ANT207H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Zande People, Granary, Relativism
Document Summary
Edward evans-pritchard and analysis of different cultural beliefs. Subjects of study for anthropologists somewhat dictated by colonial presence, power, need: anthropologists from england, france, etc. went where their country was represented. Studying azande people, who had beliefs concerning magic and witchcraft: magic and witchcraft words used by colonials as a simplified label for their belief system. Azande people believed that bad things that happen (our perception of bad luck) to people is magic or witchcraft. Death of a 30-year-old woman due to some undiagnosed illness; azande believe this was some kind of black magic. Witchcraft doesn"t involve ingredients and spells but is a psychic ability. Villagers eager to establish good relations with the witchdoctor of the village so as to not bring themselves bad magic. Witchcraft was a belief for the azande people as is christianity or marxism for the west; it is not disproven and their faith in it is not faltered by failure.
