Witchcraft Among the Azande

Question 1

Define witchcraft.

Answer 1

The belief that all illness is caused by evilness. Attribute all illness to witchcraft. A person can be practicing witchcraft unknowingly, but causing other people illness.

Question 2

Define sorcery. What is an oracle?

Answer 2

Oracles are rituals to determine the cause of anything. Nothing is based on luck. Everything can be traced back to witchcraft.

Question 3

What are the functions(psychological, social and/or ecological) of Zande belief systems of witchcraft and sorcery in their culture?

Answer 3

The belief in witchcraft provides some kind of structure to seemingly random events, and helps provide people with meaning to their lives.

Question 4

Describe at least two rituals from the film, and include symbols important to understanding those rituals.

Answer 4

Termite Oracle - you ask a question and poke a mound of termites with two sticks and which ever stick the termites eat determines the answer

Rubbing Board - also offers yes/ no answers. Rub two pieces of wood together. Wood will either slide or stick, determining answer.

Question 5

Explain the types of magic practiced by the Zande people.

Answer 5

The type of magic practiced by the Zande people is ritual based, consulting oracles to determine answers to challenging issues.