article
Married in the water: spirit kin and other afflictions of modernity in southeastern Nigeria
Journal of religion in Africa = Religion en Afrique • 27 (2) • Published In 1997 • Pages: 116-134
By: Bastian, Misty L..
Abstract
This is another study of OGBAANJE (see document no. 37). Ogbaanje are incarnate spirits who 'possess' children at birth but soon have their fill of human life returning to the spirit world, which results in premature death. In one type of ogbaanje, the water spirit MAMI WATA promises her victims automobiles, wristwatches and computers, but usually delivers disease and death. Beautiful, tantalizing, capricious, ogbaanje women do not marry, nor have children and therefore are of little value to the patrilineage. A newspaper account of a bridegroom's suicide interprets the death in terms of ogbaanje possession. It also reveals in Igbo patrilineal society the comeptition between wives and mothers over affections of their husbands and sons, respectively.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2003
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Western Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 2001
- Field Date
- 1987-1988
- Coverage Date
- 1987-1988
- Coverage Place
- Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
- Notes
- Misty L. Bastian
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-134)
- LCCN
- sf 80000812
- LCSH
- Igbo (African people)