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| Title: | The Shilluk of Southern Sudan |
| Editors: | Curling, Christopher Howell, Paul Kunijwok, Walter Singer, André |
| Year: | 1976 |
| Language: | nic |
| Series: | Dissappearing world series |
| City: | London |
| Publisher: | Royal Anthropological Institute |
| Geographic terms: | Sudan South Sudan |
| Subjects: | Shilluk monarchy traditional rulers kingship rituals videos (form) documentary films (form) |
| Abstract: | This film presents a compelling visual and aural analysis of Shilluk kingship in south Sudan in 1975, and provides a very useful complement to Evans-Pritchard's 1948 text, T´he Divine Kingship of the Shilluk.´ Although the Reth (king) has been reduced to the status of second-class magistrate in dispute settlement by the Sudanese government, he is still the focus of political and national identity for a Shilluk people composed of competing territorial groupings. At the death of the Reth, his spirit passes into the Nile. This film follows the procession of priests as they carry the effigy of Nyikang, the 16th-century founder of the Shilluk dynasty, and his son Dak on the pilgrimage from the Nile, retracing the movements of their conquest of the North, capturing the Reth and installing Nyikang. The journey is part of a spiritual renewal for the Shilluk, as well as a renewal of political unity which reaffirms the social order. The outcome of the journey is known, for the Reth-elect will be captured after a ritual battle, and only after being possessed by the spirit of Nyikang will he be installed as King. Thus, the office is seen to be more powerful than the man, and the continuity of divine kingship is affirmed. However, this is not simply a filmed version of the type of analysis provided in Evans-Pritchard's book, for it deals with the kingship in a quite different political context. For example, throughout the period which leads to his installation, the king-elect is guarded by government police who are not Shilluk. It is apparent that the future king accedes to office with the 'support' of the government, the 'mock' aspect of the ritual battle being somewhat confused by the very real presence of the guards and their disruptive effects on the proceedings. [Abstract reproduced from video]. |