%0 Journal Article
%T Dualism in Somali notions of power
%A Lewis, I. M.
%J Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
%D 1963
%V Vol. 93
%I The Institute
%C London
%@ 0307-3114
%G English
%F mo04-029
%O by I. M. Lewis
%O Includes bibliographical references (p. 116)
%X 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.
%K Somalis
%K Somali
%K Ingroup antagonisms
%K Sorcery
%U https://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu/document?id=mo04-029
%P 109-116
%[ 2022-07-01