Bantu Beliefs and Magic

with particular reference to the Kikuyu and Kamba tribes of Kenya colony; together with some reflections on east Africa after the war

C. W. Hobley (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

402 Seiten

2021
Routledge (Verlag)
978-1-138-39186-4 (ISBN)

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First published in 1922, the author of this book was for many years a Provincial Commissioner of what was then the Kenya Colony whose main objects were to place on record the results of investigations made among the native tribes in British East Africa, particularly among the Kikuyu and Kamba people, and to endeavour from a study of their ceremonial with regard to sacrifice and taboo, to obtain a better insight into the principles which underlie the outward forms and ceremonies of their ritual.

Together with natural religion and magic, the author discusses a variety of social activities influenced by religious beliefs, such as the organisation of councils, ceremonial oaths, war and peace, dances, legends, and the position of women in tribal society. The functions of some of the practices are self-evident or can be explained within the limits of psychological or anthropological terms, whilst others remain unexplained and seem inexplicable, even futile. The author’s careful analysis of this last class provides interesting ethnological comment, for in seeking a better understanding of the psychology of one particular race, he draws attention also to analogous conditions of religious customs existing amongst other widely differing races.

In the last chapter, ‘Quo Vadis’, added to the second edition of 1938, the author furthers his discussion of East Africa after the war. Together with the factual analysis of the first three parts, these additional observations, invaluable once to administrators and all concerned in colonial government, today prove their value not only for students of East Africa, but for all those endeavouring to arrive at an adjustment between the old native social structure and the extraneous forces now operating with ever increasing intensity.

C. W. Hobey

Part I. Natural Religion. 1. Spirit Beliefs. 2. Sacrifice. 3. Sacred Stones or Village Shrines. 4. The Firstfruits of Harvest and Planting Ceremonial. 5. Circumcision Ceremonial. 6. Death and Burial Ceremonial. 7. The Curse and its Manifestations. 8. Superstitions Regarding Children and Women. Part II. Magic. 1. The Guild of Smiths in Kikuyu and Ukamba. 2. The Evil Eye. 4. Kikuyu Magic and Magicians. 4. Miscellaneous Magical Practices. Part III. Miscellaneous. 1. The Constitution and Working of Councils. 2. Laws of Compensation for Murder. 3. Ceremonial Oaths. 4. War and Peace. 5. Miscellaneous Customs and Beliefs. 6. Legends. 7. Dances. 8. Women as Factor in Tribal Organisation. 9. Some General Remarks. 10. East Africa After the War. Part IV. Quo Vadis. 1. Aspects of the Problem. 2. Summary.

Erscheinungsdatum	15.03.2021
Reihe/Serie	Routledge Revivals
Verlagsort	London
Sprache	englisch
Maße	135 x 215 mm
Gewicht	730 g
Themenwelt	Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Kulturgeschichte
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie ► Weitere Religionen
	Sozialwissenschaften ► Ethnologie
	Sozialwissenschaften ► Soziologie
ISBN-10	1-138-39186-7 / 1138391867
ISBN-13	978-1-138-39186-4 / 9781138391864
Zustand	Neuware