Witchcraft and Misfortune in Zande Society

Speaker acknowledges the Wurundjeri country and its elders (past, present, emerging).

Topic of today's discussion: Witchcraft among the Zande people, focusing on the complexities surrounding misfortune and the deeply ingrained cultural concept of mangu.

The granary depicted in the accompanying photo from the Pitt Rivers Museum holds significant cultural importance within Zande society.
Functions:
- Storage of Millet: The granary is designed to preserve millet, a staple food that is central to Zande nutrition, ensuring food security by preventing pest damage through its elevated structure.
- Shelter: It serves as a refuge against heat and adverse weather, playing an integral role in day-to-day life.
Represents Misfortune: Beyond its functional uses, the granary serves as a symbol of misfortune in Zande belief systems. It embodies the idea that misfortune results from a confluence of coincidental events, illustrating how a granary collapsing while someone is underneath is perceived as an ominous sign.

Current focus: Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic among the Zande.
Differentation between etic (outsider) views and emic (insider) perspectives helps shed light on the intricate framework of Zande society and their beliefs.
Previous discussions covered human origins, now transitioning to an exploration of witchcraft as a socio-cultural phenomenon.

Historical Background: The Zande have relatively recently experienced colonization, which has shaped the emergence of new social institutions, such as the court system, primarily led by the Avangara elite, who hold significant influence in community governance.
Kinship and Marriage: Kinship is fundamental to social structure, determining individual status, social power, and the accumulation of wealth. Polygamy is prevalent in Zande culture, where financial stability is crucial for fulfilling bride price obligations.

Mangu: This hereditary substance is believed to exist within the individual's body, specifically the small intestine, and is thought to grow over time. It is closely associated with negative emotions such as envy and enmity.
The state of mangu can fluctuate; it can become hot (indicative of active malice) or remain cool (reflecting inactivity) based on an individual's emotional state towards others.
Discussion on Witches: Unlike traditional Western notions of witchcraft, Zande witches do not engage in deliberate spells or rituals; their actions are characterized as subconscious psychic acts that inadvertently cause harm, leading to the explanation of misfortunes as results of witchcraft.

Misfortunes can arise from various sources, not solely witchcraft, including:
- Incompetence: Lack of skill or knowledge can lead to mishaps that are misconstrued as witchcraft.
- Breaking Taboos: Violations of cultural taboos, such as those surrounding food or morality, are seen as triggering misfortunes.
According to Pritchard, the attribution of death is frequently linked directly to witchcraft, simplifying the complexities of causality in Zande beliefs.

Witchcraft is characterized as causing unintended malaise, arising from malicious feelings projected by others onto the victim.
This conception contrasts with sorcery, which involves premeditated, intentional acts designed to bring about harm, and karma, which is interpreted as a retribution resulting from one’s own actions.

Misfortunes often drive individuals in Zande society to seek justifications and validations for their experiences, which can lead to accusations of witchcraft based on circumstantial co-occurrences.
Discussions regarding everyday objects, such as granaries and cooking pots, serve to illustrate how commonplace misfortunes can perpetuate witchcraft suspicions, reinforcing community values that demand social agreement for such accusations to take root.

Witch Doctors (Abinza): These practitioners diagnose and combat witchcraft; they function as essential societal institutions, although they themselves do not possess mangu. Instead, they play a role in mediating the witchcraft beliefs in society.
Oracular Systems: These systems are utilized as tools for understanding and revealing witchcraft influences within the community. They vary greatly in terms of prestige and efficacy.
- Rubbing Board: Provides quick but often unreliable assessments.
- Termite Oracle: While slower, it is more accessible, especially to women, for divining responses.
- Poison Oracle: Holds the highest prestige, requiring the intervention of an Abinza to facilitate the process.
The control over access to oracular systems is crucial in determining societal truth and maintaining societal order.

The belief in other supernatural entities, such as mystical cats and gallbladder men, contributes to the broader Zande understanding of witchcraft and the societal fears that shape these beliefs, particularly concerning women's sexuality.
Techniques used for divination include:
- Rubbing Board
- Termite Oracle
- Poison Oracle

Future discussions will delve deeper into the role of the witch doctor and the interpretations of oracles within Zande society.
There's a continued emphasis on the importance of cultural context in shaping the understandings and beliefs surrounding witchcraft.
As we progress, further insights will be explored regarding the dynamics of power and knowledge within the Zande community.