article
Magic as a 'quasi-profession': the organization of magic and magical healing among Amhara
Ethnology • 14 (3) • Published In 1975 • Pages: 245-265
By: Young, Allan Louis.
Abstract
This is an article on Amhara magician-healers, or DEBTERA, who affect cures through the use of amulets, esoteric knowledge, and in some cases demon-helpers. DEBTERA are considered by laymen to be failed priests, who through some weakness or sin must leave their parish and lose the customary support of the church. At some point they make a pact with demons, the source of their power and stigma. As youth, DEBTERA wander the countryside making a livelihood trading esoteric lore and amulets with lowlanders and other DEBTERA. Eventually, they become low-level functionaries in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, working as cantors, scribes, church historians, and most importantly, teachers. Young argues that the DEBTERA are able to maintain themselves as a profession without the support of an institution or cult ritual through their ability to travel and trade in amulets, and because of their stigmatized status, an image the DEBTERA indeed encourage.
- HRAF PubDate
- 1998
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Eastern Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 1996
- Field Date
- 1966
- Coverage Date
- 1960s
- Coverage Place
- Begemder Province, Ethiopia
- Notes
- Allan Young
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 265)
- LCCN
- 64005713
- LCSH
- Amhara (African people)/At/At/At