article
The Atinga cult among the south-western Yoruba: a sociological analysis of a witch-finding movement
Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Afrique Noire, Série B sciences humaines • 18 • Published In 1956 • Pages: 315-334
By: Morton-Williams, Peter.
Abstract
This article is a study of a movement which originated in southern Ghana during the mid-1940's and which is ultimately derived from the rites of an earth-deity in the Northern Territories. The 'witches' caught by the witch-finders were generally old women past the child-bearing age. Morton-Williams believes that in this case it is likely that witchcraft fears and accusations are the cultural expression of the psychological impact on the individuals in Yoruba society, of the social relations generated by the Yoruba pattern of marriage, of anxiety and guilt in the women and ambivalent sentiments in the men. The author is with the West African Institute of Social and Economic Research, University College, Ibadan.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2009
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Western Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Timothy J. O'Leary ; 1959
- Field Date
- 1950
- Coverage Date
- 1940-1956
- Coverage Place
- Nigeria
- Notes
- P. Morton-Williams
- Includes bibliographical references
- LCCN
- 43021789
- LCSH
- Yoruba (African people)