Azande (Zande) People: Ancient Goodness Knife As Well As Pike Throwing Warriors Of N Due East Africa
Azande people (also Zande or Asande) are an agglomeration of ancient warriors together with agriculturalists Adamawa-Ubangi speaking people of Bantu extraction residing inward the N Central Africa. Extending across the Nile-Congo drainage divide, they alive primarily inward the northeastern component subdivision of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, inward South Sudan they are found inward Maridi, Yambio together with Tambura districts inward the tropical pelting woods belt of western Equatoria together with Bahr el Ghazal, together with inward southeastern Central African Republic. The Congolese Azande alive inward Orientale Province, specifically along the Uele River; together with the Central African Azande alive inward the districts of Rafaï, Zémio, together with Obo.
Azande missy from Democratic Republic of Congo
The Azande constituted a large Kingdom living peacefully every bit warriors inward these iii African countries without borders until their Kingdom was destroyed yesteryear the Belgian, French, Mahdist together with finally the British inward the context of the European scramble for Africa.
Azande Sudan Cultural Dance Group
This people prefer to telephone phone themselves Azande but outsiders telephone phone them Zande. In the yesteryear (19th together with early on 20th century), foreigners oft used the scream Niam-Niam (or Nyam-Nyam) to refer to Azande people. The scream Niam-Niam is probably of Dinka origin, together with it way "great eaters" inward that linguistic communication (as good every bit beingness an onomatopoeia). However, Western anthropologists believe that the scream Niam-Niam was giving to Azande people because of their supposedly cannibalistic propensities. From ancient African mythological accounts some other tribe called the Niam-Niams were a tribe said to take hold curt tails. Today the scream Niam-Niam is considered pejorative.
The contemporary Azande people are fine craftsmen inward iron, clay, together with wood, together with their population is over 4 i grand one thousand people.
Language
Azande people speak Azande or Pazande, which is a linguistic communication of the Adamawa-Ubangi branch of the Niger-Congo linguistic communication family. Zande" is used also to a greater extent than widely of a laid of closely related Ubangian languages, also Zade proper including Barambu, Pambia, Geme, Kpatili together with Nzakara.
Some vocabulary:
aboro – people, ami – they (applying to animals). ani, a – we, areme – today. ari – high, ba – father. bagunda – heart. bambu – house. bangiri pia – east. bangirise – eye. báwe – ten. live – arm, hand. bi – see. biama – four. biata – three. -bira – to live black. bire, bere – forest. bisua bati biata, muambi – eight,
bisua bati ue, saba – seven. bisua bati biama, ribua – nine. bisue bati sa, sita – six. boro – person, man, de – woman. di – valley, dia, da – wife. dioyo – west, diwi – moon, month, ga Mbori bambu – church, gangara – hill, garã – year, dry out season, gbanga – horn, gbuku – forest, gbundu – forest, gunde – fear,
i, yo – they (persons), ida – believe, ime – water, kama – a hundred, keda – send, kerekuru – star, kibire – forest, kisanga – island, ko – he, kparabe – hand, kpendue – foot,kperekese – everyone, kpetebe – hand, kure – blood, mbia – mountain, rocky hill, Mbori – God, mi – I, me, moment – you, singular, na, a, ki – and, ndue – foot, ngba – mouth, ngbarago – joy, ngbongbo – valley, ngera – see,
ngua – tree, niumbaha - rare/unusual, -ni – he, she (indefinite), ome – air, oni – you, plural, paga – bridge, pai – word, rago, ra'o, rame – day, ri – head; she, rimo – name, sa – one, sende – earth, si – they, neuter, si, ti – it (subject), tue – ear, -u – he, she (in reported speech), u – it (animal subject), ue – two, uroyo – east, uru – sun, day, -vura – to live white, nosotros – fire, wiri – son, zamba – red, zande – person, man
Azande people inward DR Congo
History
Azande are people of mixed origins. In the 18th century a people calling themselves Ambomu together with living on the Mbomu River began, nether the leadership of their ruling Avongara clan, to conquer vast stretches of territory to the S together with east, overpowering many peoples, some of whom take hold preserved their ain languages spell others take hold been completely assimilated. This amalgam constitutes the modern Zande people. During their conquests, scions of the imperial clan carved out kingdoms for themselves, together with wars betwixt these diverse kingdoms were frequent. Read below an article yesteryear E E Evans-Pritchard on porigin together with tribal composition of Azande people.
Azande warriors amongst their shield together with spear
Settlement
Traditionally, the private homestead of each twosome together with their children is the focus of the economical system. The construction together with maintenance of homes are constant occupations, peculiarly owing to the toll taken on them yesteryear weather, insects, animals, together with fast-growing vegetation.
Homes are built of mud together with grass framed on wooden poles together with thatched amongst grass. (One add-on to traditional Zande homes is the European introduction of doors fitted amongst hinges together with locks.) In add-on to this living space, each household unit of measurement has a granary for storing millet. Houses are built around courtyards, which supply ideal places for gathering together with conversation. These enclosed courtyards are seen every bit a window into the household life. Their upkeep is critical since they are seen every bit evidence of the responsibleness or industriousness of their owners. Reining (1966:69) reports that his Zande informants would comment on the province of disrepair of their neighbor’s homestead, together with “analyzed courtyards
every bit reflections of the inhabitants.” They did non exempt themselves from such scrutiny; he continues: “I received a set out of apologies from the heads of households almost the province of their courtyards, amongst total explanations for the deficiencies of which they were ashamed” (Reining 1966:69).
The traditional courtyard organisation appeared to take hold changed really trivial amongst European contact (Reining 1966), amongst the organisation of each courtyard reflecting the composition of the household to which it is attached. Because each adult woman must take hold her ain theatre together with granary, a polygynous household volition take hold numerous homes together with granaries around its courtyard. In a monogamous household, the average courtyard infinite is almost 65 feet inward its largest dimension.
Households amongst to a greater extent than adult women may take hold yards that are 100 feet square. Courtyards belonging to the households of chiefs are double this size. “Kitchen gardens” are planted next to the courtyards. These are used for plants that don’t require large-scale harvesting or great attention. Pineapple, mango, papaya, together with miscellaneous perennial plants used for meals forthwith upon picking are found inward these plots.
Azande adult woman inward Commonwealth of Australia dancing inward her traditional outfit
Economy
The Azande exercise shifting tillage (that is, no crop rotation, together with incorporating a fallowing period), relying mostly on maize together with millet, gourds together with pumpkins, manioc together with bananas, groundnuts, together with beans. The tsetsefly, problematic o animals every bit good every bit humans, makes cattle herding impossible. Whatever meat is consumed is secured through hunting. There is also a tradition of using forested areas to get together plants they do non cultivate. Dogs together with chickens are the only domesticated animals.
The part has ample rainfall together with many springs. These were a focus of Zande life, because they provided usable H2O nearly year-round. Water for daily utilization was carried from flow to homestead together with the washing, amid other activities, was done at the riverbanks. In fact, the flow was cardinal to Zande life inward conceptual every bit good every bit practical terms. For example, distance is expressed yesteryear the set out of streams betwixt the points inward question; the length of a journeying is the set out of streams crossed during travel. When asked almost an exact location (such every bit an individual’s birthplace) the reply volition live the flow nearest that location. Given the centrality of the flow to the Azande, their relocation
yesteryear the European direction caused major disruption inward their cultural beliefs together with practices.
The twelvemonth consists of 2 seasons, i rainy together with i dry. During the rainy summer, Azande cultivate their land. Although they take hold a long growing flavour together with no frosts, the soil is non rich together with insects are troublesome. As the hot, dry out conditions begins, crops mature together with are harvested.
Hunting was most viable inward the dry out season, when tall grasses had died or were burned together with when the harvest was over. During the rains, vegetation was too dense to allow necessary visibility. Because rivers were depression during this dry out season, fish were to a greater extent than accessible. Men employed handbasket traps, which they laid inward the rapids of rivers; women dammed the streams into little shallow pools, drained them yesteryear bailing, together with collected the fish, snakes, together with crustaceans that remained. Termites were a favorite food, together with their high fatty together with poly peptide content made them a nutritious component subdivision of the diet.
In pre-European days, each menage unit of measurement was an independent unit of measurement of production. Iron tools together with spears were used every bit bridewealth items, but inward full general in that location was no tradition of commutation betwixt households, which consisted of a married adult woman or wives, husband, their children, together with other dependents (such every bit widowed elderly). There was a sexual segmentation of labor, together with both women’s together with men’s piece of work were necessary to maintain an efficiently functioning household. Construction together with repair of the theatre together with granary were the responsibleness of men. The arduous task of maintaining the courtyard together with its gardens savage solely to women. Wealth, possessed mainly yesteryear chiefs, was primarily inward the shape of foodstuffs; the tradition of destroying a person’s worldly goods upon expiry left trivial adventure of inheritance of property.
Azande take hold no tradition of occupational specialization. All manufacturing together with craftswork were considered largely avocations, done yesteryear most. Woodworking together with pottery, making nets together with baskets, together with crafting have on out of bark were the most of import of these skills.
Social together with Political Organization
Kinship
Among the Azande, clan affiliation was non stressed at the local level. E. E. Evans- Pritchard (1971), the ethnographer most responsible for knowledge almost the Azande, found, every bit he endeavored to get together genealogies, that “except inward the imperial clan, genealogical relationships betwixt clansmen were really seldom known together with unremarkably quite untraceable” (p. 14). Local groups, according to Evans-Pritchard,
are, inward essence, political units. He reports that his discovering members of the same clan living close i some other is due every bit much to adventure every bit anything else.
Azande people
Chiefdoms
In pre-European times, the Azande were organized into a set out of chiefdoms (sometimes called kingdoms), each of which was independent from the others. The Avongara were nobility; inward the days of Zande chiefdoms, it was to Avongara lineages that chiefs belonged. Despite the fact that chiefs of differing groups all belonged to the same clan, in that location was ongoing hostility together with warfare betwixt them.
Chiefs ruled their lands together with peoples yesteryear appointing emissaries (usually sons, but ever Avongara) who were sent out to deal diverse sections of their territories. Within these communities, commoners were deputized to assist inward administration.
Chiefs functioned every bit military machine leaders, economical leaders, together with political leaders. Unmarried men were recruited into groups that functioned both every bit warriors together with laborers on the king’s lands. The governors of the territories had gardens which were also worked yesteryear these troops. Both governors together with chiefs collected nutrient from the peoples inward their domain (provincial governors sending to the main a portion of their tribute every bit well) to live redistributed. In add-on to food, spears together with other items (often payment for fines or bridewealth) were redistributed yesteryear the chiefs.
Azande children, CAR.
Warfare
Several miles of unsettled woods together with bush were maintained betwixt chiefdoms. Watch was kept on these borders yesteryear trusted sentinels who were designated to build their houses along these boundaries. During the rainy flavour when grass grew tall together with provided goodness cover, surprise attacks were made on these border sentries, unremarkably ordered yesteryear the provincial leader. He undertook this activity on his own, without permission granted from the chief. Counsel, however, was sought from a toxicant oracle, a physical care for wherein toxicant is administered to an creature spell questions are posed to the inhabiting spirit. The poisoned animal’s behavior, every bit good every bit the dot at which it succumbed to the poison, were interpreted yesteryear those amongst such skills. Information was obtained concerning the most propitious days together with seat for the raid, the expected plane of casualties, together with which companies of warriors should live entrusted amongst the most unsafe duties. If the oracle indicated that the fourth dimension was non correct for victory, the plans were abandoned.
The oracle also designated a suitable fourth dimension together with seat for the attack, together with the proper private to human activity every bit a spy. This private was sent to study on every bit many aspects of the homestead to live raided every bit he could determine. Often the spy went nether the pretense of visiting a relative or wishing to trade. The best fourth dimension for a raid was on a feast twenty-four hr catamenia when men would live involved inward the festivities, non likely to live armed, together with quite likely to live drunk. To determine the exact twenty-four hr catamenia of the feast, the spy would programme his see during the preparations for the festivities. Because beer was ever brewed for the celebration, the spy could determine the feast twenty-four hr catamenia based on the phase of the brewing process.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 successful raid yielded tools, arms, food, together with chickens, some of which were sent to the main for redistribution. Whatever could non live carried off was destroyed. Huts together with granaries were burned.
In add-on to raids, in that location were larger mobilizations of state of war campaigns on a grand scale. These were ordered yesteryear the chief, after having consulted his ain toxicant oracle, together with mightiness go along over a catamenia of weeks. While knives together with spears were used exclusively inward raids, the introduction of rifl es into these larger confrontations resulted inward a shift from hand-to-hand fight to shots beingness fi ruby-red from a distance. Only when ammunition was exhausted would those warriors wielding spears converge on the enemy.
Marriage
The traditional Zande scheme of matrimony was greatly disrupted yesteryear European involvement. Administrators legislated broad changes, peculiarly regarding bride payment, divorce, together with historic catamenia at marriage. Although many of these were ostensibly designed to improve the condition of women, ethnographer Reining (1966:61–62) regards them rather every bit “an experiment inward altering some aspects of a civilization without providing for changes inward values. . . . [illustrating] the unpredictability of arbitrary
cultural changes.” Azande did non part the European view that matrimony was peculiarly disadvantageous to women, whom they never regarded every bit servile, despite administrative interpretation of their customs.
Zande adult woman from Central African Republic
Traditionally, the instigation for matrimony amid the Azande came from the potential groom. When a adult man wanted to conjoin a woman, he asked an intermediary to approach her begetter amongst his offer. Unless the suitor was deemed undesirable immediately, her begetter would hash out the affair offset amongst his brothers together with sisters, together with next amongst the adult woman inward question. If she was agreeable, the money sent amongst the intermediary was accepted.
Several days later, the suitor would see his promised bride’s parents, bringing gifts together with demonstrating his respect. In turn, their missy visited her suitor’s seat for a “trial period” of several weeks, after which she returned to her parents’ seat to brand her in conclusion determination regarding the marriage.
During the fourth dimension spent inward reflection yesteryear the woman, the groom-to-be consulted oracles to determine whether the marriage, should it occur, would live a happy one. If both oracle together with adult woman regarded the fit favorably, the bride’s menage unit of measurement traveled to the seat of the groom, where the ceremony took place. The matrimony was sealed amongst the installation of the novel bride’s ain cooking hearth. Reining (1966) describes traditional Zande matrimony every bit a physical care for that continues indefinitely over time, amongst a protracted payment of bride-price. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 little component subdivision of the toll was paid at the fourth dimension of the matrimony ceremony, but inward reality a hubby was ever indebted to his wife’s family. It was ever his responsibleness to assist inward his in-laws’ fields, together with he had mortuary obligations inward the lawsuit of a expiry inward his wife’s family.
The stuff payment of the agreed-upon bride-price was not, inward fact, every bit of import every bit the mental attitude together with demeanour of a hubby to his married adult woman together with her parents (Reining 1966). If he was a gentle, loving hubby together with labored adequately for her parents, remuneration could live forestalled for years. This was often, in
reality, the province of affairs preferred yesteryear in-laws: it afforded them considerable influence over their daughter’s husband. If the hubby was non performing his duties adequately, the wife’s parents mightiness insist that their missy displace dorsum to their home, forcing the hubby to negotiate amongst her parents for her return. Thus, the human relationship of primary emphasis inward matrimony was that of a son-in-law together with his wife’s parents. In polygynous situations, a adult man who had a goodness human relationship amongst his in-laws often expressed the want to conjoin his wife’s sis because of the advantages of a goodness human relationship amongst in-laws.
The topic of homosexuality inward Azande civilization has been regularly addressed, peculiarly inward the context of the single warriors, who, during the several years spent living apart from women, had homosexual relations amongst the boys who were apprentice warriors. These practices, however, were non necessarily maintained every bit a lifelong pattern of sexual orientation. Generally, after their experiences amongst so-called “boy-wives,” the warriors entered into heterosexual marriages.
Less attending has been paid to Azande lesbianism, relationships that were often formed betwixt co-wives. Although in that location is non a wealth of data concerning these practices, according to Evans-Pritchard (1970:1429), “All Azande I take hold known good plenty to hash out this affair take hold asserted . . . that woman somebody (Evans-Pritchard 1970). In add-on to assuring both the emotional together with economical back upwards of the partner, it has been suggested that this formalization (a ritual akin to Zande “blood brotherhood”) may take hold both widened a woman’s merchandise network together with enhanced her seat inward the community. Blackwood (in Suggs together with Miracle 1993) interprets these relationships every bit indicating that Azande men’s command over women did non extend into the realm of activities betwixt women. homosexuality . . . was practiced inward polygamous homes.” Zande husbands felt threatened yesteryear such activities, yet could non halt them; thus, women unremarkably kept the sexual nature of their friendships surreptitious (Blackwood inward Suggs together with Miracle 1993). Two Zande women who wished to formalize their human relationship could do so inward a ritual that created a permanent bond.
Azande people
Birth
Azande tradition prevents a important adult woman from eating sure foods e.g. meat of waterbuck or a sort of sugariness white patato called mene, because it is believed to cause a miscarriage. There is no special ceremony at the nativity of a child.
Stock Photo - Sudan, People, Rituals, Azande Tribe Birth Ritual Where New Baby Is Passed Through Medicinal Smoke. Credit: Eye Ubiquitous / SuperStock
However, iv days after the infant’s cord has been cutting a flame of dark-green leaves is made at the threshold of the house. The woman nurture amongst the kid inward her arms sits inward the smoke for almost one-half an hour. This is said to brand the kid strong. The remains of the flame are non thrown away but carefully placed on i of the paths leading to the hamlet to forestall child’s sick health.
Circumcision
The Azande circumcise their boys every bit a tradition. This is performed when the man child has reached the historic catamenia of nineteen. There is no special occasion. The Azande nonetheless don’t circumcise their girls. This circumcision of the boys has no relation amongst Islam.
Happy Azande kids
Religious Belief
Azande believe inward an all powerful supreme Being, Mbori. Mbori is defi ned yesteryear Evans-Pritchard (1937:11) every bit “a ghostly beingness to whom the creation of the world is attributed.” Missionaries together with authorities officials writing almost the Azande attempted to create out of Mbori a deity that would fi t
their ain tradition. Evans-Pritchard, however, warns against looking for religion, every bit organized elsewhere, inward Azande culture. Mbori is non convincingly portrayed yesteryear the Azande every bit a god analogous to the supreme beingness every bit found elsewhere. They take hold no shrines to Mbori together with no materials used inward worship. There is only i ceremony inward which his scream is invoked, together with that is performed infrequently at best. When he attempted to pursue the topic of theology, together with Mbori inward particular, Evans-Pritchard found the Azande “bored yesteryear the land of study . . . together with unable to limited to a greater extent than than the vaguest ideas almost him.”
Apart from belief inward Mbori, many also holds parallel belief system, including reverence for the ancestors.
Religious Practitioners
The traditional cult of domestic ancestor shrines required no specialized priesthood. Matters of witchcraft together with magic take hold ever been determined yesteryear part-time specialists/practitioners. Witch doctors, who were trained inward the utilization of magical medicines, operated at populace séances; Nagidi are believed to derive their powerfulness direct from God together with are, for day-to-day purposes, consulted inward private.
Dancers from Budi County inward Eastern Equatoria State perform during the opening, Nov 22
Ceremonies
The most of import ceremonies were formerly witch doctors' séances. One or to a greater extent than witch doctors, inward colorful ceremonial dress, would trip the lite fantastic together with sing to musical accompaniment before commencing their divination. The circumcision of pubescent boys also forms component subdivision of an elaborate serial of ceremonies; others were associated amongst initiation into the (now defunct) magical-medicine associations.
Arts
Music, both instrumental together with vocal, is really of import inward Zande culture; traditional instruments—wooden gongs, pare drums, whistles, xylophones, together with large bow harps—also accompany singing together with dancing. Harps are occasionally decorated amongst carved human heads; otherwise, nonutilitarian carving is poorly developed.
Medicine
Zande apply to a greater extent than often than non known common-sense cures to little ailments. All serious diseases are attributed to witchcraft together with are accordingly combated yesteryear magical medicine. The full general term ngua, which originally meant simply “plant” or “tree,” i time covered both goodness together with bad “medicines” of every sort. Nowadays Zande distinguish betwixt protective or curative “medicine,” which is increasingly becoming known yesteryear the Standard Arabic term dawa, together with ngua used every bit vengeance “medicine.” Magical “medicines” are used, non only to ward off (or avenge) misfortune, but to obtain successful harvests, human fertility, goodness hunting, together with other benefits, including task promotions together with success inward examinations. Such “medicines” are bought from people believed to take hold the requisite knowledge; payment is held indispensable if they are to live efficacious.
Death together with Afterlife
All deaths, except those of really little children, are attributed to witchcraft or magic together with telephone phone for magical vengeance. Upon death, the soul (mbisimo) becomes a ghost, which inward some sense may live nowadays inward the homestead ghost shrine, but also dwells amongst other ghosts together with amongst the Supreme Being, Mbori, inward Earth caves inward the forest.
There are no outward signs of mourning except for widows. At the minute of a husband’s expiry a women tears off their clothes together with ornaments together with remain so until his burial. They cutting together with maintain their pilus curt for almost a twelvemonth during which fourth dimension she is non allowed to eat sure food. The expiry of a adult man may cause desertion of his hamlet together with none of his wives may acquire into it.
All his personal domestic articles are broken up. In the old days people were buried inward a sitting seat amongst their chins on their knees. Immediately over the trunk a roof of wood together with grass was placed together with the grave so filled in, a pile of stones beingness placed on the top.
The men are buried facing due east together with women facing west. The explanation for this is that a man, when he gets upwards inward the morning, ever looks offset to the due east to come across if dawn is near, together with a woman, when the Sun is almost to set, goes to fetch wood together with H2O to laid the eve meal.
The Chief together with elders of the Zande hamlet of Dakwa perform local rituals to exorcise the spirits from quondam kid soldiers. Image yesteryear Marcus Bleasdale. Democratic Republic of Congo, 2010.
Witchcraft
The Azande are perhaps ameliorate known for their pervasive belief inward witchcraft than for whatever other aspect of their culture. However, inward his classic description of witchcraft amid the Azande, Evans-Pritchard asks the reader to live aware “that the Zande cannot analyze his doctrines every bit I take hold done for him. . . . It is no utilization maxim to a Zande ‘Now tell me what you lot Azande think almost witchcraft’ because the subject
is too full general together with indeterminate . . . to live described concisely. But it is possible to extract the principles of their thought from dozens of situations inward which witchcraft is called upon to explicate happenings. . . . Their philosophy is explicit, but it is non formally stated every bit a doctrine” (1937:70). (In such situations, an anthropologist endeavors to create such a “doctrine” through fieldwork. The resulting product
may facial expression quite unlike from the indigenous view [Barrett 1991].)
Witchcraft is thought to live an actual physical belongings residing within some individuals, who may themselves live unaware of their power. It is inherited, passed from begetter to boy together with woman nurture to daughter. Azande believe that if the soul of the begetter is to a greater extent than powerful, the kid conceived volition live a boy; if the mother’s soul kernel is greater, their kid volition live a girl. Thus, although every kid is a
production of both parents, each also has to a greater extent than of i particular parent’s soul. And if that nurture is a witch, inheriting this inherent powerfulness to do damage is inevitable.
Because this belongings is organic, it grows every bit a somebody grows. Therefore an older witch is a to a greater extent than unsafe witch. Children, whose witchcraft kernel is small, are never defendant of major acts of damage (such every bit murder). They can, however, cause little misfortunes for other children.
Unlike sorcery, which employs charms together with spells, witchcraft is deployed yesteryear sheer willpower. Witches shipping the spirit of their ain witchcraft entity to eat the flesh together with organs of their intended victims. Thus, a witch may live at seat asleep at the fourth dimension illness or injury occurs. It is the “soul of the witchcraft” that travels through the night. This kernel cannot move great distances, however, together with it is for this ground that the Azande experience to a greater extent than secure if they are able to alive at a distance from their neighbors. The “short-range” nature of witchcraft allows the perpetrator to live to a greater extent than accurately identified; all those beyond the limits of a witch’s capabilities, fifty-fifty amongst evil intent, may live eliminated. If a somebody is taken
sick spell traveling, it is that location where illness struck inward which the witch must live found.
The Azande believe that witchcraft is at the base of operations of all misfortune, great or small. If a potter opens his kiln only to uncovering his pottery cracked, he intimates witchcraft; if a kid stubs her toe at play, she suspects witchcraft; if a hunter is gored yesteryear an elephant, he lays blame for the injury squarely on a witch. Azande entertain no concept of “accidental” death. People cash inward one's chips only every bit victims of murder, whether committed yesteryear witches or yesteryear the magic of revenge reserved for retaliation against suspected witches.
Despite these convictions, the Azande do non alive inward constant terror of witches (Nanda 1991). In fact, Douglas (1980) reminds us that Evans-Pritchard’s assessment of the Azande was that they were the happiest together with most carefree peoples of the Sudan. “The feelings of an Azande man, on finding that he has been bewitched, are non terror, but hearty indignation every bit i of us mightiness experience on finding himself the victim of embezzlement” (Douglas 1980:1).
Since a witch’s motivation is non random, but rather envy or hatred directed at a specific person, a victim searches for a suspect amid those amongst whom he has argued, or inward a somebody who may take hold cause to live jealous of him. How so tin he seat his aggressor? For this, together with other purposes, the Azande consult a diverseness of oracles.
Oracles
The Azande consult oracles regarding a broad arrive at of things almost which they demand information. They inquire for guidance inward planning a marriage, taking a journey, edifice a house, organizing a raid. In add-on to whatever their electrical flow misfortune may be, they inquire almost whether their wellness volition live endangered inward the future.
In pre-European times, Zande chiefs consulted oracles to confirm their military machine decisions, but chiefs were also charged amongst judicial duties. Every accusation was brought before the main to adjudicate. To this end, he employed several people whose responsibleness it was to assist inward the consultation of oracles. It has been said that the Azande belief inward witchcraft is the supporting framework of their entire judicial scheme (Mair 1974:221).
An oracle is a device for revelation. Among the Azande in that location are many from which to choose, amongst varying reputations for reliability. By far the most powerful is benge, the toxicant oracle, used yesteryear men alone. Its decisions are relied upon without question, together with no project of great import is attempted without its authorization. In attempting to convey its centrality, a Zande informant of Evans-Pritchard drew the analogy betwixt the books of Europeans together with the toxicant oracle of his ain people. All the knowledge, guidance, memory, together with truth that are derived from trusted Western writings reside for the Azande within the toxicant oracle. Evans-Pritchard came to view it every bit less a ritual than a necessity:
For how tin a Zande do without his toxicant oracle? His life would live of trivial worth. Witches would brand his married adult woman together with children sick together with would destroy his crops together with homecoming his hunting useless. Every endeavour would live frustrated, every labour together with hurting would live to no purpose. At whatever minute a witch mightiness kill him together with he could do nada to protect himself together with his family. Men would violate his married adult woman together with steal his goods, together with how would he live able to seat together with avenge himself on adulterer together with thief? Without the assist of his toxicant oracle he knows that he is helpless together with at the mercy of every evil person. It is his guide together with counsellor (1937:262–263).
Despite this seeming indispensability, subsequently ethnographers take hold pointed out that benge poison, expensive together with hard to obtain, was most likely an oracle available regularly only to men of wealth. This limitation may take hold acted both to engender social obligations together with to grant powerfulness together with prestige. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 adult man who cannot afford the costly poison, or who does non possess the proper chicken to which the toxicant must live administered, asks a wealthier kinsman, or deputy of the chief, to consult the oracle on his behalf. It is his duty to oblige. It is older men who are likely to take hold the way to seek counsel from the oracle: this access to data gives them powerfulness over younger men. They non only tin inquire the
oracles almost the intentions together with behaviors of their juniors, but also are ever supported inward their decisions yesteryear the considerable weight of oracular authority, to which younger or poorer men take hold no direct access, together with so cannot challenge (Evans-Pritchard 1937).
The benge toxicant ordeal is an elaborate procedure, requiring great science together with finesse inward both the direction of the toxicant together with the posing of the questions. Poison is administered, yesteryear an practiced inward the task, to a little chicken. The practiced must know how much toxicant is necessary, how much fourth dimension should elapse betwixt doses, whether it should live shaken to distribute the poison, how long together with firmly the chicken should live held, together with inward what position. Each barely perceptible motion made yesteryear the plane is important to the trained eye.
Once the toxicant has been administered, the monastic tell inward which questions are asked, whether they are phrased inward a positive or negative frame, must all live determined yesteryear the questioner. The oracle is addressed every bit if it were a person. Every particular of the province of affairs inward inquiry is explained, together with each private inquiry may live embedded inward fi ve or 10 minutes of speech. The benge toxicant shows its reply yesteryear responding through the chicken to the directive, “If this is true, benge kill the fowl” or “If this is non the truth, benge spare the fowl.” Each reply is so tested yesteryear repeating the interpretation of its reply, prefaced amongst the question, “Did the oracle speak the truth inward saying. . .” (Mair 1974).
An oracle to a greater extent than readily available to all is the termite oracle. This is used every bit often yesteryear women every bit men, together with fifty-fifty children may participate. Two branches are cut, each from a different tree. They are inserted together into a termite mound together with left overnight. The reply is indicated yesteryear which branch has been eaten. Though for certain less elaborate together with costly than the benge oracle, consulting termites is a time-consuming affair, since only i inquiry may live posed at a fourth dimension together with i must hold off all nighttime long for the answer.
Least reliable but most convenient is the rubbing-board oracle, a device resembling a Ouija board, made of 2 little pieces of wood, easily carried to live consulted anywhere, at whatever time. One little slice of wood is carved amongst a take hold together with is rubbed across the top of a 2nd piece, fashioned amongst legs to
stand upwards on. Questions are asked every bit the wood is moved; every bit it sticks or catches, so the reply is revealed.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grouping of man child circumcision initiates (agangasi) wearing grass fibre skirts, inward a line performing a circumcision trip the lite fantastic (gbere agangasi) amongst their sponsor (identifed every bit Yakobo) standing beside them holding a spray of works life leaves. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 wooden trip the lite fantastic gong (gugu) tin exactly live seen behind them. circa 1927. [Southern Sudan] Western Equatoria Yambio.
Accusing a Witch
There are 2 distinct sorts of accusations of witchcraft: i inward which illness or misfortune has occurred, the other after someone has died. These differ inward both the component subdivision of accusing an private together with the ramifications of beingness found guilty.
The aim of accusing a somebody of witchcraft inward the quondam province of affairs is to convey almost some resolution to the conflict that induced the laid on together with to homecoming the human relationship to equilibrium. Speaking sick of a person, or fifty-fifty wishing someone injury, is ineffectual without a social tie: the curse of a stranger cannot do harm.
Thus, a human relationship amongst the defendant is a prerequisite for bewitchment. (An private must live suspected, or else his or her scream could non take hold been presented to the oracle for confirmation or denial of guilt.)
When the chicken dies during the benge toxicant ordeal, a wing is cutting off, placed on a stick, together with brought to the local deputy of the chief, telling him the scream of the private confirmed yesteryear the benge. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 messenger, sent amongst the wing to the alleged witch, places it on the ground, together with announces that benge has been consulted regarding the illness of the accuser. Usually this accuse is met amongst denial of whatever sick intent. At the really to the lowest degree the defendant pleads ignorance of damage derived from his or her ain mangu, or witchcraft substance. As a demonstration of goodness faith, the alleged witch takes a mouthful of water, together with sprays it over the wing. So doing, she or he beseeches the mangu to go inactive, allowing the victim to recover. The messenger reports these events to the chief’s deputy.
In the lawsuit of a “murder,” the aim is non pacification but revenge. Restoring amicable relations is clearly non possible; a postmortem accusation is an indictment leading to heavy compensation, sometimes paid amongst the witch’s ain life. Exacting such a toll permanently alters the human relationship betwixt the kin grouping of the victim together with that of the defendant (McLeod 1972).
Zande abinza (witch-doctor)
Witchcraft inward Its Social Setting
The Azande chiefdom is formally structured inward a clear-cut hierarchy, from the chiefs at the top through their deputies, armies, local governors, together with ending amongst private householders. Built into this construction is the elimination of most opportunities for unequal competition: that is, chiefly lineages did non compete amongst those lesser, nor did the rich amongst the poor, or parents amongst their children.
As Douglas (1980) has observed, accusations of witchcraft arise only inward those social situations that autumn exterior of the political structure. Thus, co-wives mightiness accuse each other, every bit mightiness rivals inward other arenas. Because witches could live unintentionally dangerous, their mangu could live laid into motility yesteryear understandable resentments together with jealousies. The accusation together with eventual demonstration of remorse will
laid these sick feelings to rights. Events that tin live explained yesteryear an individual’s lack of technical science (such every bit the shoddy piece of work of an inexperienced carpenter) or yesteryear personally motivated actions are non likely to live involved inward the realm of witchcraft.
As Parsons (1969:195) observes, i tin imagine many motivations for people to claim that witchcraft was at the root of their adultery, but this would resultant inward ridicule, “because everybody knows witches don’t do that.”
Witchcraft beliefs tin component subdivision effectively every bit a way of managing the anxiety resulting from random misfortune. This is evidenced yesteryear the prominence given to illness together with expiry every bit occasions for witchcraft accusations.
Witchcraft every bit Social Control together with Leveling Mechanism
Witchcraft may serve every bit an effective agent of social control. The lengthy physical care for involved inward making an accusation acts to forestall hasty together with emotional confrontations. Charges must take hold grouping back upwards behind them together with are non leveled carelessly.
An individual’s demeanour tin live guided yesteryear the knowledge that wrongdoing mightiness likely resultant inward retaliatory witchcraft. Additionally, cognizance that jealous or hostile demeanour mightiness seat i inward a seat of beingness suspect should misfortune occur mightiness Pb i to live quite circumspect. Wishing to live neither suspect nor victim, the Azande possess, inward witchcraft, both an effective sanction against
socially disruptive demeanour together with a vehicle for handling hostility.
Because an private amongst great wealth is likely to engender the jealousy of others together with the attendant bewitchment, Azande are non likely to endeavor to outproduce i another. It is inward this way that witchcraft acts every bit a leveling mechanism, indirectly keeping wealth balanced.
The “Logic” of Azande Witchcraft
The attribution of the cause of all misfortune to witchcraft may seem extreme. In fact, Evans-Pritchard himself engaged inward lively debate amongst informants who described every bit witchcraft events that seemed to him the resultant of solely “natural” phenomena. He eventually recognized that they did, inward fact, take hold a really clear understanding almost the contribution of the natural world to their misfortune.
When Evans-Pritchard suggested to a boy, whose pes had been injured when he tripped over a tree stump, that a witch could non perhaps take hold placed the tree stump inward his way, the man child agreed. He recognized that nature had contributed the tree stump and, further, that the tree stump had cutting his foot. His evidence of witchcraft was simply that despite his vigilance inward watching out for tree stumps, every bit good every bit his rubber passage on that same path hundreds of other times, this fourth dimension he had been injured. This time, in that location was witchcraft.
Along these same lines, when a granary collapsed, injuring several people who had been sitting inward its shade, Azande saw no contradiction inward their dual assertions that termites had eaten at the legs of the building, resulting inward its collapse, together with that witchcraft was responsible. They farther admitted that no witch had “sent” the people underneath the granary inward monastic tell to trap them: it was afternoon, together with they were exactly seeking shade. While nosotros would telephone phone this serial of events coincidence, or perhaps “being inward the incorrect seat at the incorrect time,” Azande are able to shape an explanatory link betwixt these events. That link is During his remain inward the Sudan, Evans-Pritchard witnessed the suicide of a adult man who was angry amongst his brothers. Although his despair over his confl ict was good known, together with when his trunk was found hanging from a tree, all readily acknowledged that he had, inward fact, hanged himself, the cause of expiry was considered witchcraft. At Evans-Pritchard’s behest, a Zande friend explained:
. . . only crazy people commit suicide; if everyone who was angry amongst his
brothers committed suicide in that location would shortly live no people left inward the world;
if this adult man had non been bewitched he would non take hold done what he did do"
(1937:71).
Once the supernatural premise that people take hold witchcraft kernel inward them together with tin damage others amongst it is granted, the Zande declaration becomes logical.
These beliefs concerning witchcraft suffer today, amongst some modifi cations. Resettlement has forced them to take living inward closer quarters, depending upon screens to maintain them out of their neighbors’ view, if non their reach. When asked almost fears concerning the proximity of witches, the Azande study that they experience able to relocate should misfortune occur. This would take them from whatever nearby threat.
Azande dancers
AZANDE TODAY: RESETTLED, UNSETTLED
The “Zande Scheme”
The determination yesteryear colonial authorities inward the 1920s to displace Azande out of the valleys to command sleeping sickness was only the fi rst inward a serial of resettlement together with evolution plans. Before midcentury, the Azande were subsistence cultivators.
In the tardily 1940s together with early on 1950s, the British introduced the so-called “Zande scheme,” a programme of cash cropping (chiefl y of cotton) together with manufacture (producing cotton wool cloth). Planners believed they could improve the lot of the Azande, who, it was thought, would live grateful for the introduction of to a greater extent than “modern” comforts together with luxuries. The introduction of money together with wage labor acted to weaken kinship
ties yesteryear obviating the demand for kin to piece of work together exterior the household.
Young men together with women could to a greater extent than easily leave of absence their parents’ homes together with laid upwards their ain households amongst income from reward paid yesteryear Europeans. As component subdivision of the scheme, the Azande were i time once to a greater extent than resettled—more than 60,000 families yesteryear 1950—away from the roads, into farmland. The most detrimental characteristic of the resettlement programme was the arbitrary assignment of individuals to plots of
land. This activity was fl awed inward several ways: it disregarded menage unit of measurement groupings, failed to take into business concern human relationship the Azande’s want for mobility together with fl exible living arrangements, together with resulted inward some farmers receiving solid ground amongst goodness soil together with others receiving solid ground of pathetic quality. Tensions were engendered amid resettled people that were counterproductive to the developers’ wishes to create, through resettlement, a stable workforce. Anthropologist Conrad Reining (1966), inward a study of the Zande scheme, concluded that spell the projection demonstrated the feasibility of establishing an industrial centre amid the Azande (provided cost was no object), together with of convincing the Azande to make copious amounts of cotton, it to a greater extent than convincingly showed how much could non live accomplished. Its primary weaknesses were inward the realms of ecology, social organization, together with communication, failures it shared amongst other such attempts. By the mid-1950s, cotton wool production slowed to a close halt. There was a displace to restart the programme inward the 1970s, but civil state of war inward Sudan, which would go along throughout the twentieth century together with into the twenty-first, cutting curt the attempted revival.
Source:http://www.gurtong.net/Peoples/PeoplesProfiles/Azande/tabid/179/Default.aspx
THE ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF THE AZANDE OF CENTRAL AFRICA
E. E. EVANS-PRITCHARD
University of Oxford
The Zande linguistic communication predominates from 23' to 30' Long. E. together with from 3' to 6' Lat. N. together with inward some places extends beyond these limits (Van den Plas, p. 9) .' As Professor Tucker notes (1940, p. 17),*it is remarkable, considering the expanse covered yesteryear it together with the set out of peoples belonging to different linguistic communication groups-Sudanic, Bantu, Nilotic, together with Nilo-Hamitic-who today speak it, that it has developed only five, together with non really divergent, dialects. It is also remarkable that, without whatever technological superiority, those who built this empire were able to conquer such vast territories together with to weld their inhabitants into a nation.
Azande Warriors
That they succeeded was for certain due inward the main to their greatly superior political organization. It was only when they came upwards against peoples, the Abandiya together with the Mangbetu, who had a political organisation comparable to their ain that they were unable to brand headway. The other peoples who tried to resist them together with were defeated together with displaced or subjugated were, according to all the data nosotros possess, ill-organized politically, having nada similar the Zande statal organs. On the contrary, living inward little communities at variance amongst each other together with lacking mutual direction, they sooner or subsequently savage a prey to the invader together with became politically, together with to an increasing extent culturally, component subdivision of the great complex nosotros know every bit the Azande. It is the purpose of this newspaper to examine this complex, so far every bit its ethnic composition is concerned, together with to analyse its constituent elements.
Several of the early on explorers of Zandeland remarked on the great admixture of peoples comprising the population. Junker ( 189 1, pp. 198-9) for example, describes "the motley mixture of broken tribes together with scattered populations", servile peoples (Amadi, Basiri, Augu, together with Maranga) amongst spoken language together with habits together with customs different from those of the Azande, inward the comparatively little territory of Palembata (in the neighbourhood of 4' N. together with 27' E.). He refers elsewhere (1891, p. 466) to Abarambo colonies amid the Azande to the S of the Bomokandi together with to Zande colonies amid the Abarambo to the N of it, both peoples beingness inward these areas subjects of the Zande prince Bakangai; together with Casati (I, p. 198), speaking of the same prince, says that the population of his domains is composed of Azande, Abarambo, together with Mabisanga.
Azande people. Circa 1888. Tagged 'Horrible Feast of the Cannibals' from Stanley's Travels inward Africa
Junker i time to a greater extent than (1892, p. 148) says of the areas ruled yesteryear Zemio together with his blood brother Miando inward the valley of the Mbomu that the ruling Azande shape was greatly inferior inward numbers to the other inhabitants (Akare,
Basiri, Abarambo, and-whoever the next peoples may be, for Junker did non venture to determine their affinities-Shinvas, Ababullos, Embiddimas, together with Apakelle). Then, i time once to a greater extent than ( 1892, p. 307) : ' "As inward many other northern lands, Linda's territory (about 5' 20" N. together with 26' 20" E.) was occupied, besides
the dominant Zandehs, yesteryear Bashirs, A-Barmbos, A-Bin, A-Pambia, together with other land of study tribes."
It is non surprising that those who came after these explorers together with could brand their observations inward easier circumstances take hold oft remarked on the same phenomenon. The Polish ethnographer Czekanowski, for example, gave special attending (pp. 21-6) to the ethnic constitution of the Zande kingdoms. noting that the Zande conquerors are a lean ruling shape inward vast areas, inward many of which the greater component subdivision of the population are unusual peoples who take hold retained their distinctive character
(Abarambo, Akare, Apambia, Basiri, hlakere, Ilundu, Momvu, etc.). In the to a greater extent than thickly populated south, amongst which Czekanowski was personally acquainted, the serf population includes peoples of many alien stocks who take hold been conquered but non yet assimilated: S of the Bomokandi scarcely a quarter of the population belong either racially or culturally to the politically dominant Zande element, for the Makere, the greater component subdivision of the population, take hold kept their identity intact. In Bavungara's
province, close Vankerckhovenville, the ratio is only almost eighty Azande men to hundreds of Momvu, together with inward the neighbouring territory ruled yesteryear Bokoyo the province of affairs is similar. He concludes (p. 43) that the Zande clans stalk mainly from these unusual stocks together with that it has been the powerfulness of the Avongara ruling theatre that has integrated all these heterogeneous elements into the nowadays Azande people.
Czekanowski is i of my authorities for this paper, but I take hold chiefly relied on Van den Plas, together with after him on Junker, de Calonne-Beaufaict, Hutereau, Larken, Maes together with Boone, together with Baxter together with Butt. Their writings together with those of other authorities are cited inward the bibliography at the destination of this article. When I
take hold made statements without citing potency for them it must live understood that on those points our main sources are inward agreement, the statements beingness a summary of the different records together with confirmed inward the areas known to me personally yesteryear my ain experience. If I do non add together much that is master to
what others take hold said I tin at least, inward a condensed form, i time to a greater extent than force attending to the great ethnic complexity of Zande society. The historical processes involved in, together with the social consequences resulting from, ethnic amalgamations of this sort together with on this scale, for they are found inward many other African states, take hold not, I think, been sufficiently appreciated. The cultural effects take hold also been important, but they must await subsequently together with separate treatment. Here trivial to a greater extent than is attempted than a brief
review of the ethnic elements which constitute the present-day -Azande.
The Avonqara are the ruling aristocracy inward yesteryear far the greater component subdivision of Zandelnnd. The Ambomu are their master subjects, together with it is their linguistic communication that the Azande speak. When i speaks of Azande i speaks of all those who utilization Zande every bit their woman nurture tongue. Nevertheless nosotros take hold sometimes to distinguish inward the expanse ruled yesteryear the Avongara betwixt Azande of Ambomu descent ( Azande ni Ambomu) together with Azande of assimilated stocks (Azande ni Auro )who take hold been completely, or almost completely, assimilated culturally to the Avongara-Ambomu. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 similar distinction is doubtless made inward Zande territories where the Avongara are non the rulers, but where they i time were. We may speak of those peoples who silent speak their ain languages but are, within Zande territory or on its confines, politically nether Zande domination every bit land of study peoples. They are, inward varying degrees, inward the physical care for of becoming Azande. Some of these land of study peoples are elsewhere independent. Some unusual peoples, although never subjugated yesteryear the Azande, were raided yesteryear them or came nether their influence together with take hold thereby contributed inward a lesser plane to the formation of the ethnic conglomeration of the Azande people.
The term "Niamniam", a foreign, perhaps Dinka, designation, is best avoided every bit it has been used yesteryear Arabs together with Europeans without much discrimination to refer non only to both Azande together with their
subject-peoples but also to almost whatever people inward the expanse nether consideration. It was for some of them a really confused representation-cannibals, men amongst tails. etc.
The Avongara or Akolongbo, every bit they also telephone phone themselves, are today inward spoken language together with habits, if nosotros except aristocratic modes of behaviour together with mannerisms peculiar to their class, indistinguishable from their followers, together with nosotros take hold no evidence that they take hold ever been otherwise, though they themselves would non acknowledge to beingness of Ambomu stock, maxim that they are Akolongbo or Avongara of Agbia, noble, stock. In the offset one-half of the 18th century-there seems to live trivial doubtfulness almost the broad outline of the facts-the Ambomu people, who at that fourth dimension lived inward the valleys of the Mbomu (hence their name) together with the Shinko rivers, began to move, nether Avongara leadership, offset to the south-east together with thence north, east, together with south. These migrations, the causes of which nosotros do non know, continued till checked yesteryear Arab together with European opposition inward the 2nd one-half of the in conclusion century together with inward the offset decade of the nowadays century, together with inward the course of study of them the Zande nation was formed. The Ambomu clans are consequently found inward most, in all probability all, parts of Zandeland; but they are mostly, nosotros take hold ground to believe, to live found inward the territories ruled yesteryear the descendants of King Yakpati, on both sides of the Nile-Congo split upwards roughly betwixt Long. 27' 30" together with 29' 30'1.9c
There they take hold a slightly enhanced social seat inward virtue of their descent from their conquering
forbears, but it must live said that Azande do non attach great importance to whether a adult man is of Ambomu stock or not; in that location has been too much intermarriage for this to count much. What tin live said is rather that the Ambomu take hold a long tradition of attachment to their Avongara rulers together with of familiarity amongst the polished life of courts, so that the standards of etiquette together with manners obtaining at courtroom are considered to live those of the Ambomu, together with ignorance or contravention of them to live the behaviour of Auro, foreigners.
Some peoples take hold solely lost their cultural identity inward the Zande amalgam but, through many vicissitudes, their ethnic distinctiveness together with political independence take hold survived. This is the instance amongst the Sudanic Abandiya, who alive inward the most western component subdivision of Zandeland, to westward of the 26" Long. E. Junker (1892, pp. 241-2) lo says that they moved into this expanse from the Mbomu-Makua confluence when the Avongara-Ambomu left it to migrate to the S together with due east together with that yesteryear his fourth dimension they had already go vassals of the Arabo-Nubians. De Calonne (p. 83) says that of their ain accord they adopted non only the Zande linguistic communication but also their political institutions, but I uncovering it hard to believe that they would take hold done this so completely if they had non been at some catamenia land of study to the
Avongara, together with I uncovering it easier hence to take Van den Plas' declaration (p. 14) that they are an ethnically mixed people ruled yesteryear the Abaza (whose linguistic communication a few old people silent speak) who, after prolonged combats, were finally subjugated yesteryear the Avongara, though, every bit was their policy inward dealing amongst subjugated peoples, the Avongara left them their ain Abaza rulers, amongst whom they made alliances. The Nzakara also only speak Zande today, having lost their master Banda dialect. They appear to live solely nether the regulation of the Abandiya, on the limits of whose territory they alive inward 2 separated stretches of province towards the extreme western limits of Zandeland.
There are a great many of the Adio people inward the Zande population together with they are found inward all parts of Zandeland. aSome people give Adio every bit their clan name. Other clans of the Adio are the Akowe, Abananga, Andebili, Abangbai, together with Apise. There may live others (Akudere, Ambari, Agbutu).
Some of them shape a politically independent group, though culturally inward all of import respects similar other Azande together with speaking only Zande, known every bit hlakaraka or Azande-Bamboy, inward the valley of the Tore, tributary of the Yei. They are thus the most easterly department (Long. 30" 30" E.) of the Azande and,
beingness isolated from the rest, take hold much mixed amongst neighbouring peoples. They are component subdivision of the Abile migration, every bit i of the Zande migrations came to live designated, and, I was told, adopted
Zande spoken language together with customs during the fourth dimension they were conquered together with ruled yesteryear the brothers together with sons of Renzi, boy of Yakpati, i of whom, Muduba, carried them amongst him inward his migration to the east. When, at Muduba's death, his men, faced amongst starvation, returned westwards they left the Adio behind them where nosotros at nowadays uncovering them independent of Avongara rule. They would in all probability take hold been brought nether it yesteryear Mange boy of Gbudwe had non the Egyptian Government established military machine posts inward the area.
DeCalonne says (p. 98) that in that location is some other people, at i fourth dimension closely associated amongst the Adio, the Abwameli, who, though they speak Zande, are non nether Avongara rule. To escape subjugation yesteryear Ndeni boy of Tombo, they fled into Ababua country, where they remain independent close the junction
of 3' Lat. N. together with 26' Long. E. The same author mentions other peoples who accompanied the Adio together with Abwameli inward their master migration. Whoever these people may take hold been, today they be no to a greater extent than every bit distinct ethnic groups, amongst the possible exception of the Angada, who, though no longer a cohesive
group, appear to live to some extent localized, though mixed amongst Avongara-Ambomu together with speaking only Zande, inward a pocket inward Abandiya province on the Mbili, N of Lat. 4' N. together with betwixt 25' together with 26' Long. E. Elsewhere they take hold been scattered together with absorbed yesteryear Azande together with Abandiya.
Other peoples, or sections of them, take hold totally, or almost totally, lost both political together with cultural identity together with are entirely, or almost entirely, merged inward the Zande amalgam, where they tin live distinguished from the Arnbomu only yesteryear their clan names and, so the Ambomu say, their boorish habits when they take hold non learnt to abandon them yesteryear contact amongst the polite gild of courts. One of these is the Sudanic Abangbinda, a i time numerous people. After conquest yesteryear Yakpati together with his descendants, their
in conclusion resistance beingness broken yesteryear Gbudwe, they were almost completely absorbed yesteryear the Azande, though hither together with in that location inward little groups their linguistic communication is non solely forgotten. I was able to take downwardly vocabularies from some of the older people. They are i of the biggest elements of unusual source inward the Sudan to the due east of the Lingasi. The next clans claim to live of Abangbinda origin: Abiama, Abakpara, Abani, Abadigo, Amabenge, Abambiti, Abaanya, Abagbuto, Abaningo, Abagbo, Abangbaya, Abamunga, Abagua, Avuduma, together with perhaps also the Abangbara. Another completely assimilated people, according to Van den Plas (pp. 21-2), are the Mabisanga, a department of the Medje who were at i fourth dimension subjects of the Mangbetu. When the Mangbetu virile somebody monarch Munza's kingdom was dismembered yesteryear the Egyptians they were subjugated yesteryear Ngula-Mange boy of Kipa. Emin (p. 204), de Calonne (p. 130),
together with Czekanowski (pp. 176-7) , say that the Egyptian Government appointed Mbitimo boy of Wando to regulation them.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large proportion of the Abararnbo, or Arniangba, together with of the Amadi peoples take hold also been almost totally absorbed yesteryear the Azande. These i time great peoples were dispersed together with fractionized yesteryear bitterly fought wars amongst the Azande ruled yesteryear the House of Yakpati. However, some Abarambo to the S of
the Uele silent speak their ain linguistic communication together with are commanded yesteryear their ain notables, though nether Avongara suzerainty, inward Junker's fourth dimension inward the somebody of Bakengai ( 189 1, p. 335) ; together with they are an independent people betwixt that river together with the Bomokandi, for although Bakengai's begetter Kipa had ruled them on both banks of the Bomokandi, those to the N had yesteryear Junker's fourth dimension reasserted their independence. Some of their to a greater extent than of import clans, inward the Sudan mostly found inward the old kingdom of Gbudwe, are: Aubali, Abawoli, Abazaa, Avumaka, Avonama, Avundukura, Abakpuro, Amuzungu, Agbunduku, Abandogo, Abalingi, Avunduo, Abakaya, Amigbara, Abagbate, Agberenya, Akpurandi, Abapia, Akpura, Amiandi, Abangombi, Akenge, Abaale, Abaiwo, Abangburu, Amiteli, Abandiko,
Angali, Angbuki, Ambare, Abangboto, Abisiaka, Abangere, Abanganyl, Abakpoto, They are in all probability the largest single unusual chemical element inward the constitution of the Azande of the Sudan, where i tin silent uncovering persons who scream upwards their master tongue, though it is no longer spoken.
Czekanowski (p. 210) l9 thinks that they are the largest unusual chemical element amid the Azande every bit a whole. The greater component subdivision of the Amadi people, whose ancient name, de Calonne says (p.120)20 was Amago (Amego) or Aogo (Augu), settled, after wars together with migrations, around the chain of hills on 27' Long. E.,
where Junker ( 1891, pp. 31 7-8) found them together with where they are silent independent today, though all speak Zande every bit good every bit their ain Sudanic tongue. The relaxation of this at i fourth dimension considerable people were dispersed yesteryear Yakpati together with his sons together with were finally absorbed into the Zande complex, their descendants
beingness found today widely distributed inward all the cardinal together with eastern regions of Zandeland. In view of the fact that the principal battleground betwixt the Amadi, amongst their Abarambo allies, together with the Azande was inward the valley of the Sueh it is surprising that so few men claim Amadi descent in that location today. One ground for this appears to live that after the severe hammering they received from the Azande inward the N the main trunk turned towards the south. Also, those who were left behind seem to take hold go to a large extent confounded amongst the Abarambo, so some of the clans often said to belong to the Amiangba (Abarambo) may live Amadi inward origin.
These 2 instruments formed the ground of most Zande feast dances (gbere buda) every bit good every bit the seances of abinza (witchdoctors).
Another people who must, I think, take hold been partly assimilated are the Sudanic Bangba, who today mostly alive to the S of the Uele-Kibali on Long. 28" E., where they sought refuge after a bloody defeat at the hands of Ukwe boy of Wando. I believe that some of this people must take hold contributed to the Zande population because Van den Plas says (p. 23) that also their ain linguistic communication together with Mangbetu some speak Zande, which is gaining ground, and, although the same author says that none of this grouping of Bangba are subjects of Avongara, when they lived farther to the north, Schweinfurth (I, p. 522),23
who met them in that location inward 1870, tells us that they, or at whatever charge per unit of measurement a powerful department of them, were subjects of Wando boy of Bazingbi, most of them speaking Zande. It is highly probable, therefore, that they take hold contributed to the population of his old kingdom.
In add-on to the peoples already mentioned, Van den Plas mentions (pp. 16-22) 24 others every bit beingness of unusual source but at nowadays completely, or almost completely, submerged; Abubage (some dozens of individuals silent stammer out their ancient linguistic communication inward the valley of the Gurba); Amuvumba (five or half dozen families at most, who alive inward the valley of the Sekunde, tributary of the Gurba) ;Ngbwaya, Ngobwu, together with Tokpwo (infinitely little groups almost which data is at nowadays unobtainable) ; Abotupwe (met
amongst inward the valley of the Poko, tributary of the Bomokandi); Asibali (met mainly amid the Apsmbia together with the Abuguru); together with Abangombi, Angombe, together with Aholi (all completely absorbed).
Of these, the Ngobwu are in all probability the Gobu or Gabu, silent found amid the Abandiya (Capenny, p. 31 3; Tucker, 1940, p. 17) together with figured on Junker's map every bit "Ngobbu" betwixt Long. 24' together with 25' together with exactly S of Go Lat. N. The others are in all probability all clans of peoples listed already or later, together with not
distinct ethnic groups: the Abubage, an Amadi clan; the Abotupwe (Abatukpo) , an Abarambo clan; the Asibali (Asigbali) , in all probability a Basiri clan; the Abangombi, an Abarambo clan; the Angombe (Angumbe), an Ambomu clan; together with so forth. Hutereau (pp. 317-8) mentions a Ngara people, at nowadays absorbed by
the Abandiya, together with shows them on his map to the S of the Mbomu betwixt Long. 25' together with 26' E. Junker ( 1890, p. 480) together with Emin (pp. 375-6) scream an Apagumba people who migrated to the due east amongst the Adio but who had, fifty-fifty inward their day, almost completely disappeared inward the Adio (Makaraka)
amalgam. I believe this to live an old bespeak the Avotombo clan of the Ambomu. Junker has on his map "Mambelli, a Zande tribe", inward Ngangi's old kingdom (between 28' together with 29' Long. E. together with 5' together with 6' Lat. N.) Czekanowski also shows them, inward the same position, inward his ethnographic map together with expresses the sentiment (p. 23) that they are of the same stock every bit the Ambili, who are mentioned later. If this people was i time a distinct ethnic group, it has disappeared today. The same must live said of diverse other groups mentioned yesteryear Junker-Marango, Amasilli, Shirwas, Ababullos, etc.-some of which may figure inward this business concern human relationship nether other names, spell others seem to take hold disappeared.
Zande women together with children inward homestead.
When nosotros speak of land of study peoples it must live understood that spell in that location for certain was some discrimination together with some what Major Larken, inward speaking (p. 238) of the handling meted out to the Apambia yesteryear the Azande, calls bullying, to say that these peoples were inward a servile seat would, at whatever charge per unit of measurement usually, live an exaggeration. It is truthful that the Akare together with Basiri take hold been called slaves together with serfs, e.g. yesteryear Schweinfurth (11, pp. 395-6) " together with Chaltin (Lotar, pp. 250-1 ), together with it is possible that this
was indeeed the instance inward the westward where nether Arab influence trading inward slaves seems to take hold been practiced yesteryear some of the Avongara rulers (Schweinfurth, 11, pp. 417-8 together with 430), but it was the traditional Zande policy to encourage submitted peoples to take Avongara regulation voluntarily, to remain inward their homes, together with to go Azande; together with i of the main principles inward that policy was indirect rule. We are told fourth dimension together with i time to a greater extent than yesteryear our authorities that i time a people submitted they were left amongst their own
chiefs. I take hold already cited Van den Plas to this effect inward the instance of the Abandiya together with the Abararnbo (p. 2 1), together with the same author speaks inward the same way of the Ahangbinda together with the Basiri (pp. 16-17) .35 Professor Tucker ( 1931, p. 54) asserts the same of the Mbegumba together with the Mberidi, together with other authors could live quoted inward back upwards of the contention, which is really much my ain sentiment from what I observed amid the Bongo, Baka, Abuguru, together with other peoples. All that was asked of the land of study peoples was recognition of Avongara suzerainty, that they should maintain the peace, together with a payment of tribute inward labour together with inward sort to their rulers which was no to a greater extent than than Azande commoners contributed towards the upkeep of the courts. Bit yesteryear flake Azande infiltrated amid them together with married amongst them.
Commoners of standing settled amid them together with encouraged them to adopt Zande habits together with to speak the Zande natural language yesteryear offering them hospitality-it is through bakinde, porridge, Azande say, that men are subjugated ( z o g a ) , together with yesteryear justice. They say "Azande nu ra fu agbia mbiko gngama ae", "Azande
land of study themselves to the princes on business concern human relationship of the gifts they have from them." Finally some princeling was sent yesteryear his begetter to regulation them or did so on his ain initiative, together with through his courtroom the people became to a greater extent than familiar amongst Zande institutions.
That such peoples every bit take hold retained their ain languages together with to some extent their traditional way of life take hold been able to do so is doubtless inward component subdivision due to the imposition of European regulation but it is also inward component subdivision due to the fact that Azande treated, what they considered, inward their sophisticated way, to live barbaric
unusual usages amongst good-humored tolerance, together with also inward component subdivision to the farther fact that often, similar so many little peoples inward other parts of the world. these conies dwelt amid the rocks: fifty-fifty the names of some of them dot this, e.g. Apambia together with Belanda both hateful hill-men.
The iii principal land of study peoples inward the north, all speaking their ain languaqes every bit good every bit Zande, the offset 2 Sudanic tongues together with the tertiary a Bantu tongue, but solely nether Zande domination, are the Apambia, the Basiri (Sere), together with the Akare. Only the main areas of their line of piece of work are mentioned. There are pockets of them elsewhere, together with really many of them take hold been absorbed yesteryear the Azande. The Apambia alive amid the granitic hills forming the crest of the Nile-Congo split upwards to the N of Lat. 5" N. Tembura boy of Liwa established his regulation over them; together with they shape today a large chemical element inward the ethnic composition of the expanse ruled yesteryear his boy Renzi together with inward the old kingdom of Ezo. Some of their clans inward these regions are. Abadugu, Avuzukpo, Abakpa, Avonamangi, Abakumo, Avugioro, Ambaragba, Abamerenge, Andugu, together with Abakowe. The 2 largest groups of Basiri are betwixt the
Boku together with the Kere together with to the N together with S of the Mbomu betwixt Long. 26' together with 27' E. There are also pockets of them inward the Sudan. Van den Plas remarks (p. 16) that of all the peoples submitted to the Azande, they together with the Momvu take hold been the most refractory to the civilization of the conqueror; together with de Calonne notes (p. 14) that Zandeization is to a greater extent than advanced amid such Bantu peoples every bit the Abangbinda together with the Abuguru than amid peoples culturally nearer to the Azande, such every bit the Basiri. However, Schweinfurth (11, pp. 395-6) says that many of them had been assimilated to the Azande yesteryear 187 1 . The Akare shape a compact grouping on both banks of the Mbomu betwixt 25' together with 27' Long. E. In the French Congo they are, says Van den Plas (p. 15);' mixed amongst Banda, Gobo, together with Nza k a r a. In the same part in that location is a little people called Biri, plainly silent speaking their ancient Sudanic natural language to
the due east of the Mbomu-Shinko confluence (Baxter together with Butt, p. 33) on the potency of Von Weise together with Kaiser-Walden; they are also mcntioncd yesteryear Capenny (p. 313) every bit abode on the middle course of study of the Warra. Some of their clans found amid the Azande, almost exclusively on or to the due east of the Sueh, are: Ababaimo, Abakaya, Abagende, Ababanduo, Abaali, Abakpanda, Abakango, Ababali, Abamage, Abandagburu, Abangbandili, Abagiali, Abaruouro, Abadugumu, Ababamuru, Abadangasa, and
Abangbapere. To the due east of the Sueh they are, on my calculations, over a quarter of the Zande population.
Another people at nowadays conlpletely nether Zande domination are the Bantu Abuguru (Babukur), though they silent speak Liguru every bit good every bit Zande. One department of them occupies the crest of the Nile-Congo split upwards betwixt the eastern sources of the Sueh together with the sources of the hferidi together with some other occupies a stretch of province inward the valley of the Sueh to the N of Yambio, the Azande having driven a wedge betwixt the 2 sections. Smaller groups are found elsewhere. They were offset subjugated yesteryear Renzi together with Bazingbi, sons of Yakpati. The Huma, who speak a linguistic communication almost identical amongst Liguru, mostly alive inward the hills on the Sueh-Iba watershed, miles to the N.E. of Tembura.
They were brought into subjection yesteryear Tembura. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 set out of other peoples are inward component subdivision ruled yesteryear the Avongara. Those inward the S are members of the Mangbetu cluster. When the Azande began to force southwards from the Uele they met amongst strong resistance from the Sudanic Mangbetu, who at that
fourth dimension had a highly developed political organisation embracing a set out of peoples, Medje, Makere, Momvu, Mangbele, together with others, ruled, similar the Azande yesteryear the Avongara, yesteryear the Mangbetu aristocracy, which has given its scream to the whole complex of peoples. Nevertheless, they made some advance together with they took over farther territories when, after 1870, Egyptian forces had broken the powerfulness of the Mangbetu kings. As recorded earlier, some of the Medje (the Mabisanga) take hold at nowadays go Azande,
together with it seems that others inward the N are ruled yesteryear Avongara (Baxter together with Butt, p. 48). They were subjugated yesteryear the Zande virile somebody monarch Kipa together with placed yesteryear him nether the regulation of his boy Bakangai.
They are said to be, though much mixed amongst Azande, a compact grouping speaking their ain natural language together with Zande only when it is required of them. In almost 1885 Ukwe boy of Wando inward a motion against the Momvu pursued them every bit far S every bit the Bomokandi together with subjugated them betwixt that river together with the Kibali.
1892 Wood Engraving Azande Warriors Dog Nyam-Nyam Hut Dwelling Congo Africa Slom
They have, however, kept their ain linguistic communication together with manners together with customs, speaking Zande only when necessary. Their resistance to Zande influence may live due inward component subdivision to the arrival of the Belgians shortly after Ukwe's campaign. Other sections of the Momvu are subjects of the Mangbetu together with yet others take hold retained their independence. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grouping of the Mangbele on the left banking concern of the Uele, from the lower Gada to the Mapuse rapids, were defeated yesteryear Kipa but subsequently came i time to a greater extent than nether Mangbetu rule. Some of the Mangbele are independent together with others are ruled yesteryear Avongara together with Mangbetu. Originally a Bantu people,
they at nowadays speak a Sudanic language. Van den Plas speaks (pp. 18-19) of the Ambili people, Bantu who take hold to a large extent go completely Zandeised.
Those who alive compactly inward the part of Bondo (just westward of 24OE. together with exactly S of 4ON.) take hold kept their old language, though, having been land of study to the Avongara for several generations, they also speak Zande. They seem to live component subdivision of the particular Zande complex known every bit the Azande-Abile. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 set out of peoples living on the northern confines of Zandeland are, or were, wholely or inward part, nether Avongara dominion.
Two of these peoples take hold long been grouped together inward literature every bit the Belanda, a Bongo term, together with are referred to yesteryear the Azande every bit Abari. Though much intermingled, they are culturally quite distinct, the one, the Mberidi (Bor), beingness a Nilotic people related to the Luo, together with the other, the Mbegumba (Bviri), a Sudanic people speaking a dialect of the linguistic communication of the Basiri. One department of these peoples today alive betwixt the Sueh together with Iba rivers together with Lat. 5' together with 6ON. together with other groups betwixt the Sueh together with the Wau. Faced amongst Arab persecution from the N they chose to submit to the Avongara. Both peoples take hold preserved their languages together with customs, though each speaks the linguistic communication of the other every bit good every bit their own, together with both speak also Zande together with take hold been much influenced culturally yesteryear the Azande inward other ways. Some of the Belanda settled permanently inward Zande country, where they take hold been absorbed.
The Bongo, a Sudanic people whom Schweinfurth (I, pp. 257- 60) reckoned inward 1870 to set out some 100,000, scattered over an expanse of nearly 9,000 sq. miles betwixt Lat. 6' together with 8'N., were unable to resist enslavement yesteryear the Arabs, together with some communities fled to the S to seek refuge amongst the Avongara rulers Tembura, Gbudwe, together with Mange. Others sought, yesteryear moving to the south, to escape the Arabs together with also to save their independence but were attacked yesteryear these Avongara together with forced to take their overlordship. Such Bongo speak Zande every bit good every bit their ain language.
In Schweinfurth's twenty-four hr catamenia ( 1870-187 1 ) Azande were spread to the N roughly every bit far every bit Lat. 6' 30" together with they were inward line of piece of work of most of the same territory when Junker was inward Zandeland 10 years later, but the most northern areas, ruled inward Schweinfurth's twenty-four hr catamenia yesteryear Mofio together with Solongo, every bit he calls them, had been lost to the Avongara yesteryear almost 1874 (Capenny, p. 310), so that such Azande every bit were there, known, Junker says ( 1891, p. xi 2) , every bit Diggas, no longer had a seat of ascendency but lived inward mutual dependence on the Egyptian Government amongst peoples who had i time been their vassals together with amongst whom they were yesteryear this fourth dimension really mixed. These were, inward add-on to groups of peoples already mentioned-Basiri, Bongo, together with Pambia-the Golo together with some of the Kreish (Gbaya); together with to these peoples mentioned yesteryear Junker nosotros must add together the most easternly department of the Banda nation together with some really little peoples- Ndogo, Bai together with Togbu. All these peoples speak their ain Sudanic languages but they also speak Zande amongst varying proficiency.
Junker tells us that some sections of some of these northern peoples had already yesteryear his fourth dimension migrated
to the S to seek protection inward the powerful Avongara kingdoms from the Arabo-Nubians. If the Zande expansion to the N on the whole met amongst weak resistance till countered yesteryear the Arab intrusion so that nosotros can, amongst some latitude, it is true, listing the peoples of that part nether the heading of land of study peoples, inward the due east together with northeast resistance yesteryear some little peoples was non sufficiently or on a large plenty scale overcome before the Egyptian Government established military machine posts inward the expanse for us to force them every bit land of study peoples, except perhaps inward the instance of the Baka. De Calonne says that the Baka on the Aka together with Garamba were subjugated yesteryear Wando, together with fifty-fifty those who are independent of Avongara regulation inward the Sudan take hold been much influenced yesteryear Azande, whose natural language is widely known amid them. Had it non been for Arab intervention they together with the other peoples of the expanse would take hold inevitably been brought into consummate subjection, for they were unorganized together with disunited. As it was, they were raided together with displaced yesteryear both the Avongara together with the Adio, who took captives whose descendants are found amid the Azande today. There must also take hold been some plane of
social contact betwixt them together with the Azande, for it is seldom that i fails to uncovering amid them individuals who sympathize Zande.
The peoples raided together with sometimes displaced yesteryear the Azande inward this expanse but cannot live said to take hold been subjugated yesteryear them to whatever extent, or fifty-fifty at all, are the Sudanic Mundu, Avukaya together with so-called Jur peoples (Beli, Sofi, etc.), the Moro peoples (Moro Kodo, Moro Meza, etc.), together with the Logo; together with the
Nilo-Hamitic Fajelu together with Kakwa. It would seem that individuals, together with perhaps sometimes little groups, of all these peoples take hold contributed to the ethnic composition of the Azande.
Some southern peoples who seem to take hold contributed, though inward little numbers, to the formation of the Azande nation are briefly mentioned. De Calonne says (pp. 73-4)49 that the Mabudu, a Bantu people living today to the S of the Mangbetu cluster, were defeated yesteryear Kipa's sons who, however, subsequently withdrew northwards. The Ababua stoutly resisted the Azande, but the lack of unity amid the communities of this Bantu people told against them together with they had already had to yield to the Avongara a stretch of their province to the N when the Belgian line of piece of work stopped farther encroachments. The Mayogo, of the Mangbetu cluster, appear to take hold had really limited contacts amongst the Azande. The Mobenge (Benge) shape the most northern component subdivision of the Bantu Mobati, living exactly S of the Uele betwixt Long. 23' together with 24' E. Burrows (p. 19) says that they are dominated yesteryear the Azande, to whom they pay tribute. Capenny asserts (p. 312)51 that they were subjugated yesteryear Jabbir, "a boy of a Zande prince" (p. 85). Van Bulck together with Hackett (p. 79)53 say that they take hold been largely overrun yesteryear Abandiya together with Azande. Zande domination yesteryear this people is non mentioned yesteryear our other sources. The Bakango are the riverains of the Uele betwixt Bambili together with Bondo. They do not, however, appear to live a distinct ethnic group, but sections of Azande, Ababua, together with other peoples. Pygmies are sometimes met inward the
most southernly extensions of Zandeland, e.g. inward the valley of the Poko, tributary of the Bomokandi (Czekanowski, p. 25).
For convenience I tabular array the peoples who take hold inward i way or some other together with inward varying degrees contributed to the Zande complex, the tabular array serving the farther purpose of key to the sketch-map. Forty different peoples are listed. Some peoples who mightiness good take hold been entered separately appear nether a single title, the "Jur" together with "Moro" peoples for example, or the "Medje" (the Mabisanga department are in all probability Bantu inward origin). Had they been given separate entries together with had some doubtful cases (mentioned yesteryear Junker, Van den Plas, together with others) been included, e.g. Apagumba, Mambelli, etc., nosotros could assert that,
together amongst the Ambomu, at to the lowest degree 50 different peoples take hold contributed to this vast ethnic amalgam; together with it may fifty-fifty be, for nosotros seldom take hold sufficient data to decide, that some of these peoples, every bit would appear to live the instance amongst the Abandiya, were themselves composed of heterogeneous stocks.
Azande missy from Democratic Republic of Congo
The Azande constituted a large Kingdom living peacefully every bit warriors inward these iii African countries without borders until their Kingdom was destroyed yesteryear the Belgian, French, Mahdist together with finally the British inward the context of the European scramble for Africa.
Azande Sudan Cultural Dance Group
This people prefer to telephone phone themselves Azande but outsiders telephone phone them Zande. In the yesteryear (19th together with early on 20th century), foreigners oft used the scream Niam-Niam (or Nyam-Nyam) to refer to Azande people. The scream Niam-Niam is probably of Dinka origin, together with it way "great eaters" inward that linguistic communication (as good every bit beingness an onomatopoeia). However, Western anthropologists believe that the scream Niam-Niam was giving to Azande people because of their supposedly cannibalistic propensities. From ancient African mythological accounts some other tribe called the Niam-Niams were a tribe said to take hold curt tails. Today the scream Niam-Niam is considered pejorative.
The contemporary Azande people are fine craftsmen inward iron, clay, together with wood, together with their population is over 4 i grand one thousand people.
Azande missy carrying her babe sister
Language
Azande people speak Azande or Pazande, which is a linguistic communication of the Adamawa-Ubangi branch of the Niger-Congo linguistic communication family. Zande" is used also to a greater extent than widely of a laid of closely related Ubangian languages, also Zade proper including Barambu, Pambia, Geme, Kpatili together with Nzakara.
Some vocabulary:
aboro – people, ami – they (applying to animals). ani, a – we, areme – today. ari – high, ba – father. bagunda – heart. bambu – house. bangiri pia – east. bangirise – eye. báwe – ten. live – arm, hand. bi – see. biama – four. biata – three. -bira – to live black. bire, bere – forest. bisua bati biata, muambi – eight,
bisua bati ue, saba – seven. bisua bati biama, ribua – nine. bisue bati sa, sita – six. boro – person, man, de – woman. di – valley, dia, da – wife. dioyo – west, diwi – moon, month, ga Mbori bambu – church, gangara – hill, garã – year, dry out season, gbanga – horn, gbuku – forest, gbundu – forest, gunde – fear,
i, yo – they (persons), ida – believe, ime – water, kama – a hundred, keda – send, kerekuru – star, kibire – forest, kisanga – island, ko – he, kparabe – hand, kpendue – foot,kperekese – everyone, kpetebe – hand, kure – blood, mbia – mountain, rocky hill, Mbori – God, mi – I, me, moment – you, singular, na, a, ki – and, ndue – foot, ngba – mouth, ngbarago – joy, ngbongbo – valley, ngera – see,
ngua – tree, niumbaha - rare/unusual, -ni – he, she (indefinite), ome – air, oni – you, plural, paga – bridge, pai – word, rago, ra'o, rame – day, ri – head; she, rimo – name, sa – one, sende – earth, si – they, neuter, si, ti – it (subject), tue – ear, -u – he, she (in reported speech), u – it (animal subject), ue – two, uroyo – east, uru – sun, day, -vura – to live white, nosotros – fire, wiri – son, zamba – red, zande – person, man
Azande people inward DR Congo
History
Azande are people of mixed origins. In the 18th century a people calling themselves Ambomu together with living on the Mbomu River began, nether the leadership of their ruling Avongara clan, to conquer vast stretches of territory to the S together with east, overpowering many peoples, some of whom take hold preserved their ain languages spell others take hold been completely assimilated. This amalgam constitutes the modern Zande people. During their conquests, scions of the imperial clan carved out kingdoms for themselves, together with wars betwixt these diverse kingdoms were frequent. Read below an article yesteryear E E Evans-Pritchard on porigin together with tribal composition of Azande people.
Azande warriors amongst their shield together with spear
Settlement
Traditionally, the private homestead of each twosome together with their children is the focus of the economical system. The construction together with maintenance of homes are constant occupations, peculiarly owing to the toll taken on them yesteryear weather, insects, animals, together with fast-growing vegetation.
Homes are built of mud together with grass framed on wooden poles together with thatched amongst grass. (One add-on to traditional Zande homes is the European introduction of doors fitted amongst hinges together with locks.) In add-on to this living space, each household unit of measurement has a granary for storing millet. Houses are built around courtyards, which supply ideal places for gathering together with conversation. These enclosed courtyards are seen every bit a window into the household life. Their upkeep is critical since they are seen every bit evidence of the responsibleness or industriousness of their owners. Reining (1966:69) reports that his Zande informants would comment on the province of disrepair of their neighbor’s homestead, together with “analyzed courtyards
every bit reflections of the inhabitants.” They did non exempt themselves from such scrutiny; he continues: “I received a set out of apologies from the heads of households almost the province of their courtyards, amongst total explanations for the deficiencies of which they were ashamed” (Reining 1966:69).
The traditional courtyard organisation appeared to take hold changed really trivial amongst European contact (Reining 1966), amongst the organisation of each courtyard reflecting the composition of the household to which it is attached. Because each adult woman must take hold her ain theatre together with granary, a polygynous household volition take hold numerous homes together with granaries around its courtyard. In a monogamous household, the average courtyard infinite is almost 65 feet inward its largest dimension.
Azande tribe missy from Democratic democracy of Congo carrying her babe sis on her back.
Households amongst to a greater extent than adult women may take hold yards that are 100 feet square. Courtyards belonging to the households of chiefs are double this size. “Kitchen gardens” are planted next to the courtyards. These are used for plants that don’t require large-scale harvesting or great attention. Pineapple, mango, papaya, together with miscellaneous perennial plants used for meals forthwith upon picking are found inward these plots.
Azande adult woman inward Commonwealth of Australia dancing inward her traditional outfit
Economy
The Azande exercise shifting tillage (that is, no crop rotation, together with incorporating a fallowing period), relying mostly on maize together with millet, gourds together with pumpkins, manioc together with bananas, groundnuts, together with beans. The tsetsefly, problematic o animals every bit good every bit humans, makes cattle herding impossible. Whatever meat is consumed is secured through hunting. There is also a tradition of using forested areas to get together plants they do non cultivate. Dogs together with chickens are the only domesticated animals.
The part has ample rainfall together with many springs. These were a focus of Zande life, because they provided usable H2O nearly year-round. Water for daily utilization was carried from flow to homestead together with the washing, amid other activities, was done at the riverbanks. In fact, the flow was cardinal to Zande life inward conceptual every bit good every bit practical terms. For example, distance is expressed yesteryear the set out of streams betwixt the points inward question; the length of a journeying is the set out of streams crossed during travel. When asked almost an exact location (such every bit an individual’s birthplace) the reply volition live the flow nearest that location. Given the centrality of the flow to the Azande, their relocation
yesteryear the European direction caused major disruption inward their cultural beliefs together with practices.
The twelvemonth consists of 2 seasons, i rainy together with i dry. During the rainy summer, Azande cultivate their land. Although they take hold a long growing flavour together with no frosts, the soil is non rich together with insects are troublesome. As the hot, dry out conditions begins, crops mature together with are harvested.
Hunting was most viable inward the dry out season, when tall grasses had died or were burned together with when the harvest was over. During the rains, vegetation was too dense to allow necessary visibility. Because rivers were depression during this dry out season, fish were to a greater extent than accessible. Men employed handbasket traps, which they laid inward the rapids of rivers; women dammed the streams into little shallow pools, drained them yesteryear bailing, together with collected the fish, snakes, together with crustaceans that remained. Termites were a favorite food, together with their high fatty together with poly peptide content made them a nutritious component subdivision of the diet.
In pre-European days, each menage unit of measurement was an independent unit of measurement of production. Iron tools together with spears were used every bit bridewealth items, but inward full general in that location was no tradition of commutation betwixt households, which consisted of a married adult woman or wives, husband, their children, together with other dependents (such every bit widowed elderly). There was a sexual segmentation of labor, together with both women’s together with men’s piece of work were necessary to maintain an efficiently functioning household. Construction together with repair of the theatre together with granary were the responsibleness of men. The arduous task of maintaining the courtyard together with its gardens savage solely to women. Wealth, possessed mainly yesteryear chiefs, was primarily inward the shape of foodstuffs; the tradition of destroying a person’s worldly goods upon expiry left trivial adventure of inheritance of property.
Azande take hold no tradition of occupational specialization. All manufacturing together with craftswork were considered largely avocations, done yesteryear most. Woodworking together with pottery, making nets together with baskets, together with crafting have on out of bark were the most of import of these skills.
Azande terracota work. The Azande were prolific potters for centuries before the arrival of Europeans
Social together with Political Organization
Kinship
Among the Azande, clan affiliation was non stressed at the local level. E. E. Evans- Pritchard (1971), the ethnographer most responsible for knowledge almost the Azande, found, every bit he endeavored to get together genealogies, that “except inward the imperial clan, genealogical relationships betwixt clansmen were really seldom known together with unremarkably quite untraceable” (p. 14). Local groups, according to Evans-Pritchard,
are, inward essence, political units. He reports that his discovering members of the same clan living close i some other is due every bit much to adventure every bit anything else.
Azande people
Chiefdoms
In pre-European times, the Azande were organized into a set out of chiefdoms (sometimes called kingdoms), each of which was independent from the others. The Avongara were nobility; inward the days of Zande chiefdoms, it was to Avongara lineages that chiefs belonged. Despite the fact that chiefs of differing groups all belonged to the same clan, in that location was ongoing hostility together with warfare betwixt them.
Chiefs ruled their lands together with peoples yesteryear appointing emissaries (usually sons, but ever Avongara) who were sent out to deal diverse sections of their territories. Within these communities, commoners were deputized to assist inward administration.
Chiefs functioned every bit military machine leaders, economical leaders, together with political leaders. Unmarried men were recruited into groups that functioned both every bit warriors together with laborers on the king’s lands. The governors of the territories had gardens which were also worked yesteryear these troops. Both governors together with chiefs collected nutrient from the peoples inward their domain (provincial governors sending to the main a portion of their tribute every bit well) to live redistributed. In add-on to food, spears together with other items (often payment for fines or bridewealth) were redistributed yesteryear the chiefs.
Azande children, CAR.
Warfare
Several miles of unsettled woods together with bush were maintained betwixt chiefdoms. Watch was kept on these borders yesteryear trusted sentinels who were designated to build their houses along these boundaries. During the rainy flavour when grass grew tall together with provided goodness cover, surprise attacks were made on these border sentries, unremarkably ordered yesteryear the provincial leader. He undertook this activity on his own, without permission granted from the chief. Counsel, however, was sought from a toxicant oracle, a physical care for wherein toxicant is administered to an creature spell questions are posed to the inhabiting spirit. The poisoned animal’s behavior, every bit good every bit the dot at which it succumbed to the poison, were interpreted yesteryear those amongst such skills. Information was obtained concerning the most propitious days together with seat for the raid, the expected plane of casualties, together with which companies of warriors should live entrusted amongst the most unsafe duties. If the oracle indicated that the fourth dimension was non correct for victory, the plans were abandoned.
The oracle also designated a suitable fourth dimension together with seat for the attack, together with the proper private to human activity every bit a spy. This private was sent to study on every bit many aspects of the homestead to live raided every bit he could determine. Often the spy went nether the pretense of visiting a relative or wishing to trade. The best fourth dimension for a raid was on a feast twenty-four hr catamenia when men would live involved inward the festivities, non likely to live armed, together with quite likely to live drunk. To determine the exact twenty-four hr catamenia of the feast, the spy would programme his see during the preparations for the festivities. Because beer was ever brewed for the celebration, the spy could determine the feast twenty-four hr catamenia based on the phase of the brewing process.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 successful raid yielded tools, arms, food, together with chickens, some of which were sent to the main for redistribution. Whatever could non live carried off was destroyed. Huts together with granaries were burned.
In add-on to raids, in that location were larger mobilizations of state of war campaigns on a grand scale. These were ordered yesteryear the chief, after having consulted his ain toxicant oracle, together with mightiness go along over a catamenia of weeks. While knives together with spears were used exclusively inward raids, the introduction of rifl es into these larger confrontations resulted inward a shift from hand-to-hand fight to shots beingness fi ruby-red from a distance. Only when ammunition was exhausted would those warriors wielding spears converge on the enemy.
Marriage
The traditional Zande scheme of matrimony was greatly disrupted yesteryear European involvement. Administrators legislated broad changes, peculiarly regarding bride payment, divorce, together with historic catamenia at marriage. Although many of these were ostensibly designed to improve the condition of women, ethnographer Reining (1966:61–62) regards them rather every bit “an experiment inward altering some aspects of a civilization without providing for changes inward values. . . . [illustrating] the unpredictability of arbitrary
cultural changes.” Azande did non part the European view that matrimony was peculiarly disadvantageous to women, whom they never regarded every bit servile, despite administrative interpretation of their customs.
Zande adult woman from Central African Republic
Traditionally, the instigation for matrimony amid the Azande came from the potential groom. When a adult man wanted to conjoin a woman, he asked an intermediary to approach her begetter amongst his offer. Unless the suitor was deemed undesirable immediately, her begetter would hash out the affair offset amongst his brothers together with sisters, together with next amongst the adult woman inward question. If she was agreeable, the money sent amongst the intermediary was accepted.
Several days later, the suitor would see his promised bride’s parents, bringing gifts together with demonstrating his respect. In turn, their missy visited her suitor’s seat for a “trial period” of several weeks, after which she returned to her parents’ seat to brand her in conclusion determination regarding the marriage.
During the fourth dimension spent inward reflection yesteryear the woman, the groom-to-be consulted oracles to determine whether the marriage, should it occur, would live a happy one. If both oracle together with adult woman regarded the fit favorably, the bride’s menage unit of measurement traveled to the seat of the groom, where the ceremony took place. The matrimony was sealed amongst the installation of the novel bride’s ain cooking hearth. Reining (1966) describes traditional Zande matrimony every bit a physical care for that continues indefinitely over time, amongst a protracted payment of bride-price. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 little component subdivision of the toll was paid at the fourth dimension of the matrimony ceremony, but inward reality a hubby was ever indebted to his wife’s family. It was ever his responsibleness to assist inward his in-laws’ fields, together with he had mortuary obligations inward the lawsuit of a expiry inward his wife’s family.
The stuff payment of the agreed-upon bride-price was not, inward fact, every bit of import every bit the mental attitude together with demeanour of a hubby to his married adult woman together with her parents (Reining 1966). If he was a gentle, loving hubby together with labored adequately for her parents, remuneration could live forestalled for years. This was often, in
reality, the province of affairs preferred yesteryear in-laws: it afforded them considerable influence over their daughter’s husband. If the hubby was non performing his duties adequately, the wife’s parents mightiness insist that their missy displace dorsum to their home, forcing the hubby to negotiate amongst her parents for her return. Thus, the human relationship of primary emphasis inward matrimony was that of a son-in-law together with his wife’s parents. In polygynous situations, a adult man who had a goodness human relationship amongst his in-laws often expressed the want to conjoin his wife’s sis because of the advantages of a goodness human relationship amongst in-laws.
The topic of homosexuality inward Azande civilization has been regularly addressed, peculiarly inward the context of the single warriors, who, during the several years spent living apart from women, had homosexual relations amongst the boys who were apprentice warriors. These practices, however, were non necessarily maintained every bit a lifelong pattern of sexual orientation. Generally, after their experiences amongst so-called “boy-wives,” the warriors entered into heterosexual marriages.
Less attending has been paid to Azande lesbianism, relationships that were often formed betwixt co-wives. Although in that location is non a wealth of data concerning these practices, according to Evans-Pritchard (1970:1429), “All Azande I take hold known good plenty to hash out this affair take hold asserted . . . that woman somebody (Evans-Pritchard 1970). In add-on to assuring both the emotional together with economical back upwards of the partner, it has been suggested that this formalization (a ritual akin to Zande “blood brotherhood”) may take hold both widened a woman’s merchandise network together with enhanced her seat inward the community. Blackwood (in Suggs together with Miracle 1993) interprets these relationships every bit indicating that Azande men’s command over women did non extend into the realm of activities betwixt women. homosexuality . . . was practiced inward polygamous homes.” Zande husbands felt threatened yesteryear such activities, yet could non halt them; thus, women unremarkably kept the sexual nature of their friendships surreptitious (Blackwood inward Suggs together with Miracle 1993). Two Zande women who wished to formalize their human relationship could do so inward a ritual that created a permanent bond.
Azande people
Birth
Azande tradition prevents a important adult woman from eating sure foods e.g. meat of waterbuck or a sort of sugariness white patato called mene, because it is believed to cause a miscarriage. There is no special ceremony at the nativity of a child.
Stock Photo - Sudan, People, Rituals, Azande Tribe Birth Ritual Where New Baby Is Passed Through Medicinal Smoke. Credit: Eye Ubiquitous / SuperStock
However, iv days after the infant’s cord has been cutting a flame of dark-green leaves is made at the threshold of the house. The woman nurture amongst the kid inward her arms sits inward the smoke for almost one-half an hour. This is said to brand the kid strong. The remains of the flame are non thrown away but carefully placed on i of the paths leading to the hamlet to forestall child’s sick health.
Sudan, People, Azande Women And Child During Ritual Purification Of New Born Baby In Smoke.
Circumcision
The Azande circumcise their boys every bit a tradition. This is performed when the man child has reached the historic catamenia of nineteen. There is no special occasion. The Azande nonetheless don’t circumcise their girls. This circumcision of the boys has no relation amongst Islam.
Happy Azande kids
Religious Belief
Azande believe inward an all powerful supreme Being, Mbori. Mbori is defi ned yesteryear Evans-Pritchard (1937:11) every bit “a ghostly beingness to whom the creation of the world is attributed.” Missionaries together with authorities officials writing almost the Azande attempted to create out of Mbori a deity that would fi t
their ain tradition. Evans-Pritchard, however, warns against looking for religion, every bit organized elsewhere, inward Azande culture. Mbori is non convincingly portrayed yesteryear the Azande every bit a god analogous to the supreme beingness every bit found elsewhere. They take hold no shrines to Mbori together with no materials used inward worship. There is only i ceremony inward which his scream is invoked, together with that is performed infrequently at best. When he attempted to pursue the topic of theology, together with Mbori inward particular, Evans-Pritchard found the Azande “bored yesteryear the land of study . . . together with unable to limited to a greater extent than than the vaguest ideas almost him.”
Apart from belief inward Mbori, many also holds parallel belief system, including reverence for the ancestors.
Religious Practitioners
The traditional cult of domestic ancestor shrines required no specialized priesthood. Matters of witchcraft together with magic take hold ever been determined yesteryear part-time specialists/practitioners. Witch doctors, who were trained inward the utilization of magical medicines, operated at populace séances; Nagidi are believed to derive their powerfulness direct from God together with are, for day-to-day purposes, consulted inward private.
Dancers from Budi County inward Eastern Equatoria State perform during the opening, Nov 22
Ceremonies
The most of import ceremonies were formerly witch doctors' séances. One or to a greater extent than witch doctors, inward colorful ceremonial dress, would trip the lite fantastic together with sing to musical accompaniment before commencing their divination. The circumcision of pubescent boys also forms component subdivision of an elaborate serial of ceremonies; others were associated amongst initiation into the (now defunct) magical-medicine associations.
Arts
Music, both instrumental together with vocal, is really of import inward Zande culture; traditional instruments—wooden gongs, pare drums, whistles, xylophones, together with large bow harps—also accompany singing together with dancing. Harps are occasionally decorated amongst carved human heads; otherwise, nonutilitarian carving is poorly developed.
Medicine
Zande apply to a greater extent than often than non known common-sense cures to little ailments. All serious diseases are attributed to witchcraft together with are accordingly combated yesteryear magical medicine. The full general term ngua, which originally meant simply “plant” or “tree,” i time covered both goodness together with bad “medicines” of every sort. Nowadays Zande distinguish betwixt protective or curative “medicine,” which is increasingly becoming known yesteryear the Standard Arabic term dawa, together with ngua used every bit vengeance “medicine.” Magical “medicines” are used, non only to ward off (or avenge) misfortune, but to obtain successful harvests, human fertility, goodness hunting, together with other benefits, including task promotions together with success inward examinations. Such “medicines” are bought from people believed to take hold the requisite knowledge; payment is held indispensable if they are to live efficacious.
Death together with Afterlife
All deaths, except those of really little children, are attributed to witchcraft or magic together with telephone phone for magical vengeance. Upon death, the soul (mbisimo) becomes a ghost, which inward some sense may live nowadays inward the homestead ghost shrine, but also dwells amongst other ghosts together with amongst the Supreme Being, Mbori, inward Earth caves inward the forest.
There are no outward signs of mourning except for widows. At the minute of a husband’s expiry a women tears off their clothes together with ornaments together with remain so until his burial. They cutting together with maintain their pilus curt for almost a twelvemonth during which fourth dimension she is non allowed to eat sure food. The expiry of a adult man may cause desertion of his hamlet together with none of his wives may acquire into it.
All his personal domestic articles are broken up. In the old days people were buried inward a sitting seat amongst their chins on their knees. Immediately over the trunk a roof of wood together with grass was placed together with the grave so filled in, a pile of stones beingness placed on the top.
The men are buried facing due east together with women facing west. The explanation for this is that a man, when he gets upwards inward the morning, ever looks offset to the due east to come across if dawn is near, together with a woman, when the Sun is almost to set, goes to fetch wood together with H2O to laid the eve meal.
The Chief together with elders of the Zande hamlet of Dakwa perform local rituals to exorcise the spirits from quondam kid soldiers. Image yesteryear Marcus Bleasdale. Democratic Republic of Congo, 2010.
Witchcraft
The Azande are perhaps ameliorate known for their pervasive belief inward witchcraft than for whatever other aspect of their culture. However, inward his classic description of witchcraft amid the Azande, Evans-Pritchard asks the reader to live aware “that the Zande cannot analyze his doctrines every bit I take hold done for him. . . . It is no utilization maxim to a Zande ‘Now tell me what you lot Azande think almost witchcraft’ because the subject
is too full general together with indeterminate . . . to live described concisely. But it is possible to extract the principles of their thought from dozens of situations inward which witchcraft is called upon to explicate happenings. . . . Their philosophy is explicit, but it is non formally stated every bit a doctrine” (1937:70). (In such situations, an anthropologist endeavors to create such a “doctrine” through fieldwork. The resulting product
may facial expression quite unlike from the indigenous view [Barrett 1991].)
Witchcraft is thought to live an actual physical belongings residing within some individuals, who may themselves live unaware of their power. It is inherited, passed from begetter to boy together with woman nurture to daughter. Azande believe that if the soul of the begetter is to a greater extent than powerful, the kid conceived volition live a boy; if the mother’s soul kernel is greater, their kid volition live a girl. Thus, although every kid is a
production of both parents, each also has to a greater extent than of i particular parent’s soul. And if that nurture is a witch, inheriting this inherent powerfulness to do damage is inevitable.
Because this belongings is organic, it grows every bit a somebody grows. Therefore an older witch is a to a greater extent than unsafe witch. Children, whose witchcraft kernel is small, are never defendant of major acts of damage (such every bit murder). They can, however, cause little misfortunes for other children.
Unlike sorcery, which employs charms together with spells, witchcraft is deployed yesteryear sheer willpower. Witches shipping the spirit of their ain witchcraft entity to eat the flesh together with organs of their intended victims. Thus, a witch may live at seat asleep at the fourth dimension illness or injury occurs. It is the “soul of the witchcraft” that travels through the night. This kernel cannot move great distances, however, together with it is for this ground that the Azande experience to a greater extent than secure if they are able to alive at a distance from their neighbors. The “short-range” nature of witchcraft allows the perpetrator to live to a greater extent than accurately identified; all those beyond the limits of a witch’s capabilities, fifty-fifty amongst evil intent, may live eliminated. If a somebody is taken
sick spell traveling, it is that location where illness struck inward which the witch must live found.
The Azande believe that witchcraft is at the base of operations of all misfortune, great or small. If a potter opens his kiln only to uncovering his pottery cracked, he intimates witchcraft; if a kid stubs her toe at play, she suspects witchcraft; if a hunter is gored yesteryear an elephant, he lays blame for the injury squarely on a witch. Azande entertain no concept of “accidental” death. People cash inward one's chips only every bit victims of murder, whether committed yesteryear witches or yesteryear the magic of revenge reserved for retaliation against suspected witches.
Despite these convictions, the Azande do non alive inward constant terror of witches (Nanda 1991). In fact, Douglas (1980) reminds us that Evans-Pritchard’s assessment of the Azande was that they were the happiest together with most carefree peoples of the Sudan. “The feelings of an Azande man, on finding that he has been bewitched, are non terror, but hearty indignation every bit i of us mightiness experience on finding himself the victim of embezzlement” (Douglas 1980:1).
Since a witch’s motivation is non random, but rather envy or hatred directed at a specific person, a victim searches for a suspect amid those amongst whom he has argued, or inward a somebody who may take hold cause to live jealous of him. How so tin he seat his aggressor? For this, together with other purposes, the Azande consult a diverseness of oracles.
Oracles
The Azande consult oracles regarding a broad arrive at of things almost which they demand information. They inquire for guidance inward planning a marriage, taking a journey, edifice a house, organizing a raid. In add-on to whatever their electrical flow misfortune may be, they inquire almost whether their wellness volition live endangered inward the future.
Consulting Azande iwa Oracle
In pre-European times, Zande chiefs consulted oracles to confirm their military machine decisions, but chiefs were also charged amongst judicial duties. Every accusation was brought before the main to adjudicate. To this end, he employed several people whose responsibleness it was to assist inward the consultation of oracles. It has been said that the Azande belief inward witchcraft is the supporting framework of their entire judicial scheme (Mair 1974:221).
An oracle is a device for revelation. Among the Azande in that location are many from which to choose, amongst varying reputations for reliability. By far the most powerful is benge, the toxicant oracle, used yesteryear men alone. Its decisions are relied upon without question, together with no project of great import is attempted without its authorization. In attempting to convey its centrality, a Zande informant of Evans-Pritchard drew the analogy betwixt the books of Europeans together with the toxicant oracle of his ain people. All the knowledge, guidance, memory, together with truth that are derived from trusted Western writings reside for the Azande within the toxicant oracle. Evans-Pritchard came to view it every bit less a ritual than a necessity:
For how tin a Zande do without his toxicant oracle? His life would live of trivial worth. Witches would brand his married adult woman together with children sick together with would destroy his crops together with homecoming his hunting useless. Every endeavour would live frustrated, every labour together with hurting would live to no purpose. At whatever minute a witch mightiness kill him together with he could do nada to protect himself together with his family. Men would violate his married adult woman together with steal his goods, together with how would he live able to seat together with avenge himself on adulterer together with thief? Without the assist of his toxicant oracle he knows that he is helpless together with at the mercy of every evil person. It is his guide together with counsellor (1937:262–263).
Despite this seeming indispensability, subsequently ethnographers take hold pointed out that benge poison, expensive together with hard to obtain, was most likely an oracle available regularly only to men of wealth. This limitation may take hold acted both to engender social obligations together with to grant powerfulness together with prestige. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 adult man who cannot afford the costly poison, or who does non possess the proper chicken to which the toxicant must live administered, asks a wealthier kinsman, or deputy of the chief, to consult the oracle on his behalf. It is his duty to oblige. It is older men who are likely to take hold the way to seek counsel from the oracle: this access to data gives them powerfulness over younger men. They non only tin inquire the
oracles almost the intentions together with behaviors of their juniors, but also are ever supported inward their decisions yesteryear the considerable weight of oracular authority, to which younger or poorer men take hold no direct access, together with so cannot challenge (Evans-Pritchard 1937).
The benge toxicant ordeal is an elaborate procedure, requiring great science together with finesse inward both the direction of the toxicant together with the posing of the questions. Poison is administered, yesteryear an practiced inward the task, to a little chicken. The practiced must know how much toxicant is necessary, how much fourth dimension should elapse betwixt doses, whether it should live shaken to distribute the poison, how long together with firmly the chicken should live held, together with inward what position. Each barely perceptible motion made yesteryear the plane is important to the trained eye.
Once the toxicant has been administered, the monastic tell inward which questions are asked, whether they are phrased inward a positive or negative frame, must all live determined yesteryear the questioner. The oracle is addressed every bit if it were a person. Every particular of the province of affairs inward inquiry is explained, together with each private inquiry may live embedded inward fi ve or 10 minutes of speech. The benge toxicant shows its reply yesteryear responding through the chicken to the directive, “If this is true, benge kill the fowl” or “If this is non the truth, benge spare the fowl.” Each reply is so tested yesteryear repeating the interpretation of its reply, prefaced amongst the question, “Did the oracle speak the truth inward saying. . .” (Mair 1974).
An oracle to a greater extent than readily available to all is the termite oracle. This is used every bit often yesteryear women every bit men, together with fifty-fifty children may participate. Two branches are cut, each from a different tree. They are inserted together into a termite mound together with left overnight. The reply is indicated yesteryear which branch has been eaten. Though for certain less elaborate together with costly than the benge oracle, consulting termites is a time-consuming affair, since only i inquiry may live posed at a fourth dimension together with i must hold off all nighttime long for the answer.
Least reliable but most convenient is the rubbing-board oracle, a device resembling a Ouija board, made of 2 little pieces of wood, easily carried to live consulted anywhere, at whatever time. One little slice of wood is carved amongst a take hold together with is rubbed across the top of a 2nd piece, fashioned amongst legs to
stand upwards on. Questions are asked every bit the wood is moved; every bit it sticks or catches, so the reply is revealed.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grouping of man child circumcision initiates (agangasi) wearing grass fibre skirts, inward a line performing a circumcision trip the lite fantastic (gbere agangasi) amongst their sponsor (identifed every bit Yakobo) standing beside them holding a spray of works life leaves. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 wooden trip the lite fantastic gong (gugu) tin exactly live seen behind them. circa 1927. [Southern Sudan] Western Equatoria Yambio.
Accusing a Witch
There are 2 distinct sorts of accusations of witchcraft: i inward which illness or misfortune has occurred, the other after someone has died. These differ inward both the component subdivision of accusing an private together with the ramifications of beingness found guilty.
The aim of accusing a somebody of witchcraft inward the quondam province of affairs is to convey almost some resolution to the conflict that induced the laid on together with to homecoming the human relationship to equilibrium. Speaking sick of a person, or fifty-fifty wishing someone injury, is ineffectual without a social tie: the curse of a stranger cannot do harm.
Thus, a human relationship amongst the defendant is a prerequisite for bewitchment. (An private must live suspected, or else his or her scream could non take hold been presented to the oracle for confirmation or denial of guilt.)
When the chicken dies during the benge toxicant ordeal, a wing is cutting off, placed on a stick, together with brought to the local deputy of the chief, telling him the scream of the private confirmed yesteryear the benge. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 messenger, sent amongst the wing to the alleged witch, places it on the ground, together with announces that benge has been consulted regarding the illness of the accuser. Usually this accuse is met amongst denial of whatever sick intent. At the really to the lowest degree the defendant pleads ignorance of damage derived from his or her ain mangu, or witchcraft substance. As a demonstration of goodness faith, the alleged witch takes a mouthful of water, together with sprays it over the wing. So doing, she or he beseeches the mangu to go inactive, allowing the victim to recover. The messenger reports these events to the chief’s deputy.
In the lawsuit of a “murder,” the aim is non pacification but revenge. Restoring amicable relations is clearly non possible; a postmortem accusation is an indictment leading to heavy compensation, sometimes paid amongst the witch’s ain life. Exacting such a toll permanently alters the human relationship betwixt the kin grouping of the victim together with that of the defendant (McLeod 1972).
Zande abinza (witch-doctor)
Witchcraft inward Its Social Setting
The Azande chiefdom is formally structured inward a clear-cut hierarchy, from the chiefs at the top through their deputies, armies, local governors, together with ending amongst private householders. Built into this construction is the elimination of most opportunities for unequal competition: that is, chiefly lineages did non compete amongst those lesser, nor did the rich amongst the poor, or parents amongst their children.
As Douglas (1980) has observed, accusations of witchcraft arise only inward those social situations that autumn exterior of the political structure. Thus, co-wives mightiness accuse each other, every bit mightiness rivals inward other arenas. Because witches could live unintentionally dangerous, their mangu could live laid into motility yesteryear understandable resentments together with jealousies. The accusation together with eventual demonstration of remorse will
laid these sick feelings to rights. Events that tin live explained yesteryear an individual’s lack of technical science (such every bit the shoddy piece of work of an inexperienced carpenter) or yesteryear personally motivated actions are non likely to live involved inward the realm of witchcraft.
As Parsons (1969:195) observes, i tin imagine many motivations for people to claim that witchcraft was at the root of their adultery, but this would resultant inward ridicule, “because everybody knows witches don’t do that.”
Witchcraft beliefs tin component subdivision effectively every bit a way of managing the anxiety resulting from random misfortune. This is evidenced yesteryear the prominence given to illness together with expiry every bit occasions for witchcraft accusations.
Witchcraft every bit Social Control together with Leveling Mechanism
Witchcraft may serve every bit an effective agent of social control. The lengthy physical care for involved inward making an accusation acts to forestall hasty together with emotional confrontations. Charges must take hold grouping back upwards behind them together with are non leveled carelessly.
An individual’s demeanour tin live guided yesteryear the knowledge that wrongdoing mightiness likely resultant inward retaliatory witchcraft. Additionally, cognizance that jealous or hostile demeanour mightiness seat i inward a seat of beingness suspect should misfortune occur mightiness Pb i to live quite circumspect. Wishing to live neither suspect nor victim, the Azande possess, inward witchcraft, both an effective sanction against
socially disruptive demeanour together with a vehicle for handling hostility.
Because an private amongst great wealth is likely to engender the jealousy of others together with the attendant bewitchment, Azande are non likely to endeavor to outproduce i another. It is inward this way that witchcraft acts every bit a leveling mechanism, indirectly keeping wealth balanced.
The “Logic” of Azande Witchcraft
The attribution of the cause of all misfortune to witchcraft may seem extreme. In fact, Evans-Pritchard himself engaged inward lively debate amongst informants who described every bit witchcraft events that seemed to him the resultant of solely “natural” phenomena. He eventually recognized that they did, inward fact, take hold a really clear understanding almost the contribution of the natural world to their misfortune.
When Evans-Pritchard suggested to a boy, whose pes had been injured when he tripped over a tree stump, that a witch could non perhaps take hold placed the tree stump inward his way, the man child agreed. He recognized that nature had contributed the tree stump and, further, that the tree stump had cutting his foot. His evidence of witchcraft was simply that despite his vigilance inward watching out for tree stumps, every bit good every bit his rubber passage on that same path hundreds of other times, this fourth dimension he had been injured. This time, in that location was witchcraft.
Along these same lines, when a granary collapsed, injuring several people who had been sitting inward its shade, Azande saw no contradiction inward their dual assertions that termites had eaten at the legs of the building, resulting inward its collapse, together with that witchcraft was responsible. They farther admitted that no witch had “sent” the people underneath the granary inward monastic tell to trap them: it was afternoon, together with they were exactly seeking shade. While nosotros would telephone phone this serial of events coincidence, or perhaps “being inward the incorrect seat at the incorrect time,” Azande are able to shape an explanatory link betwixt these events. That link is During his remain inward the Sudan, Evans-Pritchard witnessed the suicide of a adult man who was angry amongst his brothers. Although his despair over his confl ict was good known, together with when his trunk was found hanging from a tree, all readily acknowledged that he had, inward fact, hanged himself, the cause of expiry was considered witchcraft. At Evans-Pritchard’s behest, a Zande friend explained:
. . . only crazy people commit suicide; if everyone who was angry amongst his
brothers committed suicide in that location would shortly live no people left inward the world;
if this adult man had non been bewitched he would non take hold done what he did do"
(1937:71).
Once the supernatural premise that people take hold witchcraft kernel inward them together with tin damage others amongst it is granted, the Zande declaration becomes logical.
These beliefs concerning witchcraft suffer today, amongst some modifi cations. Resettlement has forced them to take living inward closer quarters, depending upon screens to maintain them out of their neighbors’ view, if non their reach. When asked almost fears concerning the proximity of witches, the Azande study that they experience able to relocate should misfortune occur. This would take them from whatever nearby threat.
Azande dancers
AZANDE TODAY: RESETTLED, UNSETTLED
The “Zande Scheme”
The determination yesteryear colonial authorities inward the 1920s to displace Azande out of the valleys to command sleeping sickness was only the fi rst inward a serial of resettlement together with evolution plans. Before midcentury, the Azande were subsistence cultivators.
In the tardily 1940s together with early on 1950s, the British introduced the so-called “Zande scheme,” a programme of cash cropping (chiefl y of cotton) together with manufacture (producing cotton wool cloth). Planners believed they could improve the lot of the Azande, who, it was thought, would live grateful for the introduction of to a greater extent than “modern” comforts together with luxuries. The introduction of money together with wage labor acted to weaken kinship
ties yesteryear obviating the demand for kin to piece of work together exterior the household.
Young men together with women could to a greater extent than easily leave of absence their parents’ homes together with laid upwards their ain households amongst income from reward paid yesteryear Europeans. As component subdivision of the scheme, the Azande were i time once to a greater extent than resettled—more than 60,000 families yesteryear 1950—away from the roads, into farmland. The most detrimental characteristic of the resettlement programme was the arbitrary assignment of individuals to plots of
land. This activity was fl awed inward several ways: it disregarded menage unit of measurement groupings, failed to take into business concern human relationship the Azande’s want for mobility together with fl exible living arrangements, together with resulted inward some farmers receiving solid ground amongst goodness soil together with others receiving solid ground of pathetic quality. Tensions were engendered amid resettled people that were counterproductive to the developers’ wishes to create, through resettlement, a stable workforce. Anthropologist Conrad Reining (1966), inward a study of the Zande scheme, concluded that spell the projection demonstrated the feasibility of establishing an industrial centre amid the Azande (provided cost was no object), together with of convincing the Azande to make copious amounts of cotton, it to a greater extent than convincingly showed how much could non live accomplished. Its primary weaknesses were inward the realms of ecology, social organization, together with communication, failures it shared amongst other such attempts. By the mid-1950s, cotton wool production slowed to a close halt. There was a displace to restart the programme inward the 1970s, but civil state of war inward Sudan, which would go along throughout the twentieth century together with into the twenty-first, cutting curt the attempted revival.
Source:http://www.gurtong.net/Peoples/PeoplesProfiles/Azande/tabid/179/Default.aspx
THE ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF THE AZANDE OF CENTRAL AFRICA
E. E. EVANS-PRITCHARD
University of Oxford
The Zande linguistic communication predominates from 23' to 30' Long. E. together with from 3' to 6' Lat. N. together with inward some places extends beyond these limits (Van den Plas, p. 9) .' As Professor Tucker notes (1940, p. 17),*it is remarkable, considering the expanse covered yesteryear it together with the set out of peoples belonging to different linguistic communication groups-Sudanic, Bantu, Nilotic, together with Nilo-Hamitic-who today speak it, that it has developed only five, together with non really divergent, dialects. It is also remarkable that, without whatever technological superiority, those who built this empire were able to conquer such vast territories together with to weld their inhabitants into a nation.
Azande Warriors
That they succeeded was for certain due inward the main to their greatly superior political organization. It was only when they came upwards against peoples, the Abandiya together with the Mangbetu, who had a political organisation comparable to their ain that they were unable to brand headway. The other peoples who tried to resist them together with were defeated together with displaced or subjugated were, according to all the data nosotros possess, ill-organized politically, having nada similar the Zande statal organs. On the contrary, living inward little communities at variance amongst each other together with lacking mutual direction, they sooner or subsequently savage a prey to the invader together with became politically, together with to an increasing extent culturally, component subdivision of the great complex nosotros know every bit the Azande. It is the purpose of this newspaper to examine this complex, so far every bit its ethnic composition is concerned, together with to analyse its constituent elements.
Several of the early on explorers of Zandeland remarked on the great admixture of peoples comprising the population. Junker ( 189 1, pp. 198-9) for example, describes "the motley mixture of broken tribes together with scattered populations", servile peoples (Amadi, Basiri, Augu, together with Maranga) amongst spoken language together with habits together with customs different from those of the Azande, inward the comparatively little territory of Palembata (in the neighbourhood of 4' N. together with 27' E.). He refers elsewhere (1891, p. 466) to Abarambo colonies amid the Azande to the S of the Bomokandi together with to Zande colonies amid the Abarambo to the N of it, both peoples beingness inward these areas subjects of the Zande prince Bakangai; together with Casati (I, p. 198), speaking of the same prince, says that the population of his domains is composed of Azande, Abarambo, together with Mabisanga.
Azande people. Circa 1888. Tagged 'Horrible Feast of the Cannibals' from Stanley's Travels inward Africa
Junker i time to a greater extent than (1892, p. 148) says of the areas ruled yesteryear Zemio together with his blood brother Miando inward the valley of the Mbomu that the ruling Azande shape was greatly inferior inward numbers to the other inhabitants (Akare,
Basiri, Abarambo, and-whoever the next peoples may be, for Junker did non venture to determine their affinities-Shinvas, Ababullos, Embiddimas, together with Apakelle). Then, i time once to a greater extent than ( 1892, p. 307) : ' "As inward many other northern lands, Linda's territory (about 5' 20" N. together with 26' 20" E.) was occupied, besides
the dominant Zandehs, yesteryear Bashirs, A-Barmbos, A-Bin, A-Pambia, together with other land of study tribes."
It is non surprising that those who came after these explorers together with could brand their observations inward easier circumstances take hold oft remarked on the same phenomenon. The Polish ethnographer Czekanowski, for example, gave special attending (pp. 21-6) to the ethnic constitution of the Zande kingdoms. noting that the Zande conquerors are a lean ruling shape inward vast areas, inward many of which the greater component subdivision of the population are unusual peoples who take hold retained their distinctive character
(Abarambo, Akare, Apambia, Basiri, hlakere, Ilundu, Momvu, etc.). In the to a greater extent than thickly populated south, amongst which Czekanowski was personally acquainted, the serf population includes peoples of many alien stocks who take hold been conquered but non yet assimilated: S of the Bomokandi scarcely a quarter of the population belong either racially or culturally to the politically dominant Zande element, for the Makere, the greater component subdivision of the population, take hold kept their identity intact. In Bavungara's
province, close Vankerckhovenville, the ratio is only almost eighty Azande men to hundreds of Momvu, together with inward the neighbouring territory ruled yesteryear Bokoyo the province of affairs is similar. He concludes (p. 43) that the Zande clans stalk mainly from these unusual stocks together with that it has been the powerfulness of the Avongara ruling theatre that has integrated all these heterogeneous elements into the nowadays Azande people.
Czekanowski is i of my authorities for this paper, but I take hold chiefly relied on Van den Plas, together with after him on Junker, de Calonne-Beaufaict, Hutereau, Larken, Maes together with Boone, together with Baxter together with Butt. Their writings together with those of other authorities are cited inward the bibliography at the destination of this article. When I
take hold made statements without citing potency for them it must live understood that on those points our main sources are inward agreement, the statements beingness a summary of the different records together with confirmed inward the areas known to me personally yesteryear my ain experience. If I do non add together much that is master to
what others take hold said I tin at least, inward a condensed form, i time to a greater extent than force attending to the great ethnic complexity of Zande society. The historical processes involved in, together with the social consequences resulting from, ethnic amalgamations of this sort together with on this scale, for they are found inward many other African states, take hold not, I think, been sufficiently appreciated. The cultural effects take hold also been important, but they must await subsequently together with separate treatment. Here trivial to a greater extent than is attempted than a brief
review of the ethnic elements which constitute the present-day -Azande.
Azande girls
The Avonqara are the ruling aristocracy inward yesteryear far the greater component subdivision of Zandelnnd. The Ambomu are their master subjects, together with it is their linguistic communication that the Azande speak. When i speaks of Azande i speaks of all those who utilization Zande every bit their woman nurture tongue. Nevertheless nosotros take hold sometimes to distinguish inward the expanse ruled yesteryear the Avongara betwixt Azande of Ambomu descent ( Azande ni Ambomu) together with Azande of assimilated stocks (Azande ni Auro )who take hold been completely, or almost completely, assimilated culturally to the Avongara-Ambomu. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 similar distinction is doubtless made inward Zande territories where the Avongara are non the rulers, but where they i time were. We may speak of those peoples who silent speak their ain languages but are, within Zande territory or on its confines, politically nether Zande domination every bit land of study peoples. They are, inward varying degrees, inward the physical care for of becoming Azande. Some of these land of study peoples are elsewhere independent. Some unusual peoples, although never subjugated yesteryear the Azande, were raided yesteryear them or came nether their influence together with take hold thereby contributed inward a lesser plane to the formation of the ethnic conglomeration of the Azande people.
The term "Niamniam", a foreign, perhaps Dinka, designation, is best avoided every bit it has been used yesteryear Arabs together with Europeans without much discrimination to refer non only to both Azande together with their
subject-peoples but also to almost whatever people inward the expanse nether consideration. It was for some of them a really confused representation-cannibals, men amongst tails. etc.
Portrait of Azande girl
The Avongara or Akolongbo, every bit they also telephone phone themselves, are today inward spoken language together with habits, if nosotros except aristocratic modes of behaviour together with mannerisms peculiar to their class, indistinguishable from their followers, together with nosotros take hold no evidence that they take hold ever been otherwise, though they themselves would non acknowledge to beingness of Ambomu stock, maxim that they are Akolongbo or Avongara of Agbia, noble, stock. In the offset one-half of the 18th century-there seems to live trivial doubtfulness almost the broad outline of the facts-the Ambomu people, who at that fourth dimension lived inward the valleys of the Mbomu (hence their name) together with the Shinko rivers, began to move, nether Avongara leadership, offset to the south-east together with thence north, east, together with south. These migrations, the causes of which nosotros do non know, continued till checked yesteryear Arab together with European opposition inward the 2nd one-half of the in conclusion century together with inward the offset decade of the nowadays century, together with inward the course of study of them the Zande nation was formed. The Ambomu clans are consequently found inward most, in all probability all, parts of Zandeland; but they are mostly, nosotros take hold ground to believe, to live found inward the territories ruled yesteryear the descendants of King Yakpati, on both sides of the Nile-Congo split upwards roughly betwixt Long. 27' 30" together with 29' 30'1.9c
There they take hold a slightly enhanced social seat inward virtue of their descent from their conquering
forbears, but it must live said that Azande do non attach great importance to whether a adult man is of Ambomu stock or not; in that location has been too much intermarriage for this to count much. What tin live said is rather that the Ambomu take hold a long tradition of attachment to their Avongara rulers together with of familiarity amongst the polished life of courts, so that the standards of etiquette together with manners obtaining at courtroom are considered to live those of the Ambomu, together with ignorance or contravention of them to live the behaviour of Auro, foreigners.
Major Larken amongst Zande adult woman together with girl. Circa 1927
Some peoples take hold solely lost their cultural identity inward the Zande amalgam but, through many vicissitudes, their ethnic distinctiveness together with political independence take hold survived. This is the instance amongst the Sudanic Abandiya, who alive inward the most western component subdivision of Zandeland, to westward of the 26" Long. E. Junker (1892, pp. 241-2) lo says that they moved into this expanse from the Mbomu-Makua confluence when the Avongara-Ambomu left it to migrate to the S together with due east together with that yesteryear his fourth dimension they had already go vassals of the Arabo-Nubians. De Calonne (p. 83) says that of their ain accord they adopted non only the Zande linguistic communication but also their political institutions, but I uncovering it hard to believe that they would take hold done this so completely if they had non been at some catamenia land of study to the
Avongara, together with I uncovering it easier hence to take Van den Plas' declaration (p. 14) that they are an ethnically mixed people ruled yesteryear the Abaza (whose linguistic communication a few old people silent speak) who, after prolonged combats, were finally subjugated yesteryear the Avongara, though, every bit was their policy inward dealing amongst subjugated peoples, the Avongara left them their ain Abaza rulers, amongst whom they made alliances. The Nzakara also only speak Zande today, having lost their master Banda dialect. They appear to live solely nether the regulation of the Abandiya, on the limits of whose territory they alive inward 2 separated stretches of province towards the extreme western limits of Zandeland.
There are a great many of the Adio people inward the Zande population together with they are found inward all parts of Zandeland. aSome people give Adio every bit their clan name. Other clans of the Adio are the Akowe, Abananga, Andebili, Abangbai, together with Apise. There may live others (Akudere, Ambari, Agbutu).
Some of them shape a politically independent group, though culturally inward all of import respects similar other Azande together with speaking only Zande, known every bit hlakaraka or Azande-Bamboy, inward the valley of the Tore, tributary of the Yei. They are thus the most easterly department (Long. 30" 30" E.) of the Azande and,
beingness isolated from the rest, take hold much mixed amongst neighbouring peoples. They are component subdivision of the Abile migration, every bit i of the Zande migrations came to live designated, and, I was told, adopted
Zande spoken language together with customs during the fourth dimension they were conquered together with ruled yesteryear the brothers together with sons of Renzi, boy of Yakpati, i of whom, Muduba, carried them amongst him inward his migration to the east. When, at Muduba's death, his men, faced amongst starvation, returned westwards they left the Adio behind them where nosotros at nowadays uncovering them independent of Avongara rule. They would in all probability take hold been brought nether it yesteryear Mange boy of Gbudwe had non the Egyptian Government established military machine posts inward the area.
of 3' Lat. N. together with 26' Long. E. The same author mentions other peoples who accompanied the Adio together with Abwameli inward their master migration. Whoever these people may take hold been, today they be no to a greater extent than every bit distinct ethnic groups, amongst the possible exception of the Angada, who, though no longer a cohesive
group, appear to live to some extent localized, though mixed amongst Avongara-Ambomu together with speaking only Zande, inward a pocket inward Abandiya province on the Mbili, N of Lat. 4' N. together with betwixt 25' together with 26' Long. E. Elsewhere they take hold been scattered together with absorbed yesteryear Azande together with Abandiya.
Other peoples, or sections of them, take hold totally, or almost totally, lost both political together with cultural identity together with are entirely, or almost entirely, merged inward the Zande amalgam, where they tin live distinguished from the Arnbomu only yesteryear their clan names and, so the Ambomu say, their boorish habits when they take hold non learnt to abandon them yesteryear contact amongst the polite gild of courts. One of these is the Sudanic Abangbinda, a i time numerous people. After conquest yesteryear Yakpati together with his descendants, their
in conclusion resistance beingness broken yesteryear Gbudwe, they were almost completely absorbed yesteryear the Azande, though hither together with in that location inward little groups their linguistic communication is non solely forgotten. I was able to take downwardly vocabularies from some of the older people. They are i of the biggest elements of unusual source inward the Sudan to the due east of the Lingasi. The next clans claim to live of Abangbinda origin: Abiama, Abakpara, Abani, Abadigo, Amabenge, Abambiti, Abaanya, Abagbuto, Abaningo, Abagbo, Abangbaya, Abamunga, Abagua, Avuduma, together with perhaps also the Abangbara. Another completely assimilated people, according to Van den Plas (pp. 21-2), are the Mabisanga, a department of the Medje who were at i fourth dimension subjects of the Mangbetu. When the Mangbetu virile somebody monarch Munza's kingdom was dismembered yesteryear the Egyptians they were subjugated yesteryear Ngula-Mange boy of Kipa. Emin (p. 204), de Calonne (p. 130),
together with Czekanowski (pp. 176-7) , say that the Egyptian Government appointed Mbitimo boy of Wando to regulation them.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large proportion of the Abararnbo, or Arniangba, together with of the Amadi peoples take hold also been almost totally absorbed yesteryear the Azande. These i time great peoples were dispersed together with fractionized yesteryear bitterly fought wars amongst the Azande ruled yesteryear the House of Yakpati. However, some Abarambo to the S of
the Uele silent speak their ain linguistic communication together with are commanded yesteryear their ain notables, though nether Avongara suzerainty, inward Junker's fourth dimension inward the somebody of Bakengai ( 189 1, p. 335) ; together with they are an independent people betwixt that river together with the Bomokandi, for although Bakengai's begetter Kipa had ruled them on both banks of the Bomokandi, those to the N had yesteryear Junker's fourth dimension reasserted their independence. Some of their to a greater extent than of import clans, inward the Sudan mostly found inward the old kingdom of Gbudwe, are: Aubali, Abawoli, Abazaa, Avumaka, Avonama, Avundukura, Abakpuro, Amuzungu, Agbunduku, Abandogo, Abalingi, Avunduo, Abakaya, Amigbara, Abagbate, Agberenya, Akpurandi, Abapia, Akpura, Amiandi, Abangombi, Akenge, Abaale, Abaiwo, Abangburu, Amiteli, Abandiko,
Angali, Angbuki, Ambare, Abangboto, Abisiaka, Abangere, Abanganyl, Abakpoto, They are in all probability the largest single unusual chemical element inward the constitution of the Azande of the Sudan, where i tin silent uncovering persons who scream upwards their master tongue, though it is no longer spoken.
Czekanowski (p. 210) l9 thinks that they are the largest unusual chemical element amid the Azande every bit a whole. The greater component subdivision of the Amadi people, whose ancient name, de Calonne says (p.120)20 was Amago (Amego) or Aogo (Augu), settled, after wars together with migrations, around the chain of hills on 27' Long. E.,
where Junker ( 1891, pp. 31 7-8) found them together with where they are silent independent today, though all speak Zande every bit good every bit their ain Sudanic tongue. The relaxation of this at i fourth dimension considerable people were dispersed yesteryear Yakpati together with his sons together with were finally absorbed into the Zande complex, their descendants
beingness found today widely distributed inward all the cardinal together with eastern regions of Zandeland. In view of the fact that the principal battleground betwixt the Amadi, amongst their Abarambo allies, together with the Azande was inward the valley of the Sueh it is surprising that so few men claim Amadi descent in that location today. One ground for this appears to live that after the severe hammering they received from the Azande inward the N the main trunk turned towards the south. Also, those who were left behind seem to take hold go to a large extent confounded amongst the Abarambo, so some of the clans often said to belong to the Amiangba (Abarambo) may live Amadi inward origin.
These 2 instruments formed the ground of most Zande feast dances (gbere buda) every bit good every bit the seances of abinza (witchdoctors).
Another people who must, I think, take hold been partly assimilated are the Sudanic Bangba, who today mostly alive to the S of the Uele-Kibali on Long. 28" E., where they sought refuge after a bloody defeat at the hands of Ukwe boy of Wando. I believe that some of this people must take hold contributed to the Zande population because Van den Plas says (p. 23) that also their ain linguistic communication together with Mangbetu some speak Zande, which is gaining ground, and, although the same author says that none of this grouping of Bangba are subjects of Avongara, when they lived farther to the north, Schweinfurth (I, p. 522),23
who met them in that location inward 1870, tells us that they, or at whatever charge per unit of measurement a powerful department of them, were subjects of Wando boy of Bazingbi, most of them speaking Zande. It is highly probable, therefore, that they take hold contributed to the population of his old kingdom.
In add-on to the peoples already mentioned, Van den Plas mentions (pp. 16-22) 24 others every bit beingness of unusual source but at nowadays completely, or almost completely, submerged; Abubage (some dozens of individuals silent stammer out their ancient linguistic communication inward the valley of the Gurba); Amuvumba (five or half dozen families at most, who alive inward the valley of the Sekunde, tributary of the Gurba) ;Ngbwaya, Ngobwu, together with Tokpwo (infinitely little groups almost which data is at nowadays unobtainable) ; Abotupwe (met
amongst inward the valley of the Poko, tributary of the Bomokandi); Asibali (met mainly amid the Apsmbia together with the Abuguru); together with Abangombi, Angombe, together with Aholi (all completely absorbed).
Of these, the Ngobwu are in all probability the Gobu or Gabu, silent found amid the Abandiya (Capenny, p. 31 3; Tucker, 1940, p. 17) together with figured on Junker's map every bit "Ngobbu" betwixt Long. 24' together with 25' together with exactly S of Go Lat. N. The others are in all probability all clans of peoples listed already or later, together with not
distinct ethnic groups: the Abubage, an Amadi clan; the Abotupwe (Abatukpo) , an Abarambo clan; the Asibali (Asigbali) , in all probability a Basiri clan; the Abangombi, an Abarambo clan; the Angombe (Angumbe), an Ambomu clan; together with so forth. Hutereau (pp. 317-8) mentions a Ngara people, at nowadays absorbed by
the Abandiya, together with shows them on his map to the S of the Mbomu betwixt Long. 25' together with 26' E. Junker ( 1890, p. 480) together with Emin (pp. 375-6) scream an Apagumba people who migrated to the due east amongst the Adio but who had, fifty-fifty inward their day, almost completely disappeared inward the Adio (Makaraka)
amalgam. I believe this to live an old bespeak the Avotombo clan of the Ambomu. Junker has on his map "Mambelli, a Zande tribe", inward Ngangi's old kingdom (between 28' together with 29' Long. E. together with 5' together with 6' Lat. N.) Czekanowski also shows them, inward the same position, inward his ethnographic map together with expresses the sentiment (p. 23) that they are of the same stock every bit the Ambili, who are mentioned later. If this people was i time a distinct ethnic group, it has disappeared today. The same must live said of diverse other groups mentioned yesteryear Junker-Marango, Amasilli, Shirwas, Ababullos, etc.-some of which may figure inward this business concern human relationship nether other names, spell others seem to take hold disappeared.
Zande women together with children inward homestead.
When nosotros speak of land of study peoples it must live understood that spell in that location for certain was some discrimination together with some what Major Larken, inward speaking (p. 238) of the handling meted out to the Apambia yesteryear the Azande, calls bullying, to say that these peoples were inward a servile seat would, at whatever charge per unit of measurement usually, live an exaggeration. It is truthful that the Akare together with Basiri take hold been called slaves together with serfs, e.g. yesteryear Schweinfurth (11, pp. 395-6) " together with Chaltin (Lotar, pp. 250-1 ), together with it is possible that this
was indeeed the instance inward the westward where nether Arab influence trading inward slaves seems to take hold been practiced yesteryear some of the Avongara rulers (Schweinfurth, 11, pp. 417-8 together with 430), but it was the traditional Zande policy to encourage submitted peoples to take Avongara regulation voluntarily, to remain inward their homes, together with to go Azande; together with i of the main principles inward that policy was indirect rule. We are told fourth dimension together with i time to a greater extent than yesteryear our authorities that i time a people submitted they were left amongst their own
chiefs. I take hold already cited Van den Plas to this effect inward the instance of the Abandiya together with the Abararnbo (p. 2 1), together with the same author speaks inward the same way of the Ahangbinda together with the Basiri (pp. 16-17) .35 Professor Tucker ( 1931, p. 54) asserts the same of the Mbegumba together with the Mberidi, together with other authors could live quoted inward back upwards of the contention, which is really much my ain sentiment from what I observed amid the Bongo, Baka, Abuguru, together with other peoples. All that was asked of the land of study peoples was recognition of Avongara suzerainty, that they should maintain the peace, together with a payment of tribute inward labour together with inward sort to their rulers which was no to a greater extent than than Azande commoners contributed towards the upkeep of the courts. Bit yesteryear flake Azande infiltrated amid them together with married amongst them.
Commoners of standing settled amid them together with encouraged them to adopt Zande habits together with to speak the Zande natural language yesteryear offering them hospitality-it is through bakinde, porridge, Azande say, that men are subjugated ( z o g a ) , together with yesteryear justice. They say "Azande nu ra fu agbia mbiko gngama ae", "Azande
land of study themselves to the princes on business concern human relationship of the gifts they have from them." Finally some princeling was sent yesteryear his begetter to regulation them or did so on his ain initiative, together with through his courtroom the people became to a greater extent than familiar amongst Zande institutions.
That such peoples every bit take hold retained their ain languages together with to some extent their traditional way of life take hold been able to do so is doubtless inward component subdivision due to the imposition of European regulation but it is also inward component subdivision due to the fact that Azande treated, what they considered, inward their sophisticated way, to live barbaric
unusual usages amongst good-humored tolerance, together with also inward component subdivision to the farther fact that often, similar so many little peoples inward other parts of the world. these conies dwelt amid the rocks: fifty-fifty the names of some of them dot this, e.g. Apambia together with Belanda both hateful hill-men.
The iii principal land of study peoples inward the north, all speaking their ain languaqes every bit good every bit Zande, the offset 2 Sudanic tongues together with the tertiary a Bantu tongue, but solely nether Zande domination, are the Apambia, the Basiri (Sere), together with the Akare. Only the main areas of their line of piece of work are mentioned. There are pockets of them elsewhere, together with really many of them take hold been absorbed yesteryear the Azande. The Apambia alive amid the granitic hills forming the crest of the Nile-Congo split upwards to the N of Lat. 5" N. Tembura boy of Liwa established his regulation over them; together with they shape today a large chemical element inward the ethnic composition of the expanse ruled yesteryear his boy Renzi together with inward the old kingdom of Ezo. Some of their clans inward these regions are. Abadugu, Avuzukpo, Abakpa, Avonamangi, Abakumo, Avugioro, Ambaragba, Abamerenge, Andugu, together with Abakowe. The 2 largest groups of Basiri are betwixt the
Boku together with the Kere together with to the N together with S of the Mbomu betwixt Long. 26' together with 27' E. There are also pockets of them inward the Sudan. Van den Plas remarks (p. 16) that of all the peoples submitted to the Azande, they together with the Momvu take hold been the most refractory to the civilization of the conqueror; together with de Calonne notes (p. 14) that Zandeization is to a greater extent than advanced amid such Bantu peoples every bit the Abangbinda together with the Abuguru than amid peoples culturally nearer to the Azande, such every bit the Basiri. However, Schweinfurth (11, pp. 395-6) says that many of them had been assimilated to the Azande yesteryear 187 1 . The Akare shape a compact grouping on both banks of the Mbomu betwixt 25' together with 27' Long. E. In the French Congo they are, says Van den Plas (p. 15);' mixed amongst Banda, Gobo, together with Nza k a r a. In the same part in that location is a little people called Biri, plainly silent speaking their ancient Sudanic natural language to
the due east of the Mbomu-Shinko confluence (Baxter together with Butt, p. 33) on the potency of Von Weise together with Kaiser-Walden; they are also mcntioncd yesteryear Capenny (p. 313) every bit abode on the middle course of study of the Warra. Some of their clans found amid the Azande, almost exclusively on or to the due east of the Sueh, are: Ababaimo, Abakaya, Abagende, Ababanduo, Abaali, Abakpanda, Abakango, Ababali, Abamage, Abandagburu, Abangbandili, Abagiali, Abaruouro, Abadugumu, Ababamuru, Abadangasa, and
Abangbapere. To the due east of the Sueh they are, on my calculations, over a quarter of the Zande population.
An Azande playing a harp. Photographed yesteryear Herbert Lang inward Bafuka's village, March 1913. (Courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History
Another people at nowadays conlpletely nether Zande domination are the Bantu Abuguru (Babukur), though they silent speak Liguru every bit good every bit Zande. One department of them occupies the crest of the Nile-Congo split upwards betwixt the eastern sources of the Sueh together with the sources of the hferidi together with some other occupies a stretch of province inward the valley of the Sueh to the N of Yambio, the Azande having driven a wedge betwixt the 2 sections. Smaller groups are found elsewhere. They were offset subjugated yesteryear Renzi together with Bazingbi, sons of Yakpati. The Huma, who speak a linguistic communication almost identical amongst Liguru, mostly alive inward the hills on the Sueh-Iba watershed, miles to the N.E. of Tembura.
They were brought into subjection yesteryear Tembura. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 set out of other peoples are inward component subdivision ruled yesteryear the Avongara. Those inward the S are members of the Mangbetu cluster. When the Azande began to force southwards from the Uele they met amongst strong resistance from the Sudanic Mangbetu, who at that
fourth dimension had a highly developed political organisation embracing a set out of peoples, Medje, Makere, Momvu, Mangbele, together with others, ruled, similar the Azande yesteryear the Avongara, yesteryear the Mangbetu aristocracy, which has given its scream to the whole complex of peoples. Nevertheless, they made some advance together with they took over farther territories when, after 1870, Egyptian forces had broken the powerfulness of the Mangbetu kings. As recorded earlier, some of the Medje (the Mabisanga) take hold at nowadays go Azande,
together with it seems that others inward the N are ruled yesteryear Avongara (Baxter together with Butt, p. 48). They were subjugated yesteryear the Zande virile somebody monarch Kipa together with placed yesteryear him nether the regulation of his boy Bakangai.
They are said to be, though much mixed amongst Azande, a compact grouping speaking their ain natural language together with Zande only when it is required of them. In almost 1885 Ukwe boy of Wando inward a motion against the Momvu pursued them every bit far S every bit the Bomokandi together with subjugated them betwixt that river together with the Kibali.
1892 Wood Engraving Azande Warriors Dog Nyam-Nyam Hut Dwelling Congo Africa Slom
They have, however, kept their ain linguistic communication together with manners together with customs, speaking Zande only when necessary. Their resistance to Zande influence may live due inward component subdivision to the arrival of the Belgians shortly after Ukwe's campaign. Other sections of the Momvu are subjects of the Mangbetu together with yet others take hold retained their independence. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grouping of the Mangbele on the left banking concern of the Uele, from the lower Gada to the Mapuse rapids, were defeated yesteryear Kipa but subsequently came i time to a greater extent than nether Mangbetu rule. Some of the Mangbele are independent together with others are ruled yesteryear Avongara together with Mangbetu. Originally a Bantu people,
they at nowadays speak a Sudanic language. Van den Plas speaks (pp. 18-19) of the Ambili people, Bantu who take hold to a large extent go completely Zandeised.
Those who alive compactly inward the part of Bondo (just westward of 24OE. together with exactly S of 4ON.) take hold kept their old language, though, having been land of study to the Avongara for several generations, they also speak Zande. They seem to live component subdivision of the particular Zande complex known every bit the Azande-Abile. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 set out of peoples living on the northern confines of Zandeland are, or were, wholely or inward part, nether Avongara dominion.
Two of these peoples take hold long been grouped together inward literature every bit the Belanda, a Bongo term, together with are referred to yesteryear the Azande every bit Abari. Though much intermingled, they are culturally quite distinct, the one, the Mberidi (Bor), beingness a Nilotic people related to the Luo, together with the other, the Mbegumba (Bviri), a Sudanic people speaking a dialect of the linguistic communication of the Basiri. One department of these peoples today alive betwixt the Sueh together with Iba rivers together with Lat. 5' together with 6ON. together with other groups betwixt the Sueh together with the Wau. Faced amongst Arab persecution from the N they chose to submit to the Avongara. Both peoples take hold preserved their languages together with customs, though each speaks the linguistic communication of the other every bit good every bit their own, together with both speak also Zande together with take hold been much influenced culturally yesteryear the Azande inward other ways. Some of the Belanda settled permanently inward Zande country, where they take hold been absorbed.
The Bongo, a Sudanic people whom Schweinfurth (I, pp. 257- 60) reckoned inward 1870 to set out some 100,000, scattered over an expanse of nearly 9,000 sq. miles betwixt Lat. 6' together with 8'N., were unable to resist enslavement yesteryear the Arabs, together with some communities fled to the S to seek refuge amongst the Avongara rulers Tembura, Gbudwe, together with Mange. Others sought, yesteryear moving to the south, to escape the Arabs together with also to save their independence but were attacked yesteryear these Avongara together with forced to take their overlordship. Such Bongo speak Zande every bit good every bit their ain language.
In Schweinfurth's twenty-four hr catamenia ( 1870-187 1 ) Azande were spread to the N roughly every bit far every bit Lat. 6' 30" together with they were inward line of piece of work of most of the same territory when Junker was inward Zandeland 10 years later, but the most northern areas, ruled inward Schweinfurth's twenty-four hr catamenia yesteryear Mofio together with Solongo, every bit he calls them, had been lost to the Avongara yesteryear almost 1874 (Capenny, p. 310), so that such Azande every bit were there, known, Junker says ( 1891, p. xi 2) , every bit Diggas, no longer had a seat of ascendency but lived inward mutual dependence on the Egyptian Government amongst peoples who had i time been their vassals together with amongst whom they were yesteryear this fourth dimension really mixed. These were, inward add-on to groups of peoples already mentioned-Basiri, Bongo, together with Pambia-the Golo together with some of the Kreish (Gbaya); together with to these peoples mentioned yesteryear Junker nosotros must add together the most easternly department of the Banda nation together with some really little peoples- Ndogo, Bai together with Togbu. All these peoples speak their ain Sudanic languages but they also speak Zande amongst varying proficiency.
Portrait of a Zande (Makaraka) warrior
Junker tells us that some sections of some of these northern peoples had already yesteryear his fourth dimension migrated
to the S to seek protection inward the powerful Avongara kingdoms from the Arabo-Nubians. If the Zande expansion to the N on the whole met amongst weak resistance till countered yesteryear the Arab intrusion so that nosotros can, amongst some latitude, it is true, listing the peoples of that part nether the heading of land of study peoples, inward the due east together with northeast resistance yesteryear some little peoples was non sufficiently or on a large plenty scale overcome before the Egyptian Government established military machine posts inward the expanse for us to force them every bit land of study peoples, except perhaps inward the instance of the Baka. De Calonne says that the Baka on the Aka together with Garamba were subjugated yesteryear Wando, together with fifty-fifty those who are independent of Avongara regulation inward the Sudan take hold been much influenced yesteryear Azande, whose natural language is widely known amid them. Had it non been for Arab intervention they together with the other peoples of the expanse would take hold inevitably been brought into consummate subjection, for they were unorganized together with disunited. As it was, they were raided together with displaced yesteryear both the Avongara together with the Adio, who took captives whose descendants are found amid the Azande today. There must also take hold been some plane of
social contact betwixt them together with the Azande, for it is seldom that i fails to uncovering amid them individuals who sympathize Zande.
The peoples raided together with sometimes displaced yesteryear the Azande inward this expanse but cannot live said to take hold been subjugated yesteryear them to whatever extent, or fifty-fifty at all, are the Sudanic Mundu, Avukaya together with so-called Jur peoples (Beli, Sofi, etc.), the Moro peoples (Moro Kodo, Moro Meza, etc.), together with the Logo; together with the
Nilo-Hamitic Fajelu together with Kakwa. It would seem that individuals, together with perhaps sometimes little groups, of all these peoples take hold contributed to the ethnic composition of the Azande.
Some southern peoples who seem to take hold contributed, though inward little numbers, to the formation of the Azande nation are briefly mentioned. De Calonne says (pp. 73-4)49 that the Mabudu, a Bantu people living today to the S of the Mangbetu cluster, were defeated yesteryear Kipa's sons who, however, subsequently withdrew northwards. The Ababua stoutly resisted the Azande, but the lack of unity amid the communities of this Bantu people told against them together with they had already had to yield to the Avongara a stretch of their province to the N when the Belgian line of piece of work stopped farther encroachments. The Mayogo, of the Mangbetu cluster, appear to take hold had really limited contacts amongst the Azande. The Mobenge (Benge) shape the most northern component subdivision of the Bantu Mobati, living exactly S of the Uele betwixt Long. 23' together with 24' E. Burrows (p. 19) says that they are dominated yesteryear the Azande, to whom they pay tribute. Capenny asserts (p. 312)51 that they were subjugated yesteryear Jabbir, "a boy of a Zande prince" (p. 85). Van Bulck together with Hackett (p. 79)53 say that they take hold been largely overrun yesteryear Abandiya together with Azande. Zande domination yesteryear this people is non mentioned yesteryear our other sources. The Bakango are the riverains of the Uele betwixt Bambili together with Bondo. They do not, however, appear to live a distinct ethnic group, but sections of Azande, Ababua, together with other peoples. Pygmies are sometimes met inward the
most southernly extensions of Zandeland, e.g. inward the valley of the Poko, tributary of the Bomokandi (Czekanowski, p. 25).
For convenience I tabular array the peoples who take hold inward i way or some other together with inward varying degrees contributed to the Zande complex, the tabular array serving the farther purpose of key to the sketch-map. Forty different peoples are listed. Some peoples who mightiness good take hold been entered separately appear nether a single title, the "Jur" together with "Moro" peoples for example, or the "Medje" (the Mabisanga department are in all probability Bantu inward origin). Had they been given separate entries together with had some doubtful cases (mentioned yesteryear Junker, Van den Plas, together with others) been included, e.g. Apagumba, Mambelli, etc., nosotros could assert that,
together amongst the Ambomu, at to the lowest degree 50 different peoples take hold contributed to this vast ethnic amalgam; together with it may fifty-fifty be, for nosotros seldom take hold sufficient data to decide, that some of these peoples, every bit would appear to live the instance amongst the Abandiya, were themselves composed of heterogeneous stocks.
Azande Warriors
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