a g n a t should d rin k
w ithout having to be coaxed* ( I t was t h i r s t y from th e walk heme
i n th e h o t s u n ).
i h l a was*, th e y th o u g h t, * c l e a r in d ic a tio n n f
aooeptance by th e s p i r i t *
% word n f pr*y»r
u tte re d .
At
e th e r elm H ar nerem enles we have heard p ray er* t # H i * g th e e p l r l t
about th e d e d ic ated go at (@* M dues* a* nudl ye* th e y sometimes
th e M ar a.#ft Sy th e goat may w ###**& a i l * # f W
!
W gy,
Af$*y ##
a W a t #M4b s b r W ebouia %* fgdhfww;* f W #
**& kha&l pooraa on th * d&flo* o f b a r #M b#r* t e l l i n g b # f t h a t
h a m **# h e r tbu«Aia ^Alao h e r c lo th s ,
% ** *&a#8&i9g W r
fa tb # r* ah* to ld him boro *a* h i* w if e 's ded icated goat addlhg
$%* n o t expoot o s In th e o ld v illa g e b e t p r o te c t o e b*f#**
After
pl#O lbg a ylnoh o f am iff on eaoh OwRRd eh* gave th e oalahasb t o
th e yoqog v illa g e bead to p o u r.
3* obviously bad h o t dkMB# I t
W fopa ao& 41d n o t kwo* bo* to $ l t ,
^ ig g l l B g # W * # y M
# v e n to * ily o a t o# h i e hweee end bed t o he t o l d what t o eoy*
poqm d* drank a l l t t i * h im self end ended np b aldly*
lebed*
That** a il* *
%&
f&n*
The kbedl t r i l l e d # *b# and tb # o b lld re n
drank o f th e m ixture (th e mother o f th e bead d id n o t p a rta k e)
and th e g o at eae u n tie d ,
R itu a l k jH in x e*
Ritual M llinge of all kinds are Inolgnlfloant by #ntr*#t
with the beer offering and vary aonaiderably one from the other"
There are* firstly* killing# apeelaiiy fop the anoeetof# but they
are so rare that many people have never seen them* secondly*,
there are oooaslons sben the killings* olearly ritual# We not
thought of #* an offering of saerifin# beoaus* nothing 1* gtv*#
to the one©stors, And thirdly* there are killings* net asBooia*
tad vltb ansastor* or religion* in vblob small pieces #f *#*&
may aavartbal*#* ba sat amid# t* ftailf (M
gpd# #f
##*» event or to propitiate them* #„,#&&-. &# * oonsaptlon ##w
* b * t dlfferant from *ur +*#*?* #r *#?*!;
** &** *** soonatmr
$ w * a* *sea ^
Q u in a ry l l f e i
I t 1* * i # * r ****!? t o W * m ,
)
## *h** A** aHm**e th e pQrpose o f %#*r t o be AruBk o r %b# o#tuf#
* f * *#** s% e c u f t o r , by W o o s lo o o f t h i s idea* to 8*83 * m p e p lo r a 8h#*» o f *o&#tb&Bg good one h a s , each #* tb * 1*# * f an
awlmal Al&Bg&tafea Of a o&labasb o f th a b o a r *a* baa bP**ed*
Ba approaobing the gode^B oaetlm e one, e o a e tla e * tb # o th e r,o o a o o p tiq # l a o p p a ra o a t.
Ilk *&11 be o f I n t e r e s t t o #&B0 8 set 84***
o f tb@ae d l f f e r w t ty p e s o f r i t u a l k lU lo g .
# & MlJLiog sh io h meet e l e a r l y ooota&ae # * eoeeeptleB e f
#o a f f e r lo g *#& Ik* prim afy porpoe* o f *al* h &8 p p o p ltla tio a o f
t&# 883* $e $b# aiswe&tor o f & b iao k *b**p f o r r a i a a t t b * # # *
Of * yoyal a n f e s to r .
In t h i s k i l l i n g , aseo rlb a a in a * # * # in
is l a t e r oh.apter8. the v l o t l s I s iiaffiolatedj .small pleS es Of A**t
*B t # ro a *11 p a rt* o f "She v lo tlm or* s e t a ald e f o r tb * #34#* **&
^ 1 1 . th e bones a re c o lle c te d and buried in th e grave jto g e th e r w ith
th * etomaob o o n ten te o f lab* olotlm *
3%u*lly e t r o s W t bew aW ft
i s th e e a tin g o f th e meet w ithout s a l t by th e assembled erewd.i
At tb* i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a d i s t r i c t heM isteen * b e a st I s k i l l e d f o r
tb * anoeatora th e r i t u a l i* more a tte n u a te d ,
m e b e a st 1* r e ­
f e r r e d fo a* e th UKula and i n <*8 f a r 8* i t 1* k l l i a d
* ap##i#&
m arn*r and m orsels o f moat s e t asid e ft)? the gods Ik* lb* cooked
*na l a t e r e a te n w ithout s a l t by c h ild re n nailer pnbofty* i t l e # *
V lc a tlo u s snbmloslon o f a g i f t to th e a n c e s to rs .
Bnt t h e m aj#r
p o r tio n o f meat i s n o t r i t u a l l y e a te n nor a re th e bones c o lle c te d
f o r * h ind l e g tie eant to t b s queen.
In an i n s t a l l a t i o n **#1
*ita* s* ed * th e b u ll (mot a d e d ic ated b u ll) was h e ld by th e b o # *
*a& i t # le g # t i e d .
#b*B comoon* cm * f e r s a f d t o # 1 1 A *&#* *
b e #** stepped by an o ld ***** # * W d , fD o d t you know
k i l l * th u aa la b e a s t *1% a e& epparfj
sam ##* tb#B
t f l e a % *w m e#asf9liy t e k& ll i t * itb a lar&* k n if# *W B *t% ?*8gb
th e back o f tb * geek a t th e s p lh * .
A t l a s t th e d o cto r i a *h*e#t
fW&eb** *a o ia w ib * * e p * a f e f 8atbe-#ep&#$ ir e * and th e b e a a t
#*a eta&baa l a tb* p fep ar manner *nd#r th e f i g h t #)?«&#&*
it
abogld he m entioned In e x p la n a tio n o f a l l t b l* mismanagement Shat
en tb * spare occasion# t h a t a b e a st l a k ille d * i t i s nowadays
g e n e ra lly Shot and th a t th e only seaogsla to b e fonnd in th e t r i b e
*y* th n e a la o b je c ts o f Setbo i r o n ,
a s th e b e a s t f o i l down* th e
onlookers mere askes to s i t down t i l l i t was dead*
% a doctor
* l t b a k n ife dipped in re d powder from h i s medicine bagSjPGpfor#
med th e f i r s t a c t in W inning tide b e a s t, namely, d o ttin g a lin e
from t w end o f W
f r o n t l e g np to th # t a p .
d e le g a te d to th e ta s k (lid
n e a r,
Then th r e e e ld *#&
sk in n in g , no one e ls e b e in g allowed
Then i t bad been skinned* sm all p iec es o f meat wdpo $ n t
from a l l p a rts * placed in a white enamel d ish and taken t o th e
B other o f th e deoeasod headman. Who sAt o n tsid e th e c h ie f b n t.
Ket s a t i s f i e d t o nee a European u t e n s i l f o r so sacred & porpos**
she tr a n s f e r r e d th e meat to a c la y d ish b efo re tak in g i t in to the ■
h u t to o f f e r to
gods *
No one was allow ed to accompany h e r
b a t I t was s a id abe %o doubt prayed and B&aS&?d,(Thl# i s tb * PBly ;
In sta n c e * f a p ra y e r b e in g o ffe re d in a b a t t h a t ** ever earn* upo^i
g f e # m inutes l a t e r * she emsse ou t w ith th e meat* c a lle d th e c h ie f
m ife o f th e deceased headman t o r e s e t i t end when i t was cooked
I t was given t o * group o f sm ell g i r l s to e a t .
9ben a l i t t l e
boy stan d in g n e a r asked th e g i r l * f b f soa* th e y refused* saying*
th e y were ho t allow ed t o g iv e any o f th e meet away} b n t * woman
to o k * p iece and **** i t to him ,
A ll % * * # * t * f th e b e a s t was
broqgkt W o the
t 3F # *
he* &oa later eaten i# *& ordinary Bernef ;
* f the vaias* and their frlenda.
s* i m i * i s th e tgo&t * f m u w * (a&kga&aa) *a m arfiae*
e a f a w n i* ! regaraad a * an o ffe rin g o r a a o rif le * t h a t 1* v*%a @13
#* ##& # ) f I t l a # * 6ent*xt o f s k i l l i a # f o r th# m aeeetor*.
"lot p lo e e s o f s e a t are. l a i d on the sh rin e and a p re y sr offered*
thongh th e r e s t o f th e meat l a n o t r i t u a l l y e a te a n o r a re th e
h e n # k e p t.
This goat does n o t pass in a l l m arriages}
g e n erally
tb s hoy persuades th e b r id a l p a rty to leav e s u r r e p titio u s ly (fiu
tala)h@ fore t h i s goat has been asked f o r by h e r parents*
B&t
a m arriage In ahlob th e k h lv o lao Aae passed i * considered tb*
b e tte r * com pleter and s o re oonventional form*
&®
*e I t s name d e n o te s, k i l l e d , and i t s sk in i s *s*d t o provide a
s k i r t f o r th e g irl*
On th e day the khlvulao, goat a rriv e d a t
B a m a tltl'B , th e khadi suma'd th e gods &n bead* plaeed t y t h e
Shrine) w ith g ra in and w ater to t e l l them o f th e impending d e p e rtUT* o f th e g i r l .
m a r r ied ,
'Sore i s th e g ir l*
l e t h e r bo w ell and happy}
She I s le a v in g t o he
l e t her b u ild f o r *a (found
s b u t whanoe we s h a l l In future, draw husbands f o r o u r daughter*)*
l e t h e r b* smeared with f a t (have c h ild r e n ) ' (so^O rm utho y# **&*_
o va im badl.
^A im o aam osa).
A v'a^hakba i e a re hahslQ a d o le aakbufa*
As *b* p ray e d , the b rid e and h e r a tte n d a n ts s a t
l a tb * e o a rty a ra ,.b a n d s to g e th e r , pelme fac in g up*
% * # * * *#&
then k i l l # w ithout fo rm a lity , small p ie c e s o f meat c u t from f r o n t
and book l o g s , the h ip s , c h e s t, %#%, "Song**, e a r , iWMWrlk* d iv e r t
9 tq m * b ,
i n t e s t i n e s and p la c e d an some broad
lo* * * s
f^ ^ r * r o ta n a if a l i a ) on th e ebflne and a eedond p r* y * f ***
o f f e r e d b o th by th e khadi end f a t h e r e f th e g i n *
th e se p la c e s W fa roasteA and »&t#B by chll& ren * a # r fR*%@rSy,
# * &&B6 l e g o f th e goat was glyon t o th e hrldegrooB to
%## home , en o th er t o th e k hadl;
# * *%**& *aa th e apesl& l pMP-
t t o a o f th o hhide and h e r companions, th e r# * t beix# #K*@a %y
Y le ito r o a*# r e l a t i v e s Who * * re p r e s e n t.
# e n asked whethW t t
was le g itim a te t o e a t th e meat w ith s a l t , th ey r e p l i e d , j i t i #
Dot * thnanlaj It** only a khivhlao.*
S till
f u r t h e r removed from an @ ffaring i s th e gO#t k i l l s #
on a d e a th t o provide a sk in f o r sa v o rin g th e tody*
■
%* *%
v s rlo n e ly c a lle d k h ia e te (ifin -c c v e rin g ) o r pM ll_(kyohA )'
#?*
* * * t I s eaten a f t e r th e b u r ia l w ithout s a l t by th e c lo s e s t
t i v e s and g rav e -d ig g ers and a l l rho p arta k e o f i t must sle e p t h a t
n ig h t i n d aao ased 's b u t;
and no p ray e r l a o ffe re d .
d is lik e # by most p eople.
b u t nothing i s given to th e *Bee«d*f*
The e a tin g o f t h i s meat l a g re a tly
On th e o th e r hand though a
d o c to r when k i l l i n g a goat to t r e a t * p a tie n t, sa t* eal** # * # * *
o f m eat f o r b i s a n c e sto rs w ith a p ra y e r, th ese p leee* b ein g l* t* r *
.a t e n w ithout s a l t by c h ild r e n , t h i s k i l l i n g , p rim a rily **&*dL ;
in p u rp o se, 1* n o t to p r o p itia te and h a s no r e lig io u s s l g # f l * * * #
an i n te r e s tin g though somewhat uncommon k i l l i n g aBdhg tb*
%*V*du l a th e 'b rin g in g home? o f a s p i r i t .
Maboromo* an u n i# -
W r i t e * widow liv i n g *lt& b e r th re e c h ild re n in * v m a g * * f r e l a t l v e e t bad ha# much i l l n e s s i n th e fa m ily wbioh, a f t e r e e a s a l t a t i o n w ith many d o c to rs , *ae a tt r ib u t e d to h e r husband'*
b r o th e r , Phedula.
P b e d o le b a d be** stabbed t o death in a
vsStanoeslburg compound and was now com plaining,
I was ■
' b r o u g h t back home w ith a head o f c a t t l e '
a s khoao) .
A ll b i s r e la tiv e * **?» ask ed t* be present **&
#
1
r
*
..
..
r
,
ili!
;
169
w e t r t l r t , t t . t r -h a r e #
=o» t «
th e h e e r , W W W . i * W
p ie eto g . heart to he ThBtoie* C%oga, moiao hoiai . m
m
« •
i
^ .
On tw aw of the eeramoBy a yoang hlahK aai a h ttt
MiiMBle).
h n l l ^ a l f ,.® w w h t ana h e ld t t U * « w I M S l approaehed . t t t *
B rtahaeh o f apoolaU y prepared anoertrat Soar ( K J h ^ P
i n a f l a t B a sk e t.
=,1M 6i
M e e ltn s B efore th e o a l f , she prayed t o
jfcedal* w t t o n t B g th a t t h is h as h i s t o r n , t h a t A l the fa m ily
u
had gath ered to s e e him .given* sorn and hoggin g » ! » not t o « « »
fa r th e r l u m s s .
W » hhe had f in is h e d th e y opened th e month
O f th e g o a t and penned donn th e
Boor P h ilo th e B a S l s a id .
and t o l l a l l th e o th e r s p i r i t s th e s e B a t t e r s .’
TO* oompany
th en t r i l l e d a s I s oostom sry whan o f f e r in g to th e g o d s.
I t is
i n t e r e s t in g t o n o te t h a t no m ention was made to the s p i r i t
t h e g oat was B ein g .p la c e d ’ fo r him or t h a t ha should e n te r the
I t was c le a r ly taken f o r gran ted th a t th e s p i r i t mas
e o st.
- Z. 1
to
'W-
H ext,th fly r e p a ir e d w ith th e same ca la b a sh t o th e courtyard
o h ere a l l ’ th e c h ild r e n were c e l l e d t o s i t n e a r .
prayed
to th e
offending
s p i r i t , e g e ln a sk in g
fo r
TO» S B S l
h e a lth . .
poured t t e B eer on th e ground where a sp e a r . B a t t l e d
M.
“
she
and Born.
■
drank whet was l e f t In th e c a la b a s h , ea ch one p la c in g I t i n tu rn
on the ground,
too
d o cto r who. su p e r v isin g h is s id e o f th e
ceremony, had Been Busy in a h u t p rep arin g h is m ed icin es
now
= E E = S :1
^
^
W
1
h r t r t C t t t . end « t t . t t l l and to t l . . k n o t.
J
.
i
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L
J
r
r
310
;
tia n bo tomaeM sBo=ra« f i r s t tk« * o i e t a i i . la to r tM * ' l s
b o iy o f the c a l f as w e ll,
s e l f wee A lcw »4 to 8=-
«» m m
t r i l l e a «**B « « * e
W te w ln g to the eocrtyert * e r a t »
6 W = t s e t m la y , th e toctor took oat a hag »? $ » « « »
Whlatt M shook ap to • smoke? tiE -3 s 2 ia 6 S l t » oh jeots in i t s
Then he tog a h ole sto r e th e beer te a been WWW*.
Meanwhile th e m a t o f a goat which had been k i l l e d »ae
cooking in a p o t.
o
Before the k i l l in g (which we aid not wttneto)
m edicine, we were t o ld , had been smeared on th e goat while t h e
doctor u ttered the words, ' S l e e p , d e e p here and look a fter your
p eojfte.’ » .a la n e. le l^ e n ^ J ^ e J B a ^ -
-
»» «»'
L * e a t e n without s a lt by a ll the r e la t iv e s , as s e l l as a few
outsid ers who had helped catch the c a lf and the hones and the
hones were c a r e fu lly c o lle c te d .
A 4=6 e » l » 4 hold of one an
was Chased by a ll t i l l the hone was r etr ie v e d .
Having place
th e hones in th e h o le , the doctor enquired, JI» which d irection
do the Lovcdu look when hurled, ?
The
Po lo te4 t0 tM COr
m en takin g the toad o f the goat, ho placed i t facin g north on
;
top o f the hones and sa id , -We people a l l lo o k in that d irectio n ,
took “ a l0 ‘no * , A “
save to t h e j s a t t to pour on the hones, 'smoked* them him self
and mad* a sm ell mousd.
% *ard8 *un**t th ey begaB dsaaiBS **& sin g in g i S a m *****
,; e e = 3 B
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•' to'.
r
^ . C. ;
.
in t m % ##
la n a 1 ® sal#
----------- ---m m & j % ***
#»# p f » v l # 4 #*" # * # f W W 4%#aiDn V*R 1 #
#,d%Rl«e
.
„
,^ 4 ^ 4
i.At'k g # « w y H8B& # f t 9 f *
■■gmB'W -gwwijw* *f*
Vi^38gruriT»,i
^
A # m lAGt
km m .
f o r # $ W W . o f t k e # a t By#ol,%88s
W* w m
W
W # ^
#at
tw tf
\
,
,
.
'
:fc.-
*# # » *#&&-
" W lim o rt» If y 0 f b la s p t r l t .
th a t, a
o
% # im m o rta lity o f lo r s d o s p ir it 8 i s o f p r a c tic a l ia p o r tw c o
Oijly f o r t #
W %*** g@ner_vtion# badkf
W ra y remomusrsd.
g r W l p a r W s aM
beyoB& t h i s % W W #
me *pifl * th at aahae w e t tr o u ts *%* dW*e
t h a t have d ied f a r from horn m d l a
ligloDB praoticea thaae tend to he the moat important.
m -
Wh
a ld e a o f t h e fa m ily , t h a t o f o n e 's f a t h e r end t h a t ofon*?* a * th * f
&p@ equally important^ hath oaae* trouble and both m ath# p la* ^
# ta d }
and t h i s in an sm w rate re f lo o tio n o f th e a o sl* !
t n r e , o f r e la tio n s h ip reoW ned t a a t e r e l l y w d o f e a t t i * l i m a
o
te ta e e n in te m a r r y ln g f a m ilie s .
% * a a n fle w & tio a o f th e a n o e e tra i * o ri4 l a so d i f f e r e n t
# « eat
0t
* »
««W
W »6.
» u t t » ® * Ear»rtstoe tte t
« a t m r l i n e s < * g rro a p a re n ts are » o o g = t s e a .
s v im
ilw
sm a * » » a
l a t M l i n e Of th e t « t w » . A # e r I s * i » * v l » e * m
« f » • f a t h e r ' s m other may a ls o h e m e n tio n e d
m se A „
« •
th a a s e !W »
o m o l a t o r in a t i e # • * — * < « « » * ” *
MS*
fa th e r's yW Ber W h .r .- « » •»««* trrabU oe ” * e ra a a to a ^ W ,W also apea h i s fath er . o t h e r 's fath er, elder brother,.elder
sis te r sad mother. »s«oato4 goats to tufU «oo»tors tend to .,
«»=>• rw « U
hot 40 not al«oys,.w n in « *
V "™
* ***
v ..
■
J
L
i f-
J
4RB
A* l a #**1*1 o r p e i l t i a a i *fr$ag*#eB%#* % *
#*&# i&8# m#y r*a#d» W fo ra th #
1$ *&y ###e* # a f * r * e
*B#**tora ar* *on*$rmd#
eaqpiatdLy
%B $ M #**#& Zaa&ly» f* p ln*t&no@» th #
fa th e r* * l i n e
l a **#**%*& #x*ap% f o r M/DhasiK *ben th e y oaos* * ll) * e a , W t
th e fa th e r* s m other
l i n e l a all-lm p o rt& n t,
I t l a t o tb*
l a t t e r t h a t 'that hoaat^X oonujajl^le 4eAl(&tt*& #B& i t l a
b e a a t t h a t the new corn l a glvsn every y e a r.
th is
I h l a emphesla
r e i l e o t a th e l i n k s w ith th e queen which th e fa m ily wlabea to em—
pbaalB** f o r h o m y ja jl, th e a n c e sto r of th e f a th e r ? * mother* was
th e a e th e r o f l & j a j l 1*
I t l e in te r e s tin g ^ to o ,to see how hloo& r e la tio n s h ip l e #*»
phaglged even i n t h e oaoo o f th e p re s e n t queen who l a wot l a th e
d i r e e t l i n e o f k ing# ana qnoeMa*
(*###&**#») 4i*&
3b@ l a a t queen^ B h ja jl 11
h e r auooaaaor h#ing th e 4 * * # # ? 9 f
b a r o h i e f w ife le a k h e ie who happen#* a le e t o be * f a r - o f f a ia te r * ,
In th e w o rah l^d lro o tea t o th e ro y a l an q esto re one wouia **p*@t
t o f in * th e *14 k in g s an* queans being %&***#&,
In a o tn e l f e a t*
h*w$v#r, t h e i r names a re h a rd ly e v e r m entioned and %e#&wamm*
th e l o s t queen &@* n e v er been known tit pays* tr o u b le .
I t 1# th #
iBmedi&t# fa m ily o f th e p re se n t queen who oOoupy th e pent r e o f
th e s ta g e ,
%b# ro y a l d e a ic a te d cow i s Leakhale o r Kago*o» k * th sr
o f th e queen^end I t i s ^iequeen*s own 4*&% r e l a t i v e s th a t m ithhnld
ra in ,
% e sober***# o f th e s o c ia l and th e * n * * str# i worlds i s seen
even i n yeger* t * th e ig p i l o s t Ions o f th e b fld e -^ fi* # (w z y ee l* )
ay#@ a*
B lo lo g lo a l p#& *#a8dblg n o t #*#ls&ly reoognigad i s oaf
'
#
&a y e l l # # * @#4 *0% only *&# t h t blologto& l 2**b*r
# f $8*
i& f W
#W&& ? r h i e rolm tivog ro v e r ***a* &%]*##*
*#@# f e l l a * th e
(medimo a
dlkMmo) #y
* # # #b&& #%#**# saw* W d k * o f tb# a * # i * o f i t # a@tb#r* 0 % m t # a n # wa d im eon ja im m s-bw e)* h u t th e queenfs an o eat o r e # * * e lll%a#ae &a o h lia re n o f any o f her **ives* whoever
t h a i f f&tb&r may b»*
them .
A # quaen I s o fte n re q u ire a to rb ae a .f o r
In th e g a th e rin g to g e th e r i n worship o f a i l f e i e tl v e e on
o e r t a in oooaslons^ th e s o o la l ayetem l a e im lle rly r e fle o to ^ .
When* a f t e r many deethe o r muoh U ln e g a in a fam ily th e dice
o rd e r a mukhoyp. a r o l l glows g a th e rin g of a l l r e l a t i v e s , n o t om y
th e lin e a g e b u t r e l a tl v e e on both o id ea (mulogo Jklnoluding th a w
by m arriage ^meot,
Haoh b rin g s a b a sk e t o f oom a# a aontrihn-r
t io n to e a rd s th e b e e r f o r th e oooaslon,
though I n r e l i g io u s m a tte rs th e preoodenoo o f the o h le f
house i s m oogni sod and I t o o o ssio n a ily happens th a t a yonnger
b ro th e r who h as q u a rre lle d w ith an e ld e r b ro th e r has I n #1% b w l l l a t l o n t o #sk him to perform r e l i g io u s offloe* th ere i s a e o n s t a n t tendenoy f o r th e in d iv id u a l fw n lly to a s s e r t i t s e l f a s
a g a in s t th e extended fa m ily .
A fte r a q u a rre l a younger b r o th e r
may» ebon th e re i s tro u b le ^ g s t h is n te rln o s i s t e r to o f f io la t*
and s e t up h i s own s h r in e s ,
gomotlmss sham th e e id e r b r o th e r
n e g le o ts h i s r e lig io n s o f f io e s j a younger one i s to ld by th e
d e o to r to have a s h rin e and i n t h i s oase k h lth o n K o a lle d **rphah
o f th e c o u n try ' ) i a o fte n used a s a l e s s e r m r in o .
m t only the sohome of instltutionailaed soeiai relations
b#t W
###*
la* y e lig lo t).
r e l a t i o n s In gydlnnfy l i f » l e
The f a o t t W
# a go as wep@ koowa l a &!#* i s
l a r g s i y p*##pa*l&&# #>r wmy * f tb * o u tstan d in g e b a ra o te r is tle *
#
& ***# w c rsh l^ .
1*0 m a t n o t eapapt at behaviour p a tte r n o f
worsb&ppor t o om nipotent @*d«
Indeed one o f th e moot
lp#a*fk*B&0 e b a r a o te rlo tio e o f lovado r e l i g io n i s th e complete
abgeno* Of a#* toworde tb# en o eg to rs.
poepl* p re y to tb* s p i r i t e
a s man t o man* sco ld in g them o r rem inding them o f t h e i r d u tie s to
t h e i r c h ild r e n ,
The fo llo w in g prayer u tte r e d sham pbeduia va*
("brought home* I s ty p ic a l:
*B0 say* b a re l a your oofn* Bbsdule*
What s o r t o f a person are you who do not liv e h ap p ily w ith your
p e o p le ? .
Today *11 your c h ild re n have gathered h e re ,
oome to see you given co rn .
And tomorrowf when th ey depart*
d o n 't l e t th e re be a s in g le ana who rem ains tro u b le d .
them i
Tbay have
Watch
th ey are your c h ild re n *’ (Re re mavgLe sea*, Pte dube *
la u a a* le n a muAho d a l *& bo *** tb ak b ala l# vatbo v& h#e?_
mamaal moonu vans -genu gamoga v* bhavagane 'tfd.
khl fiwa mavsle.
la m
e matso he ifa khl doha bn khi rove W#0 1#
vo * du&
Dho aa tswenveha.
la #a tswarose;
ge vena veuu).
aven the posers and attributes of the gods are not so for
rwoved from those of the living*
An aged person Is sometimes
referred to as ^our god* (mudlmo sesu) and h is displeasure W ing
l i f e may bo fseen In th e d ic e ' a s th e cause Of illn ess or* a f t e r
h i s death may be avenged upon those who have angered him.
An
Old # lfe of the queen, who had long been ailing* sent her a mes^
gag# saying* i# le s s you give me ox liver, I f l l never die byt keep
on troubling people. * The queen, notoriously averse to siaugh-
i
r
r
u s
te rW g e a t t l g f o r m oat,
%&*### #
compile a ; i t h W a r*g e* at
(wwwf from go o i a a woman.
;
&1V1M& B kW lV ** (BMW* p a f t i a o l a r l y th e fa th e r* * e l a t e f h a t
e l so f & # * r eW mothor)^ oven i f r o t o ia b a t because o f th e a o *1*1 im p lio atio n a o f t h e i r o lo sa r e la tio n s h ip ^may by oonsoious
e r #v$%*B49haalo*& (fep fo asea) diapieaBor* l a t h e i r h e a rts *****
i l l n e s s (mahava).
O
When R a m a tltirs daughter was about to s e t out
f o r h e r new home* h e r mother* q u ite unexpectedly and w ithout th e
p rev io u s knowledge o f anyone, took some w ater and s q u irte d (bu
i t on th e ground n e a r the sh rin e , say in g , 'You people o f **,
o u rs , 1 m y self, mother of th e g ir l* uhas^ l e n t they say I remained
* l t b a d i s s a t i s f i e d h e a rt.*
By in tim a tin g t h a t she bad no g r l o - |
vanOG* she t r i e d to safeguard h e r s e l f from b e in g , a t soma fu tu r e
a*te* found In tb# d ie s a s the osuee o f b ar daughter*# b a rre n n ess.
rnoonsolouB g riev a n ce s a re re c o g n ise d ms working l ik e our
a sH * d re g re ss e d qp@piex#e.
O
I f th e d ie* a ssig n an i ll n e s s ^ a*y
b a rrp n n e so , t f a person who has no oonsolous com plaint, be must
n e v e rth e le s s nhasa. b u t b is p ray e r w ill b e , 'D o n 't say when you
(th e a n c e sto rs) e e ls * h er womb t h a t 1^ i s I* (meaning* do n e t
e t t f i b u t * your being s t i r r e d up* to d is s a tis f a c tio n in my b& qft)i
d f be may say* *%f I t l a I , l e t th e c h ild be w ell* (meaning*
@9
% am unaware t h a t I am th e cause and do not w ish to be* l e t tb#
c h il d r e c o v e r).
Hu chaaa
in th e s e oircum atances ro co g n lses
p sy c h o lo g ic a l p r in c ip le s t h a t have been C le a rly form ulated only
In the 8 0 th c e n tu ry .
I f one ha# a grievance on* p ray s, 'Why i s
i t th a t you r i s e up on my acco u n t?,
i f i t i s 1* I say* l e t them
glv* me such and such * th in g (**g*» b e e r o f r e c o n c ilia tio n ) and
L
\
L
;
ym
a * Aot fba # e t6 f
(#**#* f a r t h e r t r e a t i * atw at i t ) ,
A* $h$ goQe have bsman a tt r lW a e s , **e?sblp* 1# n o t 9bara@+»
t a r W d by W m llity , o r fo rm a lity .
Indea* th e *or4 w *fW p *#
ap%&W ** the &#@da aboaia 1** understood in &eeealar *e*e* tar
honouring r a t h e r than i n our r e lig io u s sense o f rev eren ce, v em ^
r a t i o n o r d evotion.
Even a t th e most Im portant o ffe rin g s you
n@y f i n * I t d l f f l o u l t t o oatoh -the vords o f the o f f l c l a t o r amid
til* t a l k i n g and la u g h te r o f th e o n lo o k ers.
But you w ill probably
h e q r him say , * It i s n o t w ater, t r u l y I t i s t o e r , ' o r ^ I t I s not
juart m&hodo ( lig h t b e e f) i t i s r e a l beer* when ho pours o u t g ra in
and w a te r;
and you may s e e , as we onoe d id , how he wihks a t h is
f r ie n d s who sm ile a t th e d ecep tio n .
I f sn u ff i s placed f o r th e
gods in a ceremony* twa onlookers w ill lo s e no tim e In begging
gome f o r them selves from th e o f f i o i a t o r .
Tbe ask in g e f a fa v o u r from tics gods w ith b e er 1# patiw rned
on eWryday conceptions of reciprocity..
You sometimes definitely
s t a t e in your prayer* 'We give you t h a t you may give h e r (th e
p a tie n t) l i f e * (as 1* f a th u g u la hore l e v a f e TSpJbeW
J# # t *s
i n r e a l I l f * when a sk in g a fav o u r you approach a person w ith *
g ift, so in an offering you may say, as did the chief c o u n c illo r
i n G r a i n s a c rific e * ' Go i e suma «a ^uu ye* ( i approach you w ith
t h i s sh e e p ).
A s id e a o f prayer a s solemn commnipn w ith th e
gods f o r th e u p liftm e n t o f th e s o u l, found i n
higher r e lig io n s
i s absent* Bantu religion, moreover, i s cheerfulj at the har­
vest o f f e r in g ©von- the gods themselves in the form of SwWaj anc
s m s t o d rin k and h*
marry w ith
you .
alAGBt * E ttr8 * * * * 8 # Of
&%* * * t #% #?% **
m o# of
e p e a u istiv *
T M & m e#
*%& tblagB a* th e l i f e b e m a fte r * r fb*
e f th e godef t h e i r s l e e e a e a t i d L l y *
:
p re s tls s l
fa& lgle& i n th ig h f i t s * ere @f f a r g r e a te r import**#* th an #tt& *
t a # s f m la g * e a tlo h tbam b e lie f ,a n a i t s r i t e s #r% dir&at*# to
p r a e tlo a l eade e**b *a recovery from i l l n e s s andi th e prow rim g
e f falB *
iBaeed th e r e I s h a rd ly room in t h i s ao o iety f o r th e
s p e c u la tiv e maw* th e man she ask s h im se lf o r o th e rs th e raaso n e
f o r th in g * .
When* f o r example, Simeon* prompted by our ques­
t i o n s on t h i s m a tte r, asked th e o ld people sh e th e r each month
bad i t s own moon o r w hether i t was th e same moon t h a t appear**
month a f t * r month* th e f i r s t re p ly mam* *1 thonght yon mere geln g
t o a s k me a tm e m a tte r.
Those th in g s yon apeak of &r* o h ild lsh J
A nother was, f l o e r ta tn ly d o n 't spend my time ^hlnklng a# m oh
th in g s ) and a t h i r d was, 'Yon '11 become mad I f yon d o n 't take
dare** w ith th e a d d itio n a s an a fte rth o u g h t* )D on't , s k me.
peo p le t h a t know,
I don*v th in k ahont th e moon}'
ask
i n vain
d oes on* en q n lre in to th e meaning o r reason o f a r i t e * f o r th e
/
r e p l y alw ays la* *The hones t e l l n s to do th e s e th in g s ' and th e
p f& etin a i end l a p h rased a s determ ined by th e bones*
In fa s t
th e d ie* do p la y a dominating ro le in determ ining th e n a tu re o f
r e lig io n s r i t e s and i t is * only by q u ie tly w atching d iv in e rs a t
work and p e rs o n a lly a tte n d in g r e lig io n s r i t e s t h a t one can lo a m
anything abont towed* r e lig to n e theory*
Share are oonsiderable differ***** from on* family to another
in the oondnot o f religions rite# and tb* nature o f ahrine* and#
einoe religion in primarily a family concern* few people know
i
r
:
n
.r .
1
.
u s
:
.
i#b#& ##& ? ##t@b&9 R?* do. B&t unooamoaly eae flB da & prootloe
#*&& to be Impogolble by dome people aooapted a* %e*a*l by t h e i r
belgbboora.
TM f a la tlo R between r e lig io n and m o ra lity l a a en b jeo t f o i l
o f aifeiO B ltle@ t f o r both eoaoeptloas are d i f f e r e n t from <wr$*
3 b # lr r e l a t i o n l e n o t Immediate and nan a l l y n o t consol on s ly
p h rased e y e t th ey a re Interconnected* a l b e i t i n ways t h a t a re
The gods help good and bad men a lik e * ,
^
not e asy t o see c le a rly *
^
th e y aond I l l n e s s w hether one I s t s r e f n l o r n e g ie e tf a l o f tb #
observances doe to them, and th e a f t e r - l i f e I s th e name f o r a l l .
Bnt w@ should be c a r e f u l n o t to dedcioe too much from th is *
3b*
p o s itio n o f a s i s t e r and h e r p r iv ile g e s a re sanctioned by th e
gCC#, a s i s a lso th e r e s p e c t due to o ld people .
And a t one r e ­
l ig i o n s ceremony where a q a a rrc i broke o a t b efo re th e r i t e s he—
gA&* psopl* h astened t a q u ieten th e p a rtie s * Saying, * I f y d n b P a
n o t c a re fn i yen w ill d sn a a-(nak» u p )tb * god*.
H k * q u a r r e ls .
O
The gods do g a t
l a g en eral th e gods a re n o t upholder* o f cnatami
y # t on on* occasion in 198?* two zwldajana c r ie d a l l day l a tb #
bash a t Maulws because some women bad broken th e taboo a g a in s t
*
c u ttin g wood th e r e .
i
■i
The c h ie f concern o f tb * gods appears t o b*
t o look a f t e r t h e i r own I n t e r e s t s .
They com plain when th e y d i e -
l i k e th e manner o f t h e i r b u r i a l , but th e y a re u n d istu rb ed #&*#
tw in* a re n o t b u rled in wet s o il,e v e n though t h i s Was * d is a s tr o u s
a f f e c t on th e whole c o u n try .
I f they **?» d istu rb ed
***-
tom in g e n e ra l, in s te a d * f th in * * d i r e c t l y a ffe c tin g them , tb*y
weu&d complain o f many d is tu r b in g changes i n tbos* days o f C&1~
tu r# Cont a c t ;
In stead * op* o n ly fin d s t h a t possessing; s p i r i t s
d io lik * B u ra p c m jtb ln g c and t h a t # t o f fe rin g s European u t e n s i l s
'T" %
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-
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J
r
r
'M
Gh&ptar 5
SK m ir 20SBE8BIQH
Sb* aw&t of s p irit poaeeaslon. %ble& aam* **m# th irty year*
ag* w ith th e S h sw lo fro® th e e a s t and n o rth -a o e t,
■ . - v . v
.
been
r$#AH y In co rp o rated in to love do r e l i g i o a and sin e s i t s ino option
■;
&t# g ain e d oonald.erabl# p o p o la rity . The form i n whloh i t i g found
3,.# somewhat d i f f e r e n t fro® t h a t among Shangana-Thonga, where th e
I
rs
pOBsesBlng a p l r i t i s regarded a s a fo re ig n s p i r i t fro® some o u tAids tr ib e * ^mpng th e %***&» th e posseasin g s p i r i t i s an e n o s s te r
#mi m&2\lika any anoestor^ demand th e ttaual .shrine o r SaSio&ted
an im al.
. r-
The c u lt i s n o t accepted by a l l ; th e ro y a l fam ily
d sp ra e a te I t a s fo re ig n and as d e tr a c tin g fro® t h e i r p re s tig e
*a& many o th e r p eople d is lik e i t , h u t i t s n o is in e s s and showiness
though Incongr-ous w ith t r a d i t i o n a l Lcnredu reserv e and la c k of
d is p la y , n e v e rth e le s s makes a pop u lar appeal in th e s e more i n secu re days.
A s p i r i t e n te rin g a parson causes i l l n e s s and th e f i r s t
o b je c t i f th e c u lt is directed a t c u rin g th e i l l n e s s , so t h a t
O
i n i t i a t i o n i s reg ard ed a s therapeutic .
Long continued U ln e si.
o f a p a t i e n t , which w ill y ie ld t o no c u ra tiv e tre a tm e n t, w i l l
b» diagnosed a s due to an ancestral s p i r i t "pressing him down*,
because i t wants t o m an ifest i t s e l f i n him .
The symptoms a re
m a w v a ry d e f i n i te ; M ash leh laall was " i l l a l l over th e body*
and s u f f e r e d from sw ollen le g s which f iv e d if f e r e n t d o c to rs h ad
:
t r i e d u n su c c e ssfu lly to cure; Hamolatela was weak and a il i n g
m ^ -y A
a f t e r th e b i r t h Of h e r f i r s t c h il d .
The symptoms a re n e ith e r
v io le n t l i k e th e running amok which accompanies ukuthwaaa among
t h e bgnni n o r o f *. s p e c i f i c a ll y nervous n a tu re .
EpilepsyfW hieh
I s cemmon, b e a rs no r e l a t i o n to possession, and an y p e c u lia r
L
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L
J
bghmvloT# 1* more lia b le to bo a&t*lbat#a to witeBaraft tba& to
# # g p lrits .
I
I t i s b e lie v e d t h a t a possessed perso a a f t e r d eath
l i k e a l a t o m to m anifest its e lf in some desoeniaat and th e r e is
a tendency f o r p o ssessio n to run. in fa m ilie s .
In one fam ily
three siste r* end th e ir mother vere *11 possessed, Sometimes,
especially where others in the family are possessed, a person
dees not even get i l l ; he jo st becomes possessed when people are
vising o r S&ttelng in th e manner of the onlt.
oontaot with
f%aln l o c a l i t i e s o r people a se o o ia te d with possession I s o ften
#LffiolaAt, fhne i t is said th at, shonld one be among the
Be&hwasb* in portngneee East A fris*, # s beeome poeeeeeed in *
manner d ifferen t from the Lowed*, one risks beosmlng pe*#*#as6 ty
m erely p ic k in g up something dropped by a member of that trib e o r
eating the fru it of the f i g , mndamma (Biospyros a e s p ilifo rm is ) o r
munebenebe ( C assia p s te r s la n a ) ,
6noe I t 1* known that a person is being ^pressed down* by some
s p i r i t wishing to manifest its e lf , a le^ops d o c to r, h im se lf posseseed and sk illed in dealing with the possessed, is called to onre the
patient* This is done, not by ezorolsm, but by rite s designed to
enable the s p i r i t to come and make known its wishes along le g itim a te
channel*, known in the cu lt.
For the s p irits th at possess people
a r t not e v i l s p i r i t s to be e x p e lle d ; they are the ancestors whom
one worship* and th e ir desire occasionally to manifest themselves
through #o*a liv ing relativ e 1# comparable to th a t impulse toward#
U fa th a t make# them desire ahrinea, dedicated animal# and the
p e rp e tu a tio n of th e ir name# in th e ir descendants. The method by
fRMmh & s p irit la enabled to *com* out* and disclose it* identity
and the possessed person to become the h o s t (led& ia) of th e s p irit
-W wrM&kotiS b e in g i l l a o a e W * l& rgely of Aanaiag; *a& *a *11 ***»*qaeat oooaelon*
|
t* * S p ir it* a e a i f * # them aelres th e ? s ig n if y
t h e i r a s mire t o a&na*,
D ro o lB g -b. t h e e e a t r e l f e a t a r e o f t h e e u l t . t h e a p i r l t .
a r e th o ts g h t t o e n jo y t h i s d m c l n g j Bhen m a n l f e e t t o s t h o m e l v e e
e t f e e t l t i t i s s o f t h e p o s s e s s e s , t h e y o f t e n say t h e y h a t e come
to » p W " w i t h t h e o t h e r s e n d may e v e n c a u s e s l i g h t I l l - h e a l t h
o n t h i s a c c o u n t.
H ence q u i t e o f t e n w hen a p o s s e s s e d p e r s o n
a o M n o t f e e l w e l l , h e w i l l a s k f o r th e a ru m s, s a y in g h e m ust
asm s.
ta.l»PO « » o l n g c o n s i s t s o f f a s t m ovem ents o f t h e f o o t
f * t h e a o o o m p W m ,# «
drum s o r ta m b o u r in e s s a d r a t t l e s ,
It
a s e a n o e o f a n lo n o a sw U m e, t h e s e who s p e a k fhovsao, t h e l a r g e
h e m is p h e ric a l g m a
$° W
n i l a r e , h o w e v e r b e a t e n w i t h t h e h a n d s , t h e elb o w s b e in g P la c e d
o n t h e a r u m s k in i n a p e c u l i a r m an n er.
H alos- who a p e a k S o th o o r
LovedU use o n ly t h e c o n i c a l drum s I n t h e o r d in a r y m an n er.
I f t h e d a n c e h a s a g r e a t f a s c i n a t i o n - a f t e r a s e a n c e one
f i n d s e v e n s m a l l c h i l d r e n p r a c t i s i n g t h e s t e p s - t h e d r e s s w orn
b y th e p o s s e s s e d ad d s t o th e a t t r a c t i o n .
C lo th s o f d i f f e r e n t
c o l o u r s a r e w orn ro u n d t h e w a i s t a n d t i e d a t th e b a c k , ro u n d t h e
le g s a r e u s u a lly le g g in g s o f th e o u te r s h e l l o f th e d y j u t l
(O n co b a s t i n o s a ) f r u i t f i l l e d w i t h p e b b l e s t o r a t t l e a s one
“
o n th e h e a d 1 . a c a p o f f u r o r b r i g h t l y c o l o u r e d w ool
o r a h e a d - g e a r o f b l a c k f e a t h e r s , w h ile v e r y o f t e n a
« . o r s t i c k i s b ra n d is h e d In th e h an d .
T h e se a r e t h e S & —
:rrrr.r;:rr=—u.
it
tor f a l l i n g t h a t a g o at be *plaoe&* f o r him. "W e'll &o o w
&*#%*, th e re la tiT e a r e p lie d , "but remember ve a re ^ o a r and. I t i s
& a # # * f t h a t w i l l ta k e t l a e , *
The s p i r i t , angry a t t h i s
u m d llln g n e s a , r e to r te d , " i f you d o n 't comply, i ' l l ta k e away
a y p e rso n (In whom % m a n ife st m yself) and go and sle ep w itk h e r,
f t l l Mekhadi ( e ld e r b ro th e r of th e p o ssessed who l e a r n t th e
p ro fe s s io n o f d o c to r from th e s p i r i t ) I ' l l tak e away my p ro fessio n
from Mm8 . (He l e khe diyo wyalo, ge do doha l e lezan a l a
m ,
ga
ye l a i n g a lo . La ye l e woje ffakhadl ge do Je a wu^aga wya ga ga,
l e a m ulaboni). "We' 11 do our best*,, urged th e r e l a t i v e s , "but
d o n 't go away in a n g e r,«
in s p ite o f t h i s power, p o ssessin g
s p i r i t s have n e v e rth e le s s to ta k e o@i|a3Laanoe of p u b lic opinion
and th e d e s ire s o f r o y a lty .
The
s p irit # f th e w ife o f a ro y a l
r e l a t i v e asked, f o r a m an's lo in c lo th which hismm. possessed by
male s p i r i t s o o o asio n ally wear, but he re fu s e d to a llo w i t an
th e grounds t h a t f o r a woman to wear man's a t t i r e i s unbecoming.
An o ld woman th e re fo re addressed th e s p i r i t , saying ^ P e o p le here
d o n 't l i k e i t " and th e s p i r i t was s a t i s f i e d .
I n i t i a t i o n in to the c u l t ,
A
s h o rt d e s c rip tio n o f an i n i t i a t i o n , which c o n ta in s a l l th e
elem ents o f
m
o rd in ary seance, w ill i l l u s t r a t e so w o f th e main
fe a tu re s of th e c u l t .
When th e d o c to r, c a lle d to conduct th e
I n i ti a t i o n * h as a rriv e d w ith h i s o r h e r a tte n d a n ts , drums a re
fe tc h e d from th e d i s t r i c t head, and o th e r a is e lp le s o f th e d o cto r
I n v ite d t o b e p r e s e n t.
Nothing can , however, be done b e fo re th e
s p i r i t o f th e d o c to r descends upon h e r .
f e allow t h i s , th e y
r e t i r e t o a b u t and l i e down a s i f t o s le e p , w hile a n o ld woman
p u ts down some p in ch es o f sn u ff on th e ground and b a lls upon th e
S p to its t o m m ...
In & t m iflinutes th e d o o to r groans and
■Gptimvm and th e s p i r i t S ig n ifie s i t s a rriv a l, hy a song o f g r e e ts
In g ,
I t w a lls f o r i t s l& lom c lo th e s and th e do cto r l a ..Reseed.
0oon taw# s p i r i t s o f h # r a tte n d a n ts a ls o a r r i v e and treatm ent^
which c o n s is ts i n making th e n o v itia te dance, i s 'begun..
W arn
B etty m s being I n i t i a t e d we a rriv e d e a r ly one Saturday
evening a ttra e te d . by th e n o ise ^to f in d a p ictu resq u e seen#.
was
Yr
It
n to r and f iv e l i t t l e f i r e s had been l i t in th e v ic in ity o f
th e c o u rty a rd o f B e tty 's h u t.
In th e c e n tra were th re e women
dancing t o th e music o f drums and r a t t i e a.
We s a t dawn by
th e n e a r e s t f i r e and found o u rse lv es w ith a group o f o ld women.
1W p eople had arranged them selves, n a tu ra lly as i s t h e i r manner,
in age-grouns round th e v a rio u s f i r e s , young m arried women a t
one, sm a ll boys a t an o th er, g i r l s over pub erty a t a t h i r d .
She
d u st ro se hig h ; what had sounded p l e a s # ,. enough a t a d ista n c e b ss a on* s a t in i t * m idst, an # la o s t i*Bb6iu*bl* d in ; tA il* in
th e f l ic k e r i n g and u n c e rta in l i g h t o f the f i r e s th e dancing took
on a f r e n z ie d e f f e c t t h a t l e n t to th e scene a w ildness and weird-n ess seldom met w ith except i n t r a v e l l e r s ' t a l e s o f d a rk e st
A f ric a .
Wevar ag ain in our freq u e n t atten d an ces a t malopo
dancing d id we re c a p tu re t h a t f i r s t sane* o f welrdneas so la r g e ly
duo to i t s n ovelty and our own ignorance.
That n ig h t th e dancing
stopped a t 1.30 41,*. bu t by dawn i t had begun again, co n tin u in g
w ith in ta fv & ls o f r e s t during th e whole o f Sunday and Sunday n ig h t
B e tty danced most o f th e tim e; i f she r e s te d to o long th e women
u rg ed h e r o* saying, *How do y f* expect thus s p i r i t to ***# o a t I f
you. d o n 't dancet*
A ll t h i s tim e she was being t r e a te d w ith
m edioines; b lao k powder mixed w ith b u t t e r fait was amaarsd on h e r
lo g * , w hit* f r o t h o f m edicine churned w ith a p o rrid g e s t i r r e r was
t
n
r
r
on varloue part*# Of the body, aom# being gdminiateyea
a3a* internally,end ini'TimionB were given her to &rlnh.
Mo
f6@& W&* e&ten either hy B6t$f or By the woman who#* epirlt* were
up^m
Shwm|
(
th e very s ig h t o f porrifige makes eom# mslapB vomit
*&& th e o o ly auetaa& a*# allow ed, w h ile d an o in g l e "beer* i f th e r e
happsae t o he any.
l a t e #h. Sunday a fter n o o n th e y s a i l e d h e r mother* @ b r o th er t o
t r y 8B& ind%oe th * S p i r i t t o m a n ife st I t s e l f * f o r a o e tc re had
o
in d ic a t e d t h a t th e tr o u b lin g s p i r i t was on t h e m other's s it e *
t a k in g a cRjahaah o f w a ter l a h i s hand, th e m oth er's b ro th er k n e lt
n e a r th e dancing g i r l and sp a t m outhfuls o f w a ter o u t on th e
ground, s a y in g , *6oae o u t, s p i r i t , th a t t h i s p erso n a ls o may be
W eH.
She rem ains a i l i n g and when we go t o d o c to r s th ey t e l l us
i t i s a s p ir it.
Cost© o u ts id e t h a t t h i s p erso n can be w ell, ( o o o l) 3 »
autho i& ena a th a k h a le o d u la a kb# Iw ala*, Be r e
j srudlmo a g
g@ y a dih agen e wa r@ g # mudimo, a o ijwele W&e muthg yo a Aiwa
ge p h efo )
Som etimee, instead, o f hu phase, w ith w ater, mixed
gy*la# o f a l l k in d s a r e thrown o ver th e dancer and th # words used
a r e , *We a re g iv in g you ev ery th in g t o some *
I t any *7*%
som ething, which can b e overcome only by m agical means, l a h o ld in g
back th e s p i r i t , a s when, on one occasion, th e s p i r i t was s a id t o
b* b e w ild e red a t th * c ro ss-ro a d s not knowing which to ta k e .
.All
th e road* except t h a t le a d in g i n to th e v illa g e were m agically
*barr*&* and th e s p i r i t , th u s guided, oaae s t r a i g h t l a *Hd mmnlfe e te d i t s e l f .
D if f ic u lt a s i t
l a f o r a s p i r i t to oome on
*bs f l r e t eeessioa+ one# i n i t i a t i o n h as ta k e n p la o e , i t becomes
4k
Sim ple m a tte r.
%* **&* * s p i r i t m anifeat i t s e l f & person h as
m a y t * dance i n th e manner o f th e owlt o r t o l i e down w h ile *9***n# a n il s o* I t t * ****.
" 9 ^
** ^
L
**"* ^
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#*90f& * t Any t i * a W ith o # W ing Inlnoed..
&*ely (Ml tb* Honaay morning B etty. Bhnwing glgna a f *)&&&&%*
*
Io n , %AS*a l;<p Atrngger I n
t:
r
?:
Aaaolag ana people know th e s p i r i t
ame# be n e a r, Ker 3M>7*mant* beoaae more frenai*& , eh# p e t t # b a r
be&a* t p h e r h e a l am* araggeA h e r f e e t n n o e rta ln ly &&& th e n f e l l
t o t&* #po@n&'
8 # v e r# l women who he& been ezpeotin* th le ,o o e # it
aa& 0 *rrle& her* s t i l l q n lp erln g ana groaning. In to th # bwt.
"Gooaaay gre&ap*r*nt, oom* n ic e ly grandparent*, th ey kep t aaylng.
A f te r & few momenta B e tty began a song, one u s u a lly sung on th e
a r r i v a l o f a s p i r i t , g iv in g th e name o f th e s p i r i t upon h e r,
namely Basu&lle, h e r m o th e r's mother. Those p re s e n t saner the
r e f r a i n to th e accompaniment o f r a t t l e s .
Staggerings and f a llin g s
groaning* o r grow ling*, a re always sig n s of an appro&ohlng s p i r i t ;
sometimes the. possessed person runs away f o r a sh o rt d is ta n c e . A
g o a t was now brought in to th e h u t.
I t s body was smeared w ith me-
d lo ia e , some was poured down i t s th ro a t and, a f t e r th e p a tie n t
b re a th e d hard In to i t s mouth, i t was taken out and k i l l e d .
Under su p erv isio n o f th e d o c to r sm all p ieces were out from a l l
p a r t s and p la c e d i n a bowl While th e stomach content# and p o rtio n
o f th e l i v e r were s e t a sid e t o be used in cu rin g th e p a t i e n t . The .
S a p e rte say th a t th e sic k n e ss, from which th e a n ce sto r su ffe re d
b e fo re i t * d e a th and which presum ably causes th e p a tie n t to suffeggoea in to th e g o a t.
Before proceeding f u r th e r th e d o c to r to o k
th e bowl of meat t o th e h u t en tra n ce Where* a f t e r s e t ti n g a sid e
h a l f o f i t , she p la c e d i t w ith a l i t t l e a n o ff on th e ground
p ray in g to h e r s p i r i t .
ley
boy#*
Labor t h i s meat was roasted and eaten
The stomach content* were smeared on v ario u s
p a rt* o f th e body o f t&* p a t i e n t ; th e em ail piece# o f # # * t were
ro& cted, m W d w ith a b le a k powder* end a d m in istered on th e end
:
t * a l l f o u r th e po8*Q*ee& people p resen t^
*b# a o o to r #** buaied h o ra e lf o h a rrla g obi#* o f
&!#&* o f
i
v**leu#
j
W rk l a a b * * la l a wbloh e@*# o f th e go& t'e U v e r %a& * l-;
#e b a sa p at*
W ith t h la th e p ati# * # *** smoked th re e t&m#* t# d # f
* b la a k a t t i l l ehe ooughed and. s p lu tte re d .
f h l s took at consi­
d e ra b le tim e d uring which th e o th e r poeaeeeod women sang song*
111
t&Mi*
jW)#&owa* who l a posaesaed by & **&* c a lle d f o r lie;*
p ip e l h whloh dome hemp wae p u t,a n d evinced g re a t aatonlahment
when h e r fe llo w -w lfe , h e r a tte n d a n t when she l e poaseeaed, etruok
a match to l i g h t i t .
th e days oi h e r s p i r i t .
This was a European innovation Unknown in
S im ila rly when a p o ta to was b ro u g h t)
a l l th e p o ssesse d women examined i t w ith wonder, asking each
o th e r w hether i t was e d ib le .
While th e meat o f th e goat was being
Cooked w ith m edicine in th re e p o ts f o r those p re se n t, th e poseesaed women s a t o u tsid e on a mat, an honour accorded to t h e i r s p i r i t s
Zhey swat, s i l e n t and d ig n ifie d , saying nothing.
A fow l was
k i l l e d in o rd e r t h a t i t s le g might a ffo rd a medioine bag f o r the
p a t i e n t and th e c h ip s o f b a i t used i n smoking were ground to a
powder to be used by th e p a tie n t when e a tin g of th e f i r s t f r u i t s . [
I t m ight be m entioned t h a t th e d o c to r c a r r ie d home w ith h e r th e
h in d le g , sh o u ld er and b re a s t of the goat as h e r share^w hile th e
o th e r meat was regarded as a reward to th e crowd f o r i t s share in ;
dancing and sin g in g .
P er some tim e people s a t and ta lk e d to t h e i r frie n d s w hile
th e d o c to r worked w ith h e r m edicines and th e possessed women s a t
q u i e t l y in th e shade.
Suddenly
m
became aware of a k in d Of
pantomime i n which th e i n i t i a t e , d ire c te d in so&g by th e d o cto r,
was made So p l* y -a c t a l l th e work o f women.
She went to f e tc h
#&t#P and iwKiOd about tw enty y ard s from home, swept th e co u rty ard
•
.
*■isviM a la e , th e *% a#iag **6 im w ew iag o f meal&W, aooklag
[
**& # * # * # # * ftw a y #**#*& foot in $h* oawaot aa*&*r to
th e ***1% Doy *%**# m t& o# *h@ ha& married. (B etty W l *arrl*& h * f
f#*h#r* * *iat#r).
Met Of *11 she #a* taken to the mm* *&& '
ekinmhow t o Aaao# i n po*#e*e#a f&e&io#, a l l i t wee **!&, leat when
h e r e p l r i t l e f t h e r ah* wcmld tie la z y ea<L n o t know how to work.
B a tty wa3&*& a# it* & &rea* w ith a wooden ek p reealonleea lo o k and
a# tim e* app#a**& eo axhaaeted, t h a t we fe a re d ah* would not he
pw;. $* l i f t th e stam per when im ita tin g atam plng.
%hi# m i**-
show i s no t performed in a l l i n i t i a t i o n s , nor i s & goat always
k i l l e d , f o r th e methods o f doctors d i f f e r considerably and th e
p a tie n t* a r e l a ti v e s
may have no g o a t.
O ften th e p a tie n t 1*
get So dance and tr e a te d w ith m edicines t i l l She f a l l s town w ith
th e s p i r i t upon h e r.
I t w*a no* 3 o 'g lo o k in th e a fte rn o o n , and* th e I n i t i a t i o n
b ein g oom plet*, th e d ontor thought i t tim e t h a t th e s p i r i t #
d e p a rte d .
8h& ushered th e possessed in to th e but* where th ey
d l l e a t down, o ffe re d them each & plnoh o f s n u ff, took a r a t t l e
*&& began h e r fa re w e ll song, th e whole company ( f o r th e h u t had
f i l l e d w ith sp e c ta to rs ) jo in in g i n th e r e f r a i n .
Next th e i n i ­
t i a t e sang h e r fa re w e ll song ^mentioning t h a t she wanted a# h e r
a c c e s s o rie s - s e v e ra l w hite c lo th s , a w oollen nap and a spw&r to
h o ld when annoing.
When a l l bad f in is h e d sin g in g , th e y t o o t
o f f t b # l r zwithamo (d o th e e ),w h ic h t h e i r a tte n d a n ts ( f o r sa sh
p o ssesse d person h a s someone to h e lp til# when h i e s p i r i t ap p * * * )
p a t i n to bundle* t o ta k e away, and la y down t o s le e p ,
Aft®*"
th re e maaut** th e d o c to r g ru n ted and groaned sue d e p artin g s p i r i t#
*,,* a p t t o ^ s s t up ,wd began d re ssin g in everyday d o t k e s ,
o th e r s follo w ed be* example and went o u ts id e .
%*
She p a ti e n t , but
- ia% * a h o rt $ b il# b e fo re #» *%b#uate& , *#me B a ilin g os* o f $&# b e t
**& #*oia#& th # p#opl& fo r le t t in g b #r ovefslAqp la #& * abockij&G
(ap p e arin g t e have no knowleage of h e r i n i t i a t i o n ) . Then e l l
washed th e ir faces and urinated in the hedge as women do on rising
i n t h e m ornings.
In itia tio n Into the oult 1* said to make the person trail again
m € *1% into whose history one enquires claim to have been cured,
Betty h erself had no further trouble. If < however, they become
H I awgajin, i t may be a second sp irit^ fo r many people have three
op four,
There is , however, no further in itia tio n ; tha aeooad
s p irit is merely called upon to manifest its e lf , A second or
th ird s p irit may take possession without causing any illn ess,
m erely announcing I t s arriv al and making known its want® when the
person la possessed. After in itia tio n the s p irit manifests l t **lf when i t has some complaint or desire, when the person has
breken soma taboo, or when specially induced by dauelog or prayer,
A possessing s p irit always comes on a v is it of sympathy
(b* amsla) a fte r a death in the family. On the evening of the
ceremony f i r removal of the defilement of death (khltBblla), the
possessed person end friends in the oult who have bean in v iW lie
down in a hut, while an old woman eaU*
sp irit to *oom*
nicely* without harming its host. A few pinches of anutf May be
placed on the ground, Vltbwn a short time the sp irits m*Blfe*t
thamgolves and dance in the courtyard t i l l la te in the evening.
A possessed person has to keep certain taboo** be may never
*&t such f ir s t- f r u its ** pumpkin leave* or groan mealie** morula
fru it* o r boor made of the newly-harvested corn without medicine
jSlven him a t hie in itia tio n anA renewable every ?*** *r
taw year** any aewtblagwudeftakesf a* when a possessed woman
%#*#&*
am** W report** to '# * s p ir it.,
*ome # * 1 %
L
m y n o t t@ W &t*a v l t b & a**** s tia k l a s t th e s p i r i t
p
upon # # * ; o # a f * mgr n o t tameb Buropeaa m edial**. #wqr o f them
;
r m &%ay f r o # m#@p*aa* even # m s o t a * tu * iiy po#a###a& ami
*%* m*B &#& t o keep h i s books *#oi**ly lo c k s ! l a # s o lt-c a s * l* * t I
h i* w ife mhoold $e* them an! Tbeeo** tr o u b le ! by h e r s p i r i t .
The
v e ry * * a tla a o f th e w or! W o p e In th e preeene* o f a@*A aay w u se
1#%* s p i r i t t o e w e ,
Obssrvanoea a r e n o t th e same f o r *11 &&*
t&boos t o 1>e ab*#rva& Aepsn! la r g e ly on th e d o c to r who da** th e
in itia tio n .
th e c u l t .
Share a re no s p e c ia l b u r i a l r i t e # a s s o c ia te d with,
There i e , however, a vague b e lie f t h a t in ju ry t o &
!
m ake 31% th e v illa g e may in soae oases harm a possessed P*rso%
an i n t e r e s t i n g b e li e f i n view o f th e f a c t t h a t th e re jut *0 l l t t l *
tr a o e i n Lotodu r e lig io n o f th e Zulu id e a th a t a n o e s tra l s p i r i t s
m a n ife st them selves in snake*.
$hero 1* a special relationship between a possessed person
*a& the doctor who in itia te d him: every year whan the medicine
a**a@ renewal, beer or morula older 1# prepared* th* aoetorywho
come* with & number of dihlple* and attendant*, i* called *8* *b#rm
1* a great dance of tb* po#*#*8e& often lastin g several day*,
f h i s 18 ^dancing fo r m edicine” (hu -Sinaia te h ld i) . Somo psseeeaed ,
people bar# to b* specially doctored, before drinking tb* f i r s t
morclm older and tb# morula season 1* always a *&&* ##
i'
g&fbsrloga; others are r**ulr*a to contribute com a t harvest
;
tlm* fo r * large leioeo dsao* a t the bom* of the doctor. These
gatherings* a t wbidb a goat may b* slaughter#! la addition to tb*
iMser provldedf *d& greatly to the prestige of tbs aooter*
d&on* such gathering in #mrdb,1938 the doctor* she bad
been invited by the family of * g ir l eh* bad in itl^ e d the
y#8a%
- 1201*. th e @v*tiing v l t h thx*#
W * *a& m orale el& er &&& %**& prepare& .
.....
*R*o&
jy./.A
^
S&*% %W#t * t r e t i r i n g
# *#& th#y *&% pl&oe& mom* #B#ff near th e beaA in ora#P
%&#&
# # y wmk* th e l^ mplrlta vcwld. he iqwa them. At mldAlght they Mg&a
a#c&ng; hut It vas fAlnlng too much eo they went back t& he& t i l l
dam -when the aaetor #ise#r*& medioIne oa the lege of her followoraj
*b* &****#& i a lo lb o o clothe* eaa begaa a& ala. A* th e potaeeeeA
e&TShOt o&t W ile , th e s p i r i t i s tipoa. them, & la rg e pot o f W te »
w&* placed, fo r them two drink from (tad into th is the doctor pat a
powder.
Sometimes, as la another case we vlta*#*#&, # *
meaieiae is administered in morula fru its ; the possessed person
sucks one fru it and thereafter another into which powder has been
loasrtea.
The ease medicine is put la a pot of older for W r
use*
They danced two o r three ait a time, each possessed person
beginning in turn (hu sums) the sp&cial song eke wished to dance
**. # midday on* of the dancers f e ll down on the ground sad
Va# carried into the hut by old women . Then she a a ld /I am a
eseond s p ir it. I want to play with the others". They took off the
Sloth* of the f ir s t s p irit and donned others. ?bs eeoond s p irit
daaoed fo r a While* then/hen in a farewell sons While W cm ,
i t announced its departure,the old women had to dress the *oa*n
again in h er original cloths. In the afternoon many other
possessed people arrived to jo in in the dancing. They would
danoe a long time, then one by on* begin to .tagger to show the
approach of the sp irl* . The drum* would beat faster, tbs singing
be**** louden soon tb s person would f a ll to the ground to be
w a n e d in to tb s hut by the women* who would fetch It*
and ask i t to *some gently*, Oa* woman on beginning t* stagger
*at&& n o t s a l t f a *
th in g * to t a fetaheA* b u t
* W & # S ho** f o r them .
;
Bam* poeseasea p«*pl*'* a p ir l tg &!& # a t
#eaa 3 a a p lt* oaf t h e i r dwmaia*;
B&jla *ang l a & h ig h j k l e e t t *
# # * #&# hegaa to e ta g g e r an* ereryone e x p ec to l h e r B p ir it to
#»#*$*& upoa h e r, h u t !J* th e *a& *be m erely r a a away boa*.
A g re a t o#a*& gathered and th e aaaolng went oh f o r two day*
durihg whloh th e po*e*#ae& a te nothing ^hut dr*mh aeaio&M waiter
and a l i t t l e o ld e r and asuoked many morula f r u lte .
On the a f te r ­
noon *df the second .Sear th e s p irit# took th e ir leave in th e hack ahd
th e possessed were able to e a t of th e feast th a t bad been prepared
f o r them,
$h*y drank beer and ^fee porridge-then a goat was k ille d
i n t h e i r honour,
There 19 sometimes co n sid era b le jea lo u sy between naloia:
d o cto r* who w ith th o se i n i t i a t e d by them may fo ra r i v a l sch o o ls.
Sohib d o c to rs re fu s e to allow t h e i r fo llo w ers to danoe w ith those
I n i t i a t e d by o th e r d o c to rs
w ithout sp e o ia l p erm issio n .
At an*
se aa q e, a t which th e r e bad bean some u n p leasan tn ess, th e d o c to r
aBearsd some powder in to
InoiElons on th e neok, tongue, crown
and sid e * o f th e hands o f b a r d is o lp le e .
Then ta k in g some
medlo&ted w ater l a b o r mouth aha s q u irte d ( h u ^ a s a ) saying; *%
*plaou( you*
B o a 't you denoe anymore.
Amy w ith o u t .my speol& l p erm ission.
I &on*t Ilk # dancing #v*%y
Any le ia p p who daRces where
ye# sap* danoing W ill b reak h e r la g o r be b a d ly h u r t ," (@#* 1# 3*6 ,
i n k h i thwe l a khn win*.
6* do ra a a e a 1* l a a i a .
Baa k h l %*#** goeka y& 1"* ?&&& K*
I* =* 1* T iaaba l elop* 1# 1* #&& l« _ m
gea w ina. l e dm roveha hov* l a boWala k & W .
r#m#lna#P o f
t h e w a te r was #&v*a them t o d rin k .
A l e Wpb d o c to r o f te n ta k e s advantage o f ZboSBPf g a th e rin g s t o
f a r t h e r h e r p r a c tic e ,
':
Vhen baa? s p i r i t i s upon h e r and tb s hut; i s
;
..■.. v
.,,...
.
..
. :.
.
...
•
■„ ■:-
. - ’.r.:y - C 1LT
-t
•r* XS9”
f m i A t # < # * , AW v l l l , A ivlning "by th e h e a rt* , a&&M88 oW
::
}
a f te r ahether of the aualARo* making etatement* about th e ir
h
:
‘
:
tro n b le a m h e a lth o a la a ia te a to vekan t h e i r i n t e r e s t , gometlm## r
ehe I s p u t o f f b u t a# o fte n aa n o t oho la s p e c ia lly oaH ed I n
n e x t Any b y t h a t fa m ily t o throw th e alo e about th e m atter#
In Interesting feature of the unit of possession is that
many people when the s p irit Is upon them, spesk i t a foreign
tongue s a il to be Thevolo or fharanga. investigation Into th is
matter, however, shows th at t h i s i s not as s t a r t l i n g a phenomenon
a* I t might appear. men possesssa, a person for the most part
s i t e s i l e n t u n le ss he Is a d o c to r.
I f he speaks a t a l l t h i s I s
in monosyllables, fo r a ll h is wants and messages are conveyed In
song,
L@bapo songs are ste re o ty p e d and knownto many, because th e
un in itiated have to join In the refrain when ra ttlin g the
accompaniment. m these songs there Is usually a number of
foreign words though many consist purely of meaningless sounds,
such as "Vs la we ey* o wee we* was vans wee*. Often peculiar^
I f l e s in th e proiRmclatlon o f vowels a re interpreted ** ThovolD. ;
fh e n th e refrain begun (hu turns) by th e possessed person has
b een taken up by the chorus, ho co n tin u es with the song o r i n t e r ­
p o la te s Ills own words ^usually Sotho with a few foreign, wnr&s i n —
terspersed t i l l he wishes to stop,
in th is way he makes known
h is Wishes, I t quite frequently happens th a t no one understand#
the gibberish of the possessed person and doctors generally have
an attendant who Interprets what they wish to convey. The* ar$*
however, numerous well-known word# in g e n eral use by people when
t h e i r s p i r i t i s upon them, fo r instance , mofptp or movsto f o r
Icfo la (snuff); hula or mvula fo r mgetss (water); va
fo r vs. ga ntlya (they w y best me); kaga fo r has (hems)* matahl&a
o r meyoBibp f o r Sotho muewano ( stomaoh c o n te n ts ), ha ted aaa fo r
Imjlema (%p h o t)* hhltsumbu f o r museha (s k in hag f o r s n u f f ) * But
*#&y p o essssad paoplo apeak pure Botho and. I t i s reoogniged th a t
a n e w ly -ln ltia te d person m y h o t know f h w o io ,
fh e tosredu
themselves a re n o t o r i t i o a l and th e u su a l re p ly when one express­
es any doubt about th e .genuineness of th e possessed or the
p o ssib ility o f fra u d i s # l f they were no t r e a l l y possessed how
co u ld th e y speak a stra n g e tongue?8
A ttitu d e t o S p i r i t s .
fh e a t t i t u d e of people i n th e presence o f the s p i r i t s of
th e p o ssessed accords w e ll w ith th e absence o f awe in r e lig io n .
Although people losha (g re e t re s p e c tfu lly ) th ese s p i r i t s ,
welcoming th e ir a r r i v a l and humbly begging them n o t to harm th e
p e rso n whose body th e y have e n te red , i t i s c le a r th a t i t is the
form h e re t h a t i s Im portant rather th an th e s p i r i t . One o ften
f in d s drunken men jo in in g i n w hile the p ossessed are dancing,
im ita tin g t h e i r a c tio n s to the merriment o f th e crowd. On one
occasion when a possessed woman, t i r e d from th e s ire n sous dancing
ask ed someone f o r w a te r he p la y fu lly pushed h e r face w ith th e
p a la s f b iahaad as he consented to fetch some. This complete
la c k o f re s p e c t drew a laugh from s e v e ra l onlookers.
f o laugh at o r sc o ld a p o ssessin g s p i r i t i s q u ite in o rd er,
yhe following Illustrative eae* *111 dhow bow people Sometime*
tre a t s p irits .
At a dance f o r medicine In th e m orula season
M anthata1s second s p i r i t came upon h e r w hile she was a lre a d y
possessed b y tb # f i r s t .
greets* th e
The o ld women took her in to the hut ,
spirit and began dressing her in th e right c lo th s ,
8b# asked f o r h e r gun, for & pip* o f dagga (hemp), wbloh she l i t
r
-
.naa aiaoked.
Then
A*#w& beak qp*
v:
eke began a song wMoh th e Smmaers and th e
A
B at *&*& ah# began t e danoe #h* leak ed l i k e #%#
f
Tdbe oould n e t do th e #t#p* p re p * # * , going th ie way and t h a t l a a
'
p e e a l l a r manner.
l e^ p e
Beople roared, with la u g h te r, aay&ng *%bat
e a a 't d & n ae \
When th e 1# W # heard tail*; eh# **#
fdidaua* eh# stopped *#41, ohln i n hand, began to ory,
y-.r.f
p a c if ie d h e r an d coaxed h e r t i l l she stopped,
$&* aomen
than, however, she
* #nt *tr& lgbt t o * nearby f i e l d and plaked green a a a ll* * and #ag&r
o
Anna which she handed to th e drnmmere.
fhereapon th e women soolde
h e r I n lo u d v o lo ss, saying^W e don*t lik e a person who a te alB . (*#
#*&y.
We want Madumi (th e f i r s t s p i r i t ) who came lo n g age*,
t&#'
p o sse sse d woman to o k out th e p ip e , f i l l e d jit again, seoked and
th e n she began a n o th e r song.
;
. y
: vA
When, however, she t r i e d So danos,
people n e a rly S led w ith la u g h te r a t h e r.
Again she began to cry
lo u d ly i n anger till h e r eyes were re d .
h e r r e l a ti v e s now began
to chase th e s p i r i t , bidd in g I t d e p a rt,
The women to o k o f f th e
c lo th e s o f th e second s p i r i t and th e re rem ained only Kafiuml,
She '
made no f u r th e r tro u b le ,
■
Though & p o sse ssin g s p i r i t h as power to k i l l th e person l a
;
Whom h e m an ife sts h im self i f people do n o t c a rry out h is wishes#
he n e v e rth e le s s h a s to ta k e cognizance o f th e wishes o f ro y a lty
%
and such t r a d l o a l c o n sid e ra tio n s *1# p o v erty o f the fa m ily o r
a aa ap to d idea# o f p ro p riety *
■X-;Aa';xv"
But all s p i r i t # a@ n o t oompleoeAtly ;
Accept th e f lo u tin g of t h e i r w ishes.
Once on n o tic in g a man who was most a tte n tiv e to h is posses set
....K S ^ aa
w ife keeping c lo s e to h e r end g re e tin g h e r r e s p e c tf u lly l i k e th e
*
o ld women, we enquired where he had le a r n t to wubela
S p irit# ).
&i* w idbea,
(ad d ress th e
Be r e p l i e d t h a t t h i s had been fo rc e d upon &S* a g a in s t
4ne day when he *## a t b e e r h i* w if e 's s p i r i t had
■
--X n ? -
:*?X
X
L
a# her *&&a*k#& for him hut h# pefwed to go home and.
the ##P iS depart*#, 8e%# day am he wm* valklng la the field#
he p*t hie hmad 1%hie pocket and & snake slltherad ontt Similarly that night he woke %p to find a snake beside him* but when h is
w ife l i t th e candle th e y could f in d n o th in g .
Next morning
m
fee lin g : # w rig g le in s id e M s s h i r t he looked i n sad saw a entidu#
Be to o k such a f r l # t th a t he jumped and f e l l to th e ground# h a t
when he looked again th e re was noth in g .
H is people a t home
d ecid ed I t must b e th e p o ssessin g s p i r i t of h i s w ife th u s tro u b lin g
hm ,
They c a lle d up th e s p i r i t Who said^W hat i s t h is ? How i s I t
t h a t you t r e a t ay wishes w ith euch contempt?*
The man pleaded
t h a t h e 'd bean drunk, but a l l th e s p i r i t sa id w & a/hoM t a v e r do
,
i t a g a in 9,
•.
From t h a t day he has been assiduous In h i s a tte n tio n s
t o h i s w ife when she I s possessed.
G atherings and seeanoes of th e possessed a t t r a c t la rg e crowds
o f w a tch e rs; even when & seeance ta k e s p la c e in a h u t one fin d s
a n y th in g
fro m
t h i r t y t o f o r t y people squeezing them selves inside#
w hile so many b lo ck up th e doorway th a t th e a i r
%##*?«
become* f o u l and
Bbougk th e s o c ie ty phr&see th e e u l t a* & p u re ly th e ra ^
1
p e u tlc measure f o r Safeguarding th e h e a lth o f th e In d iv id u a l, th e re ^
1# no doubt t h a t I t enhances h is im portance and power, making i t
p o s s ib le f o r him to demand a number o f th in g * . T his prominence
i s u s u a lly a t th e expense o f the fam ily who may
^
have to s i t f o r ;
hour* s in g in g and shaking r a t t l e * , o fte n having to go Bupperles*
beo&ua# i* s p i r i t ha* oboaau So m anifest i t s e l f .
Though few lawedo w i l l adB lt t h a t fra u d i s p o ssib le , v* were
aev% rt&eias* itc&d oaf a well-known o**e i n which a possessed *#@*n
p u b lic ly a d m itte d having deceived p e o p le ,
U* W&* je a lo u * o f h e r c o -w ife .
MK&ele* who l iv e d n e a r -
I t 1* s a id t h a t She began crying
— 3.3^—
.
:
K m a i y OR* day 1# & # * k u S 6&ylag ^"Bomethlng Q&lieb#* ay "body" *m&
wb*a W &
happened eevarml %la*# * &*? 9 *opl* #tia It awwt t* &
*9934%%%+
8 b* *&# a d y Ihlthtad^omQ Months paased..
her ^mrralaomQWaa made her aswf&T* as?
■'-
;
Qaa da? *&*&
«%** las year l ^ S ^ L
$ * # # * & * # y e a a e W U A * , )&del*2**3.1e& lath# pr«a*a*a@f *
a m b * y of ***#*, *i %*?* **
i only « * * ? iwudkKwi # ? *
oloths to ye* (he? oo-wlfe wee possessed), #o I pretended alao
to have & eplrlt,for vhy aheulA yo* be thus favoured?*
from that
day she has never again dsno*# or beooa* possessed,
A o&se of spirit manifestation whloh e*e*a& to ** to &***
h**n Staged with an eye to personal gain was that of Anna
aetamane, Vho lived close to where ** had our tent,
late one
afternoon Anna, who bad lost her voice and could speak only la
*hl*ptrs case to ask for ma&lolna, so vs gave bar a teaspoonful
of Chamberlain's cough mixture.
She swallowed the medicine
with a gulf a* though she had difficulty in getting it down
*ad *at down with her eyes shut,
Puszled by bar behaviour, **
asked whether she found the sadloln* unpleasant to taka.
She replied, *lt 1 % nice.
Give me som* aore*
"Ho",
V* did not,however,
ooaply with this request and She remained immobile with eyas
Shut* not replying to
mare anxious but
a t
at all p*rtu*ed.
further questions.
a n y
s u n s e t
*, became more and
when her husband P&L
d by he was opt
Sad we given her medicine* he asked, *"& than
vent on to explain that She vas possessed and her Spirit disliked ,
everything
Buropaan.
Ber husband told her to go home but *&* 0*1 ? limped a few
, « a S «oa th ea 1 W down.
H srn e a n d ttto u g b W
^
a « « » l neiebbom,. pa===l ™
a a a r .a = « a t h e » P ^ W . c a l U ®e U
_ g r a n to to M , tod » m n s «
* • « • M ae- na® lng
ror
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$n% *& ol& vomaa Am* he# v illa # hraugbt W f & etldk*
I#**;! *f$#9 *0*ai @Q*%k*g db* amg3*&
]aKMa#,
&*
,
i ! s xS *aS 33 , i3 m
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th o m h a * r # # * 1** *»»* **&*,
#% easegjrlSB hom» #b* *#&*& f o r v&t&r t o w&ab b f f 1*8*, but
# & a M4%w$t im s a o t &oa*4*G t o #* eomeoa* *at& # 5 W &
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W i s e * * e# r aw Stwda-1*8*'
B*r
*aar*B**a me sp ir it la bar, explaining th&t %b# Sorop***
w&* &
** ^
*****
%**** irwdLtia*.
:!•!
o f m e a im trlo t &**& «w& th a t nov&l&y# @Y*#~
*a* v&* **1** Burape*a awwilaiao. **(*'% tro u b le M r 1 W th a t* ,
da* *&&*&, *%f 3 Wi want t o oame, ***# *%& v e * ll 8i*6 fo # T** **
yo* **a $#11 ** *&*t yo* m a t,*
$%«y to o k Aana in to &*r &*&*
took o f f iso** o f tie* o lo tb e a, *&&» %*? U * &**& **& *#**31 **%*&
th e a p l r l t to ooa@,
A ft* r * f* * jalaut** AB*& *«& %P' **B*&
g lag ln g & aoas am ounola* % * a r r i v a l o f b a r m p irlt an& th *
S 3 .; .-
f&mily, ta k in g tip r a t t l * * , ba&aa * 1 ^
w ith .? * , Shut,
*** ^ f r & i a ,
***8
A fter aba m i **%*& f o r *n*ff m l *nstdf*& 4*
'■IS
pan,; * b a$ * th is *%lt* f*o* #wmg tb e a , an o th er s p i r i t ,
*?
b * r m o th e r ', b ro th e r , eaWwaW **& w ithout say * 3 # o f < ***#
.w w w w sa i t s e l f , * * 1 * 0 i t &L& noil f m r 3 * * p * m *
i * a w ar a g a la a t th e* .
* » * songs m r e
b a rin g f o t # *
**<1 #
S3.
*%* »*& **
* & * tb » vom#B g&v* a p e re q ie tl* * u lu la tio a * *
3 3 Vv.;;:: 3-i ' 3
V::
:>
3;-:v
Bex* tb* sp irit *nq,ulr@& in eon* what the European wa#
e e to g # g iv e w a . * « • * « » s u l t a t i o n m to tb* a a t u r e of W
;3-33.:,
-s ls s s
g i f t o e q u lro s , m
re p lie a t «
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hsi a ^
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m „ 10u = » a * Wou-Bio-
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t h e e » = t 6W « * &
<*»e»a » »
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w a n 0$« , 4 w , « , « .
^ “ to
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t,
gkm*@a# now m a * * joke *#& Ann&; *boa w# **r* w&$oklng aloaaiy*
E
m i l e a , M A tr& laing I w # * # # t d t h a i f f i a y i t y .
'
# * w * * * # *f
%&* # # # no* began it* 2 %*#; # * ***** &*& e@*e baa# a& **#*%,
:
>•'
%&##& f* aa t&e&p %#%&# aa@ a*& a# y#t n o t eat# * anything ,
whea,
r
ids th e **& o f ft eong *n# o f tb * d b ild re n ol*late& , a&e *##
***!&#& f o r bein g so **a*u3*gi*g. " I f you. *b@w Buob a p p re o ia tlo n ,"
#wqr e*&&, *th# # i a l t * U 1 a*v*r go*,
a t i a # t a t 8 .3 0 p .* ,
a f t e r & %p#eial fa re w e ll #ong, ag ain a ie e o te d towaraa th e
European, Anna la y down to sle e p , saying h e ra p k & t would, d ep art
a t auGpis#, a* be was a p t a witch, to gp o a t a t algbt*
Th* general;
b e h a rio n r o f th e poseeesea woman, h e r oonoontration a* th e
j
European p re s e n t and. perhaps a ls o th e f a c t t h a t She was a b le to
e ln g when h e r voice had been com pletely l o s t , se@B*& to in d ic a te
I'
t h a t th e Whole a f f a i r bad b*e* sta g e* I n o rd e r to g e t ± *#*
o lo th .
But th e n a tiv e s b e lie v e d in h e r, tioxt m omlng h e r
vole* was husky and she showed ao r*m*abran&* o f what bed o c c u rred*
'.
%t i s n o t @ur purpose her# to discus* th e peydbAlogy c f
p o eseaaio n among t b s lovedWi
f h i * would re q u ire n o t only
stu d y b u t a& s p e c ia lly tr a in e d jn v e s tig a ta v .
if* should, bcwetsr*
p o in t o u t t h a t poasssaloA 1# l a no way a s s o c ia te d w ith sWorawbl i t i e s o f c h a ra c te r o r w ith o ris# * i n th e l i f e o f th e in d lv ld u e l,
3ft# symptomo a r e no t o f s nervous nat&va such a s in d ic a te
ukutbw sas among AWwi} th e re s r e , except wb#a th e s p i r i t daacond*
upon th e * , a* tw ltc b lu g s;
u n c o n tro lla b le hiccup* a r e unknown*
***&#*# o f th * c u lt a re n o t h y s t e r ic a l o r m entally unbalanced,
n o r can th e y b* d is tin g u is h e d i * t h e i r d a ily a c t i v i t i e s fro *
O th e rs,
There i * no dual p e rso n a lity * no d lw so c ia tlo a and a n
Ob&ag* in th e p e r s o n a lity Of th e in d iv id u a l whan h i* s p i r i t 1*
^
1----
:
-18$ * -
th&a #lng 1% & low Yoite iA##
%**##&#& %y & ***, a r # a a a au lln # l a t& e if *ov#&eat* s&A ##%#
&#*p*
I
$em# pea#**#** gee*!* a&ao* l a a p e o y lla r fashion*
Babaian* ahaa b a r * 0 COn& s p i r i t was upon h e r war* a nap *na
,
payaw&g# ygakra& blt a k la *&& danoei w ith l e f t h*n& on h e r
h i p , r i g h t h a a i b o ld in g * lo n g sta ff*
was s a id t o be possessed by a madm&a.
Kuslva&l halfllm p ed #a&
Some people do p e c u lia r
th in g s , snob as t r y in g to f r i g h t s a peopl* w hile danalog and
ru n n in g away When t h e i r s p i r i t descends upon them, b u t on the
whole th e re l a no r e a l ohnnge in p e rs o n a lity ,
Nor l a th e r e
%uoh d iffe re n c e , except In th e c lo th s and a c c e s s o rie s , between
;
one p o ssessin g s p i r i t and a n o th e r in th e same in d iv id u a ls ^
C When a second s p i r i t comes upon an In d iv id u a l I t o fte n
c o n tin u e s th e co n v ersatio n where th e f i r s t s p i r i t l e f t Off and
t h e only in d ic a tio n o f i t s a r r i v a l may be i t s own announeamebt
i n a song o r perhaps g u lfin g movements and a g en tle f a l l i n g of
;
th e p a ti e n t .
Of I n t e r e s t p sy c h o lo g ic a lly wee th e fa re w e ll danoe o f a l l
,
j u s t b e fo re th e v y a li I n i t i a t i o n f o r g i r l s In September,
1338
,
T h e ir songs end dances a re taboo d u rin g the p e rio d of
th e 'school
ju s t a s a re a l l m arriag es. as they are. no t allow ed
t o compete w ith th o se o f th e v y a l l which ended only i n November, .
iS S f,
We heard of no case in which th e taboo a g a in st p o ssessio n
v s# broken, though I t was s a id a woman d id one day look as
th o u # , th e s p i r i t was about to come.
We must not conclude
iv m ,
t h i s and from tb # f a c t t h a t q h r is tia n s do n o t becom* =*lup9.
t h # t p o ssessio n Ike Im posture.
There a r e wide avenues f o r frau d
Sue v# have ##ea, b u t moat m&lopm a re genuine* v ic tim #
eugg#ation »
t h e c u l t i s n o t a a s c c la te d w ith g i f t s o f prophecy*
n
r
;###
r- , -
-'90
K:
# # fawaisg o f loot 9&j*et# or vlth #i*aom#am ^ suoh &#
i& # * h # ,
w* thero revelation* ooaoemlng the
'
x # I» X g
laaoedL vbe% v* q w e tio M A people a w in g poaaesalaa about th e
I l f * h e r e a f t e r th e y ooui& may n o th in g more than t h a t th e y v o n ia
•' .
>
Oh aepertnre from the poeeessea person go to Th&voloi&na^ an!
m
3 S :,V,n
J'r-A.X'r.-:;
,
■
'SSI
XyXXXXX.X
generally evnlel giving any alreet ensvere.
$M hearing of the possessed, vhen not danolng Is qnita
aig n lfiea and. aet&ohea, in oontrest to the Aiabolloal manlfsst­
o
t
i
h
atio n s of the possessed. In Europe in the Middle Ages, Usually
they remain s ittin g apart on a special mat spread In th e ir
honour, neither speaking nor showing Interest in things about
them , there is m use of abusive language and the s p irits do
not show any daeir* to break the rules of society, possession
among the Lovaciu appears to be neither a paranoic nor a oompfiixsatory phenomencn We dare not relate trance experience
with neuroses and psychoses, fo r we need to orientate ourselves#
not from ouv, hut from a wide re la tiv ls tlc psychology and psychop&thoiogy} the mental re fle c ts, the cultural configuration and
tXXx'^.
'
lli:
XX
the disposition of drives in the mind must be viewed relativ ely
to the disposition of forces in the culture. The whole cult
?YY*ng, the hpwedn la remarkably atsreotypedi behaviour under the
o f the sp irit# the songs, the things demanded by
sp irits# conform to a type, Even the possessing s p irits themselves are stereotyped# being almost always grandparents.
I t i s our im pression t h a t i f anyone in the l e a s t degree
:'X;
a u w e p tlb le , were made t o dance w ithout sustenance f o r se v e ra l
day* i n t h e a a la # and ezo&tement o f seances, he would be l i a b l e
xx;:
to f a l l down exhausted and respond i n th e t r a d i ti o n a l manner to
the *tt#htlQu* of the women. hut not a ll in itiatio n s are
u #
-•
e
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X XX
r
r
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a m
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mmmP
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&
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euooem@fu&*
BSSfi:
1
l a am* saa# w ltae#»ea %y *a th# y aw g vomaa # & t*
o&yloyaly &1& a o t #&8t to beoom* poaa*a#*&i *h* aana@& l a & hal6»
I w s s tf
I
i
Ma##& *aBa#r *B& aader t w pretext o f tea&lag j # r Wqr* kept
S P ffa ?
iwp&y am m*d& me p e a e lb l# fro * th e aootor*
%$#*& #
In a n o th e r th e p a tie n t
a ta g g e r t o v a r # th e *a& o f th e eeoona day That* t h o i #
v-:v- y::;-::
;
eeeryaae expaote* t h e e p l r l t t o a r r iv e , n o th in g happened ana e*
fK:
■:-?
Idle dOGtor l e f t .
;
%he yeaeon f o r f a i l u r e i n t h i s esse may hatm
been ( b a t v* a re n o t enre) th e loud com plaints o f h e r b ro th e r th a t
'
no OR# i n th e ' fam ily had. mvor been poasmemod b e fo re .
&h# molt* tbongh open to men, i s o o a fln e i la r g e ly to vomen.
=
'
In one a re a w ith a t o t a l p o p u latio n o f over 500 where we took, a
eeneua, 15# o f th e women e v er 15 y ears of age were possessed,
g u t we earn# a c ro ss only two cases o f possessed men.
We have no
ready e x p la n a tio n f o r t h i s discrepancy between p o ssessio n among
men and woman,
fh * muggomtion aometlmas p u t forward, th a t i t 1&
r t i - .
iS:
a f o r a o f compensation to women f o r an i n f e r i o r p o s itio n r e la tiv e
.% ::5
a p a r t in a o c la l, p o l i t i c a l and r e lig io n s l i f e ,
t& m en, o#n W w W h o ld in a so c ie ty where women p la y a* lapaftA ht ;
©
J .= .
f ; : v :- v
y u rth a r, i f wohia :
b# d i f f i c u l t t o e x p la in on th e s e grounds bow i t i s t h a t th e IntnH - ,
a u c tio n an d growth o f th e c u lt ha# corresponded to * p e rio d 1%
■-: :
which, owing t o th e absence o f many men in th e towns* th e p o s itio n
;
an d in flu e n c e
o f
women has ten d ed ’ to become even h ig h e r than
■
b e fo ra j o r W
...
th e c u lt i s a b se n t on th e h igh v e ld where the p o s i- |
t l o n o f women i s n o t n e a rly a* h ig h &* among th e loveau.
The
:
tbem salve# u s u a lly a t t r i b u t e i t t o p re s e n t day working condition*
>
'
o f me#*
*#bo** th ey say, **111 s in g and drum fa n * possessed men
i n town when b i s s p i r i t descends upon him?*
' :-.V;V;v
- .
tl
But t h i s 1* probably
p u re v a t i c W i t n t l o n .
f,;
1 i;
■ ■■ i ;
,.
Ill
m
m
m m m
v.
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>
CBAPTEa 6.
As Im portant a s an ce sto r w orship I n Lovedu r e lig io n i s
a d ttlt a e so e ia te d w ith r a i n and f e r t i l i t y *
I t has been sa id
t h a t th e Greeks approached th e d iv in e i n two ways:
th e one
i n t e l l e c t u a l s th e way o f th e p h ilo so p h e rs, the o th er m ystic, th e
**y o f th e m y s te rie s .
Indeed th e Lovndu f e r t i l i t y c u lt has much
I n common w ith th e o ld E le u sin ia n m y ste rie s w ith t h e i r dram atic
r i t e s , t h e i r se c re c y , th e showing of sa cre d o b je c ts to i n l t i a t e a ,
and a cco rd in g t o some, a sa cre d m arriage,sym bolic union o f Zeus
and Demeter.
Like m ystery c u lts th e world e v e r, th e lavedu
f e r t i l i t y c u l t i s bound up w ith th e concept of I n i t i a t i o n , more
e s p e c ia lly th e w a l l o r g i r l s ' i n i t i a t i o n which i s sim ultaneous
w ith th e vuhwera fo r men and th e ggaaoa, * sa c re d drum c u l t and
an i n i t i a t i o n .
Circum cision and th e kBgbg or g i r l s ' puberty
i n i t i a t i o n do n o t belong to th e complex a lth o u g h they have o e rt a i n elem ents in common w ith i t .
The Laredo
.
f e r t i l i t y c u lt
a n c e sto r w orship, has p a r t l y f a l l e n in to desuetude, b u t
th e r e v i v a l i n 1888-9 o f the "Uyall ^
i n i t i a t i o n cerem onial
which bad n o t been h e ld fo r t h i r t y - f i v e y e a rs , makes one chary
o f draw ing prem ature c o n clu sio n s concerning th * e ffe o t* o f ^
C ontact w ith European c u ltu r e .
Moreover, many elements
h*ve besoms merged f a a n c e sto r w orship and th u s form p a r t o f eve**
day tribal life*
OM o f tM B«, M W
to both a y a tw y
and M costor
M M h ip , i s th e a r td a j» n« , * = , a s we have s e e :., a r e w s t o r e
W ppoaea t o oora a f t e r s im e e t on oooaslona « < * a s the h a r v e e t,
|-
o f f e r in g to nhietX* i n t o e brah ourroondlng to e v i l l a g e ,
g b y t e s *** a n o e a to r e ,
th ey aorw tlon s even c a l l c o t what l i n e a g e ,
th e y b e lo n g t o , y e t th e y a reo eo n ceiv ed o f
one arm , one l o g , h a l f a fa c e and body.
o n ly h a lf-m a n , w ith
The so ro a th ey make
betw een th e c r y in g o f a baby and th e b le a t in g o f a lamb, t o t vae
lahgnage b e in g ton e-b on n d , meseagee and songa can be w ia tle d t o t
and u n d ersto o d .
The g s i S t i f f i e i < * *
th e
til” iaelVea
in d ic a t in g ( e U * ) ^ O W W " * ^
f l r a t 11Be'
th ey w ant, and when b e e r i o drunk, eome h as to be ta k en t o th e
h to h f o r them .
They have even been known to f i n i s h a l l th e beer
i n th e sto r a g e e n c lo su r e s o , very o f t e n , th e p r e c a u tio n i s taken
o f p u ttin g in t o beer n o t in ten d ed fo r t h e i r u s e , a p ie c e o f o o e l.
m td a ia n e do n o t to u ch beer th a t has had f i r e in i t .
Women and to e u n in it ia t e d a re v e r y much a fr a id o f th e
a d W * . and w h ile th e y a r e r e s e n t no u n in it ia t e d W
T
i l l a g e ,
I f anyone comes n e a r , th e W
W
move out
*
■*—
a t o som etim es th ey even swear a t a dog t h a t barks at them .
T heir p a r t i s p la y e d by o ld men t i n t have b een t h r o u g h th e
g s s s s g i n i t i a t i o n , u s u a lly p eo p le from some o th e r v i l l a g e than
:c:r—
l i n g c o n s ih ts o f two p ie c e s o f wood or iv o r y t i m J . - w H U B '
;
1* # 8 * 1 3 # o a e a ),
These a re tr ia n g o la r I n form, about one and
|
a h a l f Inches l a le n g th , eon ave on th e in n e r a id e , convex on the
ow&Gr*
Between tb s * i s in s e r te d
a v ib r a tin g membrane c o n s is t-
#g th e tu b e - lik e *stomach' o f c a t t l e ( h h W W s i a l which l a
i*eaad a la e roond and round th e o u tsid e to b old th e two p ieaea
to g e th e r .
f e a th e r
I t I4i s a id t h a t o f te n a human t i b i a vita* membrane o r
in s e r te d i s used.
Leaugu songs which a r e a s s o c ia te d w ith the
oaf
^w idalane. accompany th e dancing n o t only a t the h a rv e st o ffe rin g
b u t a ls o on th e day a new d i s t r i c t head i s i n s ta lle d ; when people
some on a v i s i t o f condolence on th e death o f an im portant ro y a l
r e l a t i v e qrd as a measure f o r procuring r a i n .
These songs a re
more p a r t i c u l a r l y a s s o c ia te d w ith women,though men a ls o dance in
th e c i r c l e
to th e drumming o f leeugu songs and th ey a re c lo s e ly
r e l a te d to maagygtho sin g in g o f th e v y a li i n it i a t i o n , which may be
r e f e r r e d to a ls o a* la s u e u .
I t i s th e women who dance to ^ W S B
songs f o r r a i n and among th e B gregi th is i s looked upon as an
annual women's c o u n te rp a rt of th e g s m m drumming by men f o r r e i n
Lesudu songs a r e thought o f as somewhat sad and a re s p e c ia lly
p le a s in g to th e s p i r i t s whose demise they a r e thought to mourn.
T h e ir wording a s s o c ia te s them w ith d eath and w ith r a in but does
n o t otberw lee threw much l i g h t on th e ir fu n c tio n .
The opening
la s u a u song, a f t e r which th e o th e rs fo llo w i n any o rd e r, r e fe r*
t o th e d e a th o f deceased s p i r i t* *
'The k i l l a a o f our. f a th e r
:
have te h e n OA-'ih otbe~' and c ro sse d two r i v e r s (3S222SX4 TEt
«
ig a r n
rn ssla BSffi-Saffi) •
.» » « > « c o n s is ts o f m rin te lllg lb M
*ouade:
->v» •- «
^
«
»
^
18
,,
A ssociated w ith Asking f o f
w* go
'T&A fo m rta ia 1% d ry , r.GR s p i p i t s ;
draw m t e r a t Baeodl o f Wdbale (k h iaih a khl tv # la
r o ^o kba M Aaeodl a N o h a lt) w hile th e fo llow ing 'The h lr d 1* here
l a th e f e r a l o f
i t e la g a f a l s e t t o lik e a per eon' Wonvane
e mo a o a ia i .la Dai a e eha digodu
m
m
mutho) r e f e r s to the w h ist­
lin g o f A d ^ a ja a # and s ig n if ic a n tly a s s o c ia te s them w ith th e g re a t
b i r d , Manoni, th e r u lin g s p i r i t of the w yali in itia tio n *
Lesueu
songs a r e alw ays th e same, w hether th e occasion be connected w ith
a v i s i t o f condolence, th e jo y f u l o ffe rin g a t h a rv e st time or
dancing f o r r a i n .
The zwidajane belong, jmr e x cellen ce, t o the sacred drum
c u lt or gowBna.
Brums are much used in Lcrvedu l i f e }
they are
played in th e goaka dance to the accompaniment o f reed p ip es, they
are important in a l l in it ia t io n s except circum cision, they are
baateo. fo r day* a t th e dancing o f possessed people, and i t la s ig ­
n ific a n t th a t the p u b lic recogn ition by the queen o f a new d is t r ic t
head a t h is in s ta lla tio n c o n sists In the handing over o f a drum­
s t ic k (khloba kha Aama) .
drioal
Brums are o f two types $ the long c y lin -
drpm played w ith th e hands as i t l i e e on i t s aid e and the
ftsma* a rounded drum w ith handles, played by means of a s tic k as
i t stands i n an upright p osition *
The sacred drums (digamgng)
o f the tr ib e are o f th e sama ty p e, but unlike ordinary drams are
played by band, not w ith a drumstick.
They are four i n number*
each with i t s s p e c ia l name* and are kept a t present In a v illa g e
a t Msulwe beaids the bush in Which tbs l a s t three ru ler* l i e
burled,
T heir keeper i s $ deeosndant of Nalegudu, e ld e s t sen
oar th e la a t male r u ler who fought with h is sisteryM ujaji^ fo r
^
th e th ro n e^
a re n o t t o he seen by th e p u b lic nor
:
a ra people o th e r th a a Inmate* o f th e ro y a l a i e t r i a t a llo e e a t o pane
anyiA ere n e a r th e r e .
I n appearance and d eo o ratio n th e y a r e no
d i f f e r e n t from o rd in ary drums) b u t th ey a re made In a s p e c ia l may
sad I t I s s a id t h a t th e maker 'W ill see them w ith h is eyes b u t
never h ear them w ith h is e a r s 1 ( i.e .^ h e w i l l be put to d eath when
h is work i s done).
*ghe l a r g e s t i s ok a ta te which stan d s about fo u r f e e t h i^ x |
n e x t In s iz e ia tan g a)
then comes ppkahare w hile th e sm a lle st
and most Im portant o f a l l i s
to which jus a ttr ib u te d
powers even o f locom otion because in 1890, when A lb a sin i s e t f i r e
t o t h e ro y a l v illa g e i t was th e only one o f th e g sm M &f*ms
t h a t was n o t b u rn t.
While a l l fo u r gpmaga drums a re s a id to con­
t a i n a human S k u ll in s te a d of th e r i v e r sto n e t h a t one always
f in d s In s id e t h i s type o f drum, rggpgggi, th e s m a lle s t, has the
f a c i a l s k in o f a human being p la c e d ( in s t r i p s , i t i s s a id ) under
th e re s o n a to r o f ox b id e and h a* , smeared on th e o u ts id e , th e
body d i r t o f th e p erso n (s a id to be always a c h ie f c o u n c illo r o r
o th e r im portant person o f ro y a l blood) k i l l e d f o r i t s m anufacture. :
This drum i s thought to be o lo aely a sso c ia te d w ith th e w e lfa re o f
th e t r i b e ,
Should th e c h ie f have o ccasio n to escape from enemies
Bhe should ta k e w ith h er t h i s drum, and i t i a sa id t h a t , whan th e
h e i r t o th e throne re c e iv e s in s tr u c tio n s i n th e use o f r a i n medi­
cin e j u s t p r i o r to th e d e a th o f th e ru lin g chief* eh* must a l t
upon t h i s drum.
I b some neighbouring t r i b e s th e asere d drum*
a r e p ie rc e d on th e d e a th of th e c h ie f .
Care o f th e se drums,
in v o lv in g p e rio d ic sm earing w ith f a t and ochre to keep ou t w eevils
■** / 4 1] **
and moth e s renew al o f the s k in re s o n a to rs } b u ild in g and r e p a ir
o f t h e h o t i n which th e y a re k e p t, is th e work of a s p e c ia l
s e c tio n o f p e o p le , th o se o f R&vothala, whose totem i s &gn (e le p h a n t) o f tiu le b y e »
Volebye i s i n Phalavorwa $ on th e w estern b o r-
d ef o f th e K roger R a tio n a l Park
where t h i s drum c u lt I s much
s tro n g e r th a n ammg th e Lovedu.
These Ravothaia a ls o have a
very s p e c ia l costume i n t h e i r tmkwera i n i t i a t i o n and come to
daae# ait th e c lo s in g o f th e - w a ll a t th e c a p i t a l w ith th ese
w eird-costum ed dancing perfo rm ers, th e magogobya.
The sounding o f ghmana drums is not only p leasin g to th e
■^widaiane who always a re p re se n t to w h is tle t h e i r accompaniment,
b u t i t also b rin g s rain .
The drums have been consecrated by
th e k i l l i n g and use o f a human v ic tim and t h e i r power of e f f e c t m g r a i n , so e s s e n tia l f o r f e r t i l i z i n g o f th e d ro p s, b rin g s them
in to l i n e w ith th e c o u n tless examples c o lle c te d by Frazer o f the
k i l l i n g of human beings f o r s im ila r ends i n every p o rtio n o f th e
g lo b e .
The woman* drums a re looked upon as gods (mudijsp) j u s t
a s a n c e s t r a l s p i r i t s a re gods.
This i s w e ll i l l u s t r a t e d in. th e
p r a is e o f o h a ta te . th e l a r g e s t of them;
l&dbalB (th e f i r s t c h ie f ) ;
'Leg, of _pha$a£§_of
i f i t is n o t a god w* can th ro * i t
aw#y r a t t l i n g to th e pool* (goto i s
9
sb
fA ga
rm khewolosa ra isp madiwenl).
he
The Thawina
and S a r e s i who liv e t o th e so u th o f th e Lcnredu o ffe r th e f i r s t
f r u i t s to th e sa c re d drums and everywhere t h e i r b e atin g i s
a s s o c ia te d w ith r a i n and th e a g r i c u lt u r a l y e a r.
Among th e Lovedu the c u l t c o n siste d in th e b e a tin g o f th e
s a a re d
drums in
th e a fte rn o o n
and evening o f *1% su ccessiv e
a@y* W * *
y e a r ; *a th e S pring ju a t b efo re th e aswlBg *aA
l a # * # * » a f t s # th e re a p in g tee th e b a rv e a t.
T% o th e r tr ib e # ^cweve^
*%ar# e r e ^rcmmlnga a s e o s la te a e la * w ith th e f l ^ a t f r o l t s and te a t* r
ting* o r eadlng th e y e a r a f t e r th e druamtagai* a h a rv e s t thanksglv*
:
1*8,
;
$ W $ p r ia g a ro m ln g a#ong th e Looedu vaa preqeaedl, I t i j
s$ld* by p r e p l t l h t l o n o f t b s r o y a l anoeatora by means o f a l lb a t lo h
go t h e l e ge&va* l a
f o r s a t where th e e a r l i e r c h le fa l i e b urlea*
3 h ere **& a Bpsei&l prooeeaioa whloh aa one was to sea on p a l* o f
death*
The B hlodazl r i v e r had to b e c ro ssed a t a s p e c ia l epot
A.}]md Xhl^aba m k a ia i* (washing place of g r e a t people) and I t i s
m ain tain ed by some t h a t a b la c k oz was a ls o sla u g h te re d .
d i s t r i c t bead a t
The
who was re sp o n sib le f o r c le a rin g a way to
th e g ra v e s , bad to f^ .n t n e a r th e r o y a l graves a l i t t l e o f every
seed o a ltiv a te d *
The p eople would th e n s e e , i t i s s a id , which
grew b e a t and would p la n t much o f th a t*
The h a rv a zt drumming
was a tb an k sg W a g *
a s th e emmsna i s $ s e c r e t c u lt open only to duly I n i ti a t e d
m a , th e r e l a a s s o c ia te d w ith i t a ls o an I n i t i a t i o n in to
S e c r e te .
its
^
The f i r s t h a rv e st gomana a f t e r th * h o ld in g o f a cireum* :
c ia io n 'school* to o k th e f o r a o f am i n i t i a t i o n i n which th e
lieopliytes were shown th e s e c r e t o f th e ^Slds4§nc? saw th e sa cre d
drufsu and. re c e iv e d c u ts on t h e i r fa c e s as a s ig n th a t "Uiey had
p assed th ro u g h th e r i t e *
Thodgh th e s a c re d drums a re s t i l l k e p t and th e Ravothala
p eo p le a r e a t l l l G alled to r e p a i r th e h o t in which th ey a re
p la c e d ) th e re g u la r h e a tin g o f go%#BaL droB* has f a l l e n in to dl&**#»
The l a s t w m n a i n i t i a t i o n h e ld o f f i c i a l l y by t h e queen
.
I
■ ' ■ ■ ■ • . .
i- --
■':
• . .
,
i.
*&* i n 3898 j o a t bafope th a a eq e ssio a o f th e #ra#ea&
###&*
I t i e ai#r& W & t * jaoooot f o r t h i s lap a e when among
i&k$g8&@wraag te lh e * th e aw&t i s s t i l l f u lly o a rrie d oat*
Some
Wy. t b e r e a e a a li# * l a t&* r i t u a l au*a**# t& R ta * * * ssQ elat* d
W ith t&8
b u t s la o e i t i s an a co e p trd f a c t th a t a sheep may
S a tis fh Q to rily ta k e th e #l*e* o f a human being and moreover t h i s
d i f f l o n l t y must somehow have been overcome by o th er trib e s * t h i s
re a s o n i s n o t a good enough esqplanatlon.
P o ssib ly th e c u lt was
In tro d u ced from th e south o r e a s t and had n o t become G U ffloiantly
s a s im ila ts d o r ta k e n deep enough ro o t t o su rv iv e th e le th a rg y
Induced by European c o n ta c t.
I t may even sp rin g back to l i f e as
d id th e w a l l i n i t i a t i o n In 1938-9.
Though th e queen h e r s e l f now b o ld s no gomena th e i n s t i t u t i o n
is
n o t dead.
Elements such a* a d ^ a i a n i have ta k e n permanent
r o o t and th e queen has allow ed a stra n g e r* Basiake&lo, a r a i n
d o o te r o f th e c ro c o d ile (gwena) totem who came to liv e on E u r o ­
pean-owned lan d under her j u r i s d i c t i o n , to hold a g s s s m dL tb,
off c o u rs e , h is own drums.
I n 1929, when he came to a s k th a t
boy# and men from th e r o y a l v illa g e be allow ed to a tte n d the
i n i t i a t i o n , th e queen gave b a r c o n sen t,
p&eekwalo bolds one
gomana a y e a r , re c e iv in g s p e c ia l perm ission from th e queen on
each o ccasio n , and i n i t i a t e * circum cised and unoircumoiaed a l i k e .
M&t t h i s somana i s n o t a sa c re d th in g and has n o t th e power off
th e o ld ^aulwe oeremony.
I t i s looked upon r a th e r as a *b u sin e ss
an d Source o f revenue to Rasekwalo who re c e iv e s G/* p e r i n i t i a t e *
I n i t i a t i o n in to th e j ® # a a c u l t today by Raeekwalo does not
d i f f a r from accounts; o f th e cerem onial i n tb s q u e an 's own go.# m
* .
o f *&a*
Bee a o r
i
r
IfOr
purpoee I t **11 a o t t e %a*ea#ety # &*
B am t% w W l a a t a a f e * o f th e m**8 fe * tu r* s o f eaob
I t l a e t * one day o n ly , a f t e r #Ma& th e nwi+'t+^s
!
:
r e tu r n home whaTa^
*%fWLl %ha a n te hav* h**lea» th e y apead t h e i r t* m i* a g#«%ial
m dW euee w a r t h e i r v i l l a g e »
A fte r M ing oerem onlelly b e a tm
* l t b m edicated s tic k * * h ieb sure thought to stren g th en thea^th#
Ix # * on th e day of I n l t l e t l o n sure conducted to th e enclosure *ber*
arums and. K^ldalane instrum ent* a r e b ein g played.
Bare*
f o r th e f i r s t tim e , their ae* t h a t th e ^ Id e jg & e a re men w ith
w b le tle* and h are th e y have fo u r aem iclro u lar c u ts made on e ith e r
ebeek from mouth to e a r by mean* o f an awl a n d k n ife .
A fte r th e
o p e ra tio n , th e song 'Whoever re v e a ls an i n i t i a t i o n s e c r e t
b rin g s about h ie own d eath (ma%ai&.^oma *
3 # A 34% h**) la
v h ls tle d and c a re f u lly in te r p r e te d f o r th e b e n e f it o f th o se *h*
f in d th e w h is tlin g d i f f i c u l t t o fo llo w , and s h o r tly a f t e r , th e
i n i t i a t e s s e t out f o r htme, accompanied by 'sh ep h e rd s' o r a tte n d ­
a n ts ,
They wear a c lo th over the fa c e in o rd e r to h id e th e ir
wound* from th e u n i n i t l a t e d ^ o a re to ld th e boys have been ' b i t ­
t e n ' bar th e goma.
fo r the neat few week* the In itlatee spend most o f the day
i* an enclosure near th a ir home where certain formulae or pas*»
word* of the aomana are taught them, hate In the evening they
go into a hut set aside for them in the village to sleep. Soma
herd c a ttle , but when outside the lodge they are to apeak only by
whistling*
9%** the cuts have healed a l l 2* to the riv er to
***% and thereafter take p a rt 1* everyday Ilf* *=*«
Initiates of the royal villae* **»%nowaday* at the old spot
aear Widjn® saiiea is#Ba-Watei» w ws gasaaa iatu»*« alW®
Otsa to wash ,8=1 wWie ta e y do BO W g a j a m cry In th e aanrem aing
hash and th e M g oacred dru» i s h eatro a f «
W a y 4= not anatMso jWWM i n i t i a t i o n ,
t ia e s ,
m
M ye
only those who w ish t o
go t o a s a s s ^ s *
Sosan a i n i t i a t i o n l a sja ite c le a r ly i n i t i a t i o n in t o th e
w c r e t o f th e dram o n l t .
There a re no t e a t s o f endurance and no
. p e d a l te a c h in g s , f o r t h e .I a n s ' to a t a re le a r n t a r e m erely p a sa « o r d s o f th e B M SM .
« «
com p l® hy W
S S * B M t u a l i s lin k e d to th e S f f l j i —
w e o f ^ i s t l i n s lan gu age, common to b o th .
I M in stru m en t used hy t t o Bard o f th e v y t i l i s o f th e s a w typ e
aB t h a t used by M ^ j a n o , o h ile i n b o th c u l t s , th e p e o p le o f
B nvoth ata o c c u ® an i ^ o r t u n t p o s i t i o n .
in g th e
B e f o r e , h on ever, d is c u a s -
f e r t i l i t y c u l t i t i s e s s e n t i a l t o u n d e r s ta n
th e s ig n if i c a n c e o f digoma n h ich piny == im portant a p a rt i n i t .
e a t e r i e s th e s h o s i.® o f s e c r e t o b j e c ts p la y s an
im p ortan t p a r t .in th e Louedu f e r t i l i t y c u l t .
Such s e c r e t o b je c ts,
fou nd a ls o i n i n i t i a t i o n s ^ c o n n e c te d w ith th e f e r t i l i t y c n t ,
a r e h n om a s d i g * , b u t t h i s word hue a v ery wide "
A g a m i a som ething s e c r e t and w on d erfu l, som ething which
— — :r-
^
im pertsaae*
I t l a %*ually a a id o f 4 W & t h a t th ey »%#*+
*#& a t g W * ' iaiti& tloa* the im*e& g e n erally aha** * l t blteaf
( * .*
1
** HiiimI a s a warning, to u n in itia te d to keep t h e i r
d le ta a # *
D i^m a a re a c t confined to s e c r e t o b je c ts ,
haw* and fam *.
a a e ta u g h t d arin g ** i n i t i a t i o n a r e a ls o digam *
Even th e I n i t -
l a t t o n I t s ^ f say %*,&od very o fte n p r e f e r r e d to a s & g a m .
Sometime* a a m
1* * sound or an a c tio n .
In # *
P uberty
;
oeramanl&l* e s p e c ia lly i n &?«&* *%&,* Sbsngan.-?onga in flu e n c e 1*
g
^ r k e d * one a m , c a lle d l i o n (& * ) c o n s is ts o f a sound mad* by
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the hand down a s t i c k or a p iec e of hide h e ld over a p o t.
^eaW
Many dlwm a a re masked f ig u r e s dancing of rw m lag i n
cobW
S m d . of gra=a» r e e d , or X m ve,.
ptftaM r
. U l U . » = » = d r ^ e e a in t o l l
« ie e » r WWW ana eur«untoa ^ a aloto or £U«.
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^
:
renohlng t o
I
-& il= , a
f
» « h th e p r a ie e ^ D a r ta e s a o f th e low lan aa, * « = «
ra in f a ils .
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( w ‘t l i a i « s s a a a ^ £ s l L b a l a ^ a - s i 18 * " Ban P
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to o se c r e t ever t o W showi in # m * '
Author Krige E
Name of thesis Medicine Magic and Religion of the Lovedu 1940
PUBLISHER:
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
©2013
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