Beliefs in magic and witchcraft are both rational and have a social function in the social context in which they occur: discuss in relation to ethnography.
Understanding the social function in the social context of magic and witchcraft, depended upon an understanding the meaning of magic and witchcraft. A well known British anthropologist Edward Evans- Pritchard, have study a group of African people call Azande, a tribe of Southern Sudan. According to his theory witchcraft and magic have different connotation in Zande culture and they have been distinguished. The word ‘mangu’ is translated as ‘witchcraft’ and in certain respect witchcraft and sorcery are similar. Both have common function, but their techniques are different. Witchcraft was said to be a psychic power which often inherited, it can be activated if the owner became angry or jealous, and this power are normally unconscious as well as limited to those with the substance in their body. Sorcery is skill which can be learnt by anyone and can be passed on through study. This skill also knows as “black magic” which can be defines as evil use of medicines. Both are used for pernicious private ends against the lives and property of law-abiding citizens. The word “ngwa” is
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They gain experience by the tuition of elder witches. The world is balance; some people believe it and some people don’t. This method has an advantage, “the witch is a person of social standing whom they do not wish to offend, or someone enjoying the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens, whom do not wish to humiliate. This system has a discouragement on people’s bad behaviour, as a result they will interact each other with manner and without unpleasantness, to avoid accusation. African people will understand that there is no end to possible misfortunes arise in routine task, it can only carries explanation to a logical conclusion. The wound on the toe is unable to heal because the bare feet are constantly receiving dirt. “Dr Johnson continued to believe that there was such a thing as witchcraft. , Introduction to Social Anthropology, MacMillan, 1999, chp 8. The English history has record the existence of witchcraft; organisation like Witchcraft Act in 1736 repealed the English Statutes against witchcraft. This is to avoid being accused of witchcraft and to avoid incurring the wrath of a witch. The person generally has a bad character; rude, dirty, jealous, bad temper and violent are most likely to have accusation put across. Despite all precaution, some injuries are unavoidable, but there are several different kind of magic which can provide a general protection for Zande’s travellers and huntsmen against the minor injuries. Therefore child is never accused of murder.
Approximate Word count =
1307
Approximate Pages =
5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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