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An Historical Perspective of the Giriama and Witchcraft Control1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2011

Cynthia Brantley
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Extract

Wherever belief in witchcraft permeated an African society, fear prevailed and people demanded protection and control. Even though the degree of African concern about witchcraft was not always appreciated by outsiders, it was possible, at least in centralized societies, for such outsiders to discern the processes that were involved in its control. A king or a priest who failed to control the spread of witchcraft and to alleviate the fear was unlikely to maintain his authority for long. In non-centralized societies, the problem of witchcraft and the means of control were less clear-cut. Solutions were rarely obvious and easy.

Résumé

LES GIRIAMA AUX PRISES AVEC LA SORCELLERIE: POINT DE VUE HISTORIQUE

Le présent article rend compte, dans un perspective historique, des divers moyens mis en oeuvre par les Giriama pour enrayer la sorcellerie du début du dix–neuvième siècle jusqu'à nos jours. Lorsque tous les Giriama habitaient le même kaya au début du dix–neuvième siècle, le conseil des anciens disposait des mesures de controle efficaces que constituaient le serment et la menace de bannissement. Ces anciens avaient la charge des remèdes et représentaient l'autorite suprême. Lorsque les Giriama se fractionnèrent à la fin du siècle dernier pour constituer de petites exploitations réparties dans un espace géographique étendu, la hiérarchie juridique traditionnelle qui s'occupait des cas de sorcellerie fut démantelée. La sorcellerie devint de plus en plus redoutée et, parallèlement, on assista à la multiplication des remèdes destinés à combattre cette crainte. Au cours du vingtième siècle, les Giriama formèrent à plusieurs reprises un certain nombre de mouvements visant à éliminer la sorcellerie. Leur but n'était pas de punir le sorcier, une fois celui–ci identifié, mais de décourager la pratique de la sorcellerie et de réduire l'élément de peur qu'elle entretenait. Les tentatives effectuées à cet effet au cours de la période coloniale et depuis l'indépendance n'ont guère reussi à ce jour à mettre véritablement fin à la peur qu'inspire la sorcellerie parce que ces tentatives ont été fondées sur le postulat que la sorcellerie est une croyance irrationnelle.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , April 1979 , pp. 112 - 133
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1979

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References

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