What was Evans-Pritchard theory?
In 1965, Evans-Pritchard published his seminal work Theories of Primitive Religion, where he argued against the existing theories of primitive religious practices that had dominated anthropological literature up to that time.
What is Benge according to the Azande?
Benge is the ‘Poison Oracle’ used by the Azande of Central Africa, mainly in Southern Sudan, in which a decision is determined by whether or not a fowl survives being administered a poison. The outcome of the oracle can be taken as law in certain circumstances when a Zande Chief is present.
What are Azande beliefs?
RELIGION. Historically, the Azande practiced animism. Modern Azande are more likely to practice Christianity. Their traditional beliefs revolve around magic, oracles, and witchcraft.
What is the role of witchcraft among the Azande?
Among the Azande, witchcraft is considered to be a major danger. They believe that witchcraft can be inherited and that a person can be a witch, causing others harm, without realising her or his influence. Because of this danger, effective means of diagnosing witchcraft are, for them, vital.
Where are the Azande?
The Azande people live in a large area in the center of Africa, in the southwestern Sudan, north of Zaire and to the east of the Central African Republic.
Was Evans-Pritchard a structural functionalist?
Evans-Pritchard is widely known as a structural-functionalist (Kuper, 1988).
What is Mangu Azande?
Among the Azande, witchcraft, or mangu, is believed to be an inherited black fluid in the belly which leads a fairly autonomous existence, and has power to perform bad magic on one’s enemies.
What is the Azande culture?
Most Azande formerly practised a traditional African religion, but this has been supplanted to a large extent by Christianity. Their traditional religion involves belief in Mboli, an omnipotent god. They practice magic, oracles, and witchcraft in order to solve their everyday problems.
Where did the azande originate from?
It is widely accepted that the ancestors of Azande society migrated from the west into the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the southern Sudan beginning in the 1600s. Because of their relative isolation from Westerners, the Azande practiced many traditional beliefs and customs well into the twentieth century.