Book
Good magic in Ovambo
Suomen Antropologinen Seura • (33) • Published In 1993 • Pages: 234
By: Hiltunen, Maija.
Abstract
This description of traditional Ovambo magical practices and related rituals focuses on a category of good magic spells and divinations believed to protect individuals, households and communities from human witches, malevolent ancestral spirits, and related evil forces. These supernatural powers were presumed particularly potent during seasonal communal rituals and major life cycle events such as childbirth, initiation rituals, weddings, and burials. Prior to the advent of Christianity, Ovambo household heads and clan leaders sought to minimize this vulnerability by consulting magicians and diviners for protective amulets, counter-spells, purification rituals, and medicinal potions. The spread of Christianity brought alternative ways of understanding and addressing these threats, leading to a substantial decline in the relevance of both traditional magical practices and diviners.
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Southern Africa
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Types
- Missionary
- Anthropologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- Analyst
- Teferi Abate Adem; 2021
- Field Date
- 1958-1962; 1971-1975
- Coverage Date
- 1870-1932
- Coverage Place
- north-central Namibia
- Notes
- Maija Hiltunen
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 230-233)
- LCCN
- 93196955
- LCSH
- Ovambo (African people)--Rites and ceremonies
- Ovambo (African people)--Religion
- Magic--Namibia--Owambo
- Sorcery--Namibia--Owambo
- Owambo (Namibia)--Religion