Consulting the Zande benge oracle
104 x 78 mm | Negative film nitrate
There are records relating to alternative images that we do not have scans for in the database:
1998.341.542.2 - Print gelatin silver , (104 x 78 mm)
1998.341.542.2 - Print gelatin silver , (104 x 78 mm)
Date of Print:
Unknown
Previous PRM Number:
EP.A.542
Previous Other Number:
46 3 (+70) [frame 2]
Accession Number:
1998.341.542.1
Description:
An operator of the poison oracle (benge) seated to the left (identified as Windis, also known as Zori vuru Gami (i.e.
Zori a subject of the commoner governor Gami), and to the right Bawili wiri Bagbe, i.e.
Bawili son of Bagbe).
The oracle questioner is identified as Bawili, who is seated nearby to the right, addressing the oracle.
The operator is administering poison to the fowl.
Poison oracle consultations took place away from habitation, often at the edge of cultivations, so as to ensure secrecy and to avoid pollution and witchcraft.
Photographer:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Date of Photo:
1927
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Western Equatoria Yambio
Group:
Zande
NamedPerson:
Windis, Bawili wiri Bagbe
Notes:
Related images of this scene are published in E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard's article "Oracle Magic of the Azande"
Sudan Notes and Records
, Vol.XI, 1928, based upon his first expedition of 1927.
[CM 10/10/2005]
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1966
Other Owners:
E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection
Class:
Religion , Agriculture and Horticulture
Keyword:
Oracle Divination , Garden
Activity:
Divining
Documentation:
Original catalogue lists in Manuscript Collections. Additional material in related documents files. [CM 27/9/2005]
Primary Documentation:
PRM Accession Records - [1966.27.21] G PROFESSOR E.
E.
EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST.
OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD.
OXFORD - S.
SUDAN, AZANDE TRIBE.
Box of negatives in envelopes.
Nos.
1 - 400
Added Accession Book Entry - [In pencil in column] Catalogue room.
[1966.27.23] G PROFESSOR E. E. EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST. OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD. OXFORD - S. SUDAN, AZANDE TRIBE. Box of prints in envelopes, nos. 1 - 400 (prints of negatives in 1966.27.21)
Manual Catalogues [typewritten, entitled "Zande Photographs (E-P)"] - 542. Consulting benge oracle. (Windis and Bawili) 46/3 (+70)
Note on negative m/s ink - "+70"
Added Accession Book Entry - [In pencil in column] Catalogue room.
[1966.27.23] G PROFESSOR E. E. EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST. OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD. OXFORD - S. SUDAN, AZANDE TRIBE. Box of prints in envelopes, nos. 1 - 400 (prints of negatives in 1966.27.21)
Manual Catalogues [typewritten, entitled "Zande Photographs (E-P)"] - 542. Consulting benge oracle. (Windis and Bawili) 46/3 (+70)
Note on negative m/s ink - "+70"
Other Information:
E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard discusses the operation of the benge oracle in detail on pages 294-312 of Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande (OUP 1937). Two similar images, obviously taken at the same time, are reproduced as Plates XXIa & b (facing page 310) in E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard's Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande (OUP 1937). Information with [1998.341.341] states that the man identified here as Windis is also the man known as Zori in other images, and that the man identified here as Bawili wiri Bagbe is also spelt as Bavili elsewhere in the handlist.
In Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande (OUP 1937, page 212) E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard writes briefly about the old commoner governor called Game recorded here. I have standardised the commoner governor's name as Gami as it appears this way in many captions as well as in The Azande (OUP 1971).
[Chris Morton 5/12/2003]
Recorder:
Christopher Morton 19/11/2003 [Southern Sudan Project]
