AfricaBib 
bibliographic database
| Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | Swazi Royal Ritual |
| Author: | Beidelman, Thomas O. |
| Year: | 1966 |
| Periodical: | Africa: Journal of the International African Institute |
| Volume: | 36 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| Period: | October |
| Pages: | 373-405 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Swaziland - Eswatini |
| Subjects: | kingship rituals Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) |
| External links: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/1158048 https://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pao:&rft_dat=xri:pao:article:4011-1966-036-00-000028 |
| Abstract: | Gluckman's 'Rituals of Rebellion in South-East Africa'(1954), although providing interesting insights, focuses upon a very narrow aspect of ritual and in so doing diverts attention from the main themes and purposes of such rites. Before one can write about the various themes in rites one must understand the symbolic vocabulary and grammar used by a particular society. Gluckman does not seem to have made such initial analysis and this has led him to misplaced emphases and misinterpretations. To demonstrate this the author of the present paper considers the main Swazi royal rites of Incwala. The remainder of the paper; 1.) presentation of what seem to be the basic concepts and values behind the main royal rites for the Swazi people = a Swazi cosmology; 2) discussion of the most important of these rites in order to indicate how they conform to the preceding analysis and how they relate to Swazi kingship and society; also many points questioned in Gluckman's interpretation are indicated; 3) discussion of some of the possible implications which such analysis may have for understanding ritual. Bibliography; French summary. |
