ANTHROP 2R03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Spirit Possession, Intercultural Competence, System On A Chip
27 Mar 2019
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Document Summary
Zar beliefs and practices are known throughout n. africa and parts of the middle east. The majority of possessing spirits are male and the majority of those who are possessed are women. Zar spirits represents outsiders, foreigners: non-african groups, european officials and traders, african spirits. Ability to be possessed usually inherited from mother to daughter, but possession may happen at any time. Possession not necessarily a problem unless the spirit is upset, which causes sickness, misfortunes, and unusual behaviour: case of fatima: possessed by ethiopian christian spirit, bashir, that was causing massive internal bleeding. Once the spirit makes demands known they can be met and the illness will pass. Kenyon describes how zar ritual was held in hospital -- bleeding stopped within 24 hours. Bashir told women during the ritual that he didn"t want surgery. Umiya: leader of group devotees: often consulted about illnesses thought to be related to zar. May do curing rituals in hospitals or in home.
