Zande abinza (witchdoctors) dancing
35 x 24 mm | Print gelatin silver
Condition:
Silver sulphide staining [EE 1989]
Date of Print:
Unknown
Previous PRM Number:
EP.A.573a
Previous Other Number:
92 6 (8) [frame 7]
Accession Number:
1998.341.573.3
Description:
A group of abinza (witchdoctors) dancing at a seance (do avure) with a number of magical objects and horns thrust into the earth marking out the dance area of each individual.
In the centre of the group is a hole dug by them for the ritual 'burial' of a new initiate (Kamanga).
Both wooden gong (gugu) and skin drum (gaza) are being played beyond.
Photographer:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Date of Photo:
?1928 - 1929
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Western Equatoria Yambio
Group:
Zande
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1966
Other Owners:
E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection
Class:
Clothing Ritual , Religion , Ritual , Dance
Keyword:
Headdress
Activity:
Ritual Activity
Event:
Ceremony Initiation , Dance
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)"] - 573. Witchdoctor (initiation of new member). 92/6 (8)
Notes on card mount m/s pencil - "SSS RHS 8.89"
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)"] - 573. Witchdoctor (initiation of new member). 92/6 (8)
Notes on card mount m/s pencil - "SSS RHS 8.89"
Other Information:
In Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande (OUP 1937, page 154-157) E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard notes that '[o]n my third expedition in 1930 I constantly attended seances of witch-doctors and tried to see their activities in the social life of the Azande in better perspective than I had been able to do when immersed in the details of their craft..' A detailed account of the ritual burial ceremony as part of the training of a binza novice is found on pp.
239 - 245.
On page 239 E-P states that the photographs of Kamanga's ritual burial were taken immediately outside his own hut 'which accounts for the spaciousness of the scene and for the unusual number of magicians present.' Kamanga himself gives an account of his ritual burial initiation experience on page 241.
[Chris Morton 23/10/2003] Please note that this negative is a strip of two modern museum negatives produced from one of the two original prints.
As with other previously accessioned museum-produced negatives, I have retained them within the full catalogue of the collection.
Recorder:
Christopher Morton 24/11/2003 [Southern Sudan Project]
