African magic
African Magic is the form, development, and performance of magic within the culture and society of Africa.
Contents
Meaning of the word magic
The word magic denotes simply management of forces, and this management is not weighted morally and is neutral from the start of a process of management, but by the will of the magician, is thought to become either good or bad (evil).[1][2]
Ancient African culture was in the habit customarily of always discerning difference between magic alone, and a group of things which are not magic, which is medicine, divination, witchcraft and sorcery.[3]
In relation to witchraft
E.K. Bongmba finds Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic among the Azande by Evans-Pritchard (published 1937 [4]) responsible for a reduction in appreciation of the value of magic as a definite subject of study.[5] Peter Pels (1998) posits failing in thought similarly stemming from a mis-aligned focus on the negative aspect of witchcraft representing the totum of magic.[5]
Comparison to religion
Opinion differs on how religion and magic are related to each other with respect development or to which developed from which, some thing they developed together from a shared origin, some think religion developed from magic, and some, magic from religion.[6]
Types
There are two types of magic, good, or magic which is used to do well and enhance well-being, and bad, which is magic used to do harm or wrong or evil.[7]
Roles
The traditional roles related to and of magic in African society is medicine-man, divinator, rain-maker,[7] and priest-magician.[2]
Medicine men
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These are at the simplest understanding people who function within a tribal setting as herbalists.[7]
Divinator
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Rain-maker
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Rain-makers are thought to possess magical powers, although they possess these powers because they (the powers) are given them by the sky God or the Great Spirit. Rain-making is something which requires both religion and magic.[8]
Priest-magician
The priest-magician must grasp reality in many ways; understand the nature of climate, the forms of energy of the universe, the functions of material objects.[2] The priest-magician controls forces of nature, and in doing this therefore has to understand how control of forces impacts upon perception and the human consciousness and minds of people.[2] He or she fulfills his or her role by exercising the intellect and discerning a way forward while under the possession or control of a spirit or force of a divinity, to which he or she is a servant.[2]
Anti-roles
Sorcerers
Individuals are sometimes identified as sorcerers.[9]
See also
Sources
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- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Volume 306 of European studies on Christian origins
- ↑ Publication details [Retrieved 2015-12-26]
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Volume 4 of Modernity and belonging
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.African Studies
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
