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Witch Beliefs in Central Africa1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2012

Mary Douglas
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Extract

Professor Marwick's Sorcery in its Social Setting is only the third major J- work to be dedicated to this theme since Evans-Pritchard's publication of Oracles, Witchcraft, and Magic among the Azande in 1937 and Kluckhohn's Navaho Witchcraft in 1944. He has produced a comprehensive and balanced survey of sorcery beliefs and accusations among the Cewa. The study is particularly rich in ethnographic depth. The attitudes of the people to witchcraft are portrayed with a rare sensitivity and warmth.

Résumé

CROYANCE AUX SORCIÈRES EN AFRIQUE CENTRALE

Dans Sorcery in its Social Setting (1965), Marwick nous livre les fondements des croyances des Cewa à la sorcellerie et analyse les rapports établis sur un grand nombre de cas. Cette première tentative pour appliquer des techniques statistiques à l'analyse des relations sociales impliquées dans les accusations de sorcellerie constitue un intéressant exercice méthodologique. Les conclusions générates de l'auteur confirment les grandes lignes de ce qui a déjà été exposé sur le rôle social des croyances à la sorcellerie. Si on peut le juger comme une contribution à l'étude de l'Afrique centrale, il déçoit dans la mesure où il néglige de comparer les données sur les Cewa avec celles qui ont trait à des groupes apparentés. Le matériel publié existant suggère une étroite corrélation entre les variations dans le caractère des croyances et les variations des aspects de l'organisation sociale. Cet article compare les croyances a la sorcellerie dans cette région avec celles des Azandé et des Bantou du Sud; une classification générate de ces croyances par rapport à leur rôle social est esquissée.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 37 , Issue 1 , January 1967 , pp. 72 - 80
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1967

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