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The Uniqueness of Nguni Mediumistic Divination in Southern Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

W. David Hammond-Tooke
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Abstract

Mediumistic divination is unique to the Nguni, as all other Bantu-speakers in southern Africa used a fairly ‘objective’ divinatory system involving a set of four incised bone tablets, or an assortment of astragals, shells and other objects (or a combination of both). Also, unlike non-Nguni, Nguni diviners were predominantly women. They were called to the profession through a life-transforming, ancestor-sent illness (thwasa) characterised by psychological and physical symptoms. The article discusses the nature, and possible correlates, of these differences. It is argued that the form of Nguni divination is connected with three related aspects of Nguni social arrangements that distinguish them from other southern African Bantu-speakers, namely the presence of strong patricians, the conceptualisation of the ancestors as a transcendent, undifferentiated collectivity, and the marked subordination of women. In addition, there is evidence of both the borrowing of certain aspects of the San trance dance, as an appropriate expression of female tensions, and, especially among Cape Nguni, of the concept of divinatory animals. This San influence is much less evident among the Zulu. The importance of appreciating the essentially selective nature of cultural borrowing is emphasised.

Résumé

La divination médiumnique est particulière aux Nguni, toutes les autres ethnies bantoues d’ Afrique australe utilisant un système divinatoire “objectif” comprenant un ensemble de quatre tablettes en os gravé, ou un assortiment d’ astragales, coquilles et autres objets (ou un mélange des deux). De même, contrairement aux non-Nguni, les devins nguni sont principalement des femmes. Elles sont appelées à cette fonction à travers une maladie transmise par les ancêtres qui transforme leur existence (thwasa) et se caractérise par des symptômes psychologiques et physiques. L'article traite de la nature, et des corrélats possibles, de ces différences. Il affirme que la forme de divination nguni est liée à trois aspects connexes de l'organisation sociale nguni qui les distinguent des autres ethnies bantoues d' Afrique australe, à savoir la présence de patricians forts, la conceptualisation des ancêtres en tant que collectivité transcendante indifférenciée et la subordination marquée des femmes. De plus, l'article dénote à la fois l'emprunt de certains aspects de la danse de transe San, en tant qu'expression appropriée des tensions féminines et, notamment chez les Nguni du Cap, le concept d'animaux divinatoires. Cette influence San est bien moins évidente chez les Zoulous. L'article souligne l'importance d'apprécier la nature essentiellement selective de l'emprunt culturel.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 72 , Issue 2 , May 2002 , pp. 277 - 292
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2002

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