Consulting the Zande benge oracle
61 x 40 mm | Print gelatin silver
Date of Print:
Unknown
Previous PRM Number:
EP.A.247a
Previous Other Number:
29 6
Accession Number:
1998.341.247.3
Description:
An operator of the poison oracle (benge), a boy identified as wiri dawiri Tupoi i.e.
Tupoi's sister's son, sitting on the ground holding a fowl in his outstretched arm that has been given benge poison.
Beside him is an open weave basket containing other fowls to be used with the oracle.
Photographer:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Date of Photo:
1927 - 1930
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Western Equatoria Yambio
Group:
Zande
NamedPerson:
wiri dawiri Tupoi
Publication History:
Contemporary Publication - Reproduced as Plate XXb (facing page 300) in E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard's
Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande
(OUP 1937), with the caption "The chicken, held in the operator's hand, is at its last gasp" [CM 11/8/2005]
Notes:
This seems to have been a print made for C.G.
Seligman to be reproduced in his book of 1932, which has had various numerical anotations added to the reverse as well as having been signed by him.
It was evidently returned to Evans-Pritchard at some point later on.
[CM 11/8/2005]
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1966
Other Owners:
E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection
Class:
Religion , Basketry
Keyword:
Oracle Divination
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)"] - 247. Boy (wili dewili Tupoi) performing benge oracle . (Small size). 29/6
Notes on print rev. m/s pencil - "6336/1 99 s/s Benge CGSeligman [signature]"
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)"] - 247. Boy (wili dewili Tupoi) performing benge oracle . (Small size). 29/6
Notes on print rev. m/s pencil - "6336/1 99 s/s Benge CGSeligman [signature]"
Other Information:
Ethnographic context - 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). In Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande (OUP 1937, page 114) E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard notes that 'One of those whom I knew well was my friend Tupoi of the Amozungu clan, a prominent figure at the court of Gangura...
believed by every one to be a witch of long standing and of great prestige in the witch council.' In their Zande and English Dictionary (London, The Sheldon Press 1952 [1931], page 26) Canon & Mrs E.C.
Gore note 'Dawiri, n., sister (only used in relation to a brother).' [CM 11/8/2005]
Recorder:
Christopher Morton 28/10/2003 [Southern Sudan Project]
