Consulting the Zande benge oracle
140 x 80 mm | Print gelatin silver
Condition:
Residual chemical staining/sulphide staining [EE 1989]
Date of Print:
Unknown
Previous PRM Number:
EP.A.681
Previous Other Number:
51 12 (+57)
Accession Number:
1998.341.681.2
Description:
An operator of the poison oracle (benge) seated on the ground (identified as Bandutua) administering poison to a fowl by holding its beak and pouring the liquid in.
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.
The questioner of the oracle would be sitting nearby addressing his questions to the poison.
Photographer:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Date of Photo:
1927 - 1928
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Western Equatoria Yambio
Group:
Zande
NamedPerson:
Bandutua
Publication History:
Contemporary Publication - Reproduced as Plate XIXa (facing page 292) in E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard's
Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande
(OUP 1937), with the caption "The operator is twirling a brush in the poison with his right hand.
He will then place the brush in the leaf-filter held in his left hand.
His left foot imprisons the fowl." [CM 17/8/2005]
Notes:
Related images of the same scene are published in E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard's article "Oracle Magic of the Azande"
Sudan Notes and Records
, Vol.XI, 1928, thereby providing a terminus ante quem.
[CM 10/10/2005]
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1966
Other Owners:
E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection
Class:
Religion
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)"] - 681. The Benge Oracle (Large size). 51/12 (+57)
Notes on print/mount - "Bandutua na soroka benge 51/12 +57 681"
Notes on card mount m/s pencil - "SS RHS spots of RCS/SS LHS fading Bandutua na soroka benge"
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)"] - 681. The Benge Oracle (Large size). 51/12 (+57)
Notes on print/mount - "Bandutua na soroka benge 51/12 +57 681"
Notes on card mount m/s pencil - "SS RHS spots of RCS/SS LHS fading Bandutua na soroka benge"
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). The phrase on the print reverse Bandutua na soroka benge, translates as Bandutua divining with benge.
[Chris Morton 3/12/2003]
Recorder:
Christopher Morton 3/12/2003 [Southern Sudan Project]
