essay

Divination in Bunyoro, Uganda

magic, witchcraft and curingGarden City, N.Y. • Published In 1967 • Pages: 211-231, 321-330

By: Beattie, John.

Abstract
Here, Beattie discusses in more detail spirit possession and divination rituals (see document no. 5.) Diviners are mostly men who travel the country offering their services. Beattie discusses three different methods of divination: mechanical, augury, and by means of spirits. Mechanical methods involve the use of charms, plant leaves, leather strips, wooden sticks, and cowry shells, the last being the most common. Augury involves the examination of the blood flow and entrails of chickens. Divination by spirits involves sTances in which a spirit answers questions through a diviner. Another form of divination involved the use of fetishes such as magical horns which could talk. It is associated with sorcery.
Subjects
Information sources listed in other works
Spirits and gods
Sacred objects and places
Revelation and divination
Magicians and diviners
culture
Banyoro
HRAF PubDate
2003
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Eastern Africa
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2002
Field Date
1951-1955
Coverage Date
1951-1955
Coverage Place
Western Province, Uganda
Notes
John Beattie
Includes bibliographical references (p. 321-330)
LCCN
67012895
LCSH
Nyoro (African people)