article

Dualism in Somali notions of power

Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland93 • Published In 1963 • Pages: 109-116

By: Lewis, I. M..

Abstract
Somali distinguish sharply between secular and religious power. Feuds between lineages and DIA-paying groups are decided through physical fighting. The victory of a group is never attributed to supernatural power but plainly to superior strength in number of warriors. Religious power is considered to be purely a matter of men of religion (sheikhs and waadads) who at least ideally are not involved in feuds and fighting. Through their religious power they are able to call blessings on people from God, which the average man, as warrior, can do insufficiently, only. Sorcery is of little significance amongst the Somali, who apparently due to their pre-occupation with physical fighting have little need for means of spiritual aggression. Cursing is, however, feared from Sab-bondsmen, who, as a numerically small and economically dependent group, can never take up physical fighting against a Somali-group.
Subjects
Ingroup antagonisms
Sorcery
culture
Somali
HRAF PubDate
1997
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Eastern Africa
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; Sigrid Khera ; 1970-1974
Field Date
1955-1957
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
Somalia, Djibouti, and southeastern Ethiopia
Notes
by I. M. Lewis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 116)
LCCN
sn79006341
LCSH
Somalis