Zande medicine shrine
104 x 78 mm | Print gelatin silver
Condition:
Overall silver sulphide staining [EE 1989]
Date of Print:
Unknown
Previous PRM Number:
EP.A.232
Previous Other Number:
47 (74) [frame 6]
Accession Number:
1998.341.232
Description:
Amatangi medicine growing in the centre of a homestead.
A revered but relatively newly introduced medicine, amatangi is associated with hunting, but also with the prevention of witchcraft.
Its close association also with spirits (atoro) mean that it sometimes forms a shrine within the homestead, where offerings are placed.
Photographer:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Date of Photo:
1927 - 1930
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Western Equatoria Yambio
Group:
Zande
Publication History:
Contemporary Publication - Reproduced as Plate XXXa (facing page 448) in E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard's
Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande
(OUP 1937), with the caption "Plant associated with
amatangi
magic in centre of homestead" [CM 11/8/2005]
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1966
Other Owners:
E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection
Class:
Religion , Ritual , [Hunting]
Keyword:
Plant
Activity:
Ritual Activity
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)"] - 232. Medicine (Amatangi) in Centre of homestead. f.(74)
Notes on print reverse ms pencil "47 (74)"
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)"] - 232. Medicine (Amatangi) in Centre of homestead. f.(74)
Notes on print reverse ms pencil "47 (74)"
Other Information:
Ethnographic context - E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard discusses the use of this medicine on pages 417-8 of In Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande (OUP 1937).
In particular he notes that 'the owner [of amatangi] erects a branch in the centre of his homestead as a shrine and places offerings there.
Anyone who comes to his homestead will lay his spear on the ground in honour of the medicine.
Its owner also erects a small shrine, like a ghost-shrine, in his hut and places a pot in it and puts offerings in the pot.
Whenever its owner drinks water he first spills a little on the ground in honour of the medicine.' [CM 11/8/2005]
Recorder:
Christopher Morton 27/10/2003 [Southern Sudan Project]
