article

Belief in 'witches' among the rural Wolof of the Gambia

Africa24 (3) • Published In 1959 • Pages: 263-273

By: Ames, David W..

Abstract
The Wolof believe in the existence of DOMA, a person who attacks and 'eats' his fellows. This article describes the behavior ascribed to the DOMA and the means of warding off their attacks. The author concludes that although the belief in DOMA suggests that the culprits may function as 'scapegoats' in the native society, it tends to increase rather than reduce social tensions and personal anxieties; therefore, the DOMA complex can be regarded as mainly dysfunctional, both in the social and psychological sense.
Subjects
Sorcery
Offenses against the person
Magical and mental therapy
Preventive medicine
culture
Wolof
HRAF PubDate
1999
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Western Africa
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Robert Lee ; 1959
Field Date
1950-1951
Coverage Date
1950-1951
Coverage Place
Saloum districts, Gambia and Senegal
Notes
David Ames
Includes bibliographical references
LCCN
29010790
LCSH
Wolof (African people)