An Introduction to the Spirit Beings of the Northern Basukuma

1956 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. S. Tanner
Keyword(s):  
Spirit Beings

scholarly journals Socio-Cultural Conception of Albinism and Sexuality Challenges among Persons with Albinism (PWA) in South-West, Nigeria

1970 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-208
Author(s):  
AD Ikuomola
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Male Child ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
African Society ◽  
Familial Support ◽  
South West ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Spirit Beings

The conception of albinism and the plight facing persons with albinism (PWA) in south-western Nigeria have long been viewed and overemphasised from a biomedical perspective. However, there is a lack of information on the socio-historical conception of albinism and the corollary effect on albinos’ sexuality challenges. This study examines the socio-cultural barriers affecting PWA in the formation of identity and sexual negotiations and relationships. The study was purely qualitative in nature, revealing the Yoruba myths, folktales and legends about albinos as both disabled and divine beings. This was highlighted as having a significant impact on their sexuality, associations, and relationships with persons with/out pigmentation defects. Men with albinism (MWA) were discovered to be more likely to get involved in relationships and possibly getting married especially if they are from a wealthy home. Similarly a better chance and strong familial support exist for a first-born son and for an only male child, than the females with albinism (FWA). This buttresses the patriarchal nature of the African society which emphasises much preference for the male born. From birth therefore, gender was narrated as a discriminatory factor. However, identity formation, association and getting involved in sexual relationships were major challenges affecting all PWA. For the female PWA the risk of being used for money making rituals; not knowing a sincere partner; their more fragile nature and perceived fear of societal objection and hatred in seeing a non-albino with an albino getting involved were highly traumatising. The study concluded that the sociocultural conception of albinism and albinos as disabled and spirit beings should be deconstructed to pave the way for effective expression of sexual relationships. Key words: Spirit beings, myth, relationships, gender, patriarchy

Angered Spirits

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette M. High
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Local Geology ◽  
Spirit Beings ◽  
Ritual Practices

This chapter explores how people involved in gold mining rely on more than just knowledge of local geology and mining technologies in their search for gold. They also enter into relationships with new and dangerous spirit beings in order to attract and harness fortune (hishig). However, as they do this, ninjas are said to also come into contact with the misfortune of gold, which can be redirected onto others through ritual practices. With illnesses readily blamed on ninjas, they are subject to much suspicion and enmity. Examining local understandings of a transforming landscape, the chapter shows how the desire for subterranean wealth demands recognition of powerful spirit worlds.

Introduction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette M. High
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Gold Rush ◽  
Asian Continent ◽  
Global Crisis ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Financial Investment ◽  
Life Itself ◽  
Spirit Beings ◽  
The Sacrifice

This introductory chapter provides an overview of the Mongolian gold rush. The gold rush, which has grown to become the largest ever on the Asian continent, involves major risks, perhaps even the sacrifice of human life itself. Although national and international commentators rejoice in Mongolia's immense mineral wealth, which is expected to help ease the global crisis in financial investment markets, gold is locally regarded as a volatile and inalienable material that is not readily exchangeable and commodifiable. In contrast to other kinds of metal, it is seen to retain strong ties to the landscape and its many spirit beings. Since these ties cannot easily be severed and are particularly strong at the point of extraction, the fortune of gold is inseparable from the fears that surround mining.

Islam and the cognitive study of colonialism: The case of religious and educational reform at Egypt’s al-Azhar

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Aria Nakissa
Keyword(s):  
Educational Reform ◽  
Religious Belief ◽  
Reform Movement ◽  
Colonial Power ◽  
Cognitive Science Of Religion ◽  
Cultural Traditions ◽  
Islamic Reform ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Cognitive Study ◽  
Spirit Beings

Abstract This article argues that the emerging Cognitive Science of Religion (CSR) provides a valuable new perspective on colonialism. CSR argues that humans are innately inclined towards certain types of religious belief (e.g., belief in spirit beings, belief in immortal souls) and certain types of non-utilitarian morality (e.g., belief in an obligation to care for kin, belief in an obligation to avoid ‘disgusting’ substances or behaviours). These innate inclinations underlie many religious and cultural traditions transformed by colonialism, including Islam. The article suggests that colonial power operates not only by suppressing traditional non-Western institutions but also by suppressing the natural inclinations underlying non-Western traditions. This claim is developed through a study of colonial efforts to transform Egypt’s al-Azhar, the world’s most influential institution of Islamic learning and scholarship. These efforts made al-Azhar into the centre of a global Islamic reform movement, which sought to integrate Islam with a colonial scientific-utilitarian worldview.

7. Zhu Xi on Spirit Beings

1996 ◽  
pp. 106-120
Author(s):  
Daniel K. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Zhu Xi ◽  
Spirit Beings

Colonial Consecrations, Violent Reclamations, and Contested Spaces in the Spanish Americas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Dean ◽  
Dana Leibsohn
Keyword(s):  
Binary Opposition ◽  
Contested Spaces ◽  
Sacred Spaces ◽  
Indigenous Epistemologies ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Spanish Colonization ◽  
Pueblo Revolt ◽  
Spirit Beings

During Spanish colonization in the Americas, Catholic evangelizers often purposefully consecrated spaces that were already sacred to Indigenous Americans. In many regions, however, Indigenous deities, spirits, ancestors, and their devotees, rebelled. The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 killed and evicted Spaniards while claiming Christian constructions and objects for native usage. Yet the end result of this revolt was not just the re-consecration of sacred spaces to once again welcome Indigenous spirit beings. Rather, in its wake, the line between the pure and the contaminated cannot be neatly drawn; indeed, such sharp distinctions make little sense within Indigenous epistemologies wherein binary opposition is rarely found. Comparative materials from Mesoamerica and the Andes help complicate the commonplace narrative of conquest and resistance.

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