article

Belief in 'witches' among the rural Wolof of the Gambia

Africa • 24 (3) • Published In 1959 • Pages: 263-273

By: Ames, David W..

Abstract

The Wolof believe in the existence of DOMA, a person who attacks and 'eats' his fellows. This article describes the behavior ascribed to the DOMA and the means of warding off their attacks. The author concludes that although the belief in DOMA suggests that the culprits may function as 'scapegoats' in the native society, it tends to increase rather than reduce social tensions and personal anxieties; therefore, the DOMA complex can be regarded as mainly dysfunctional, both in the social and psychological sense.

HRAF PubDate

1999

Region

Africa

Sub Region

Western Africa

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Robert Lee ; 1959

Field Date

1950-1951

Coverage Date

1950-1951

Coverage Place

Saloum districts, Gambia and Senegal

Notes

David Ames

Includes bibliographical references

LCCN

29010790

LCSH

Wolof (African people)