article
Bakku: possessing spirits of witchcraft on the Tapanahony
Nieuwe West-Indische gids • 54 (1) • Published In 1980 • Pages: 1-39
By: Vernon, Diane.
Abstract
Vernon writes about a realtively new (post-1972) category of possessing spirits among the Ndyuka, called BAKUU, which she argues are related to acculturation. The Bakuu originate in the coastal city of Paramaribo and are either purchased, or unwittingly brought back, by soujourners. Unlike other spirits which affect one person, the Bakuu exist in groups and often kill several people. Vernon discusses the case of one person accused of witchcraft in relation to Bakuu possession and death. She traces the lines of possession, death and accusations between competing affinal lineages in a tribal village, and attributes this tension to the unstable relationship between the lineages as a result of their growing and unequal connection to the market economy of the coast.
- HRAF PubDate
- 1999
- Region
- South America
- Sub Region
- Amazon and Orinoco
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ;1997
- Field Date
- 1976-1979
- Coverage Date
- 1972-1979
- Coverage Place
- Tabiki, Suriname
- Notes
- Diane Vernon
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 36-38)
- LCCN
- sn86012467
- LCSH
- Djuka people