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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Ancestors as Elders in Africa: Further Thoughts
Author:Brain, James L.
Year:1973
Periodical:Africa: Journal of the International African Institute
Volume:43
Issue:2
Period:April
Pages:122-133
Language:English
Geographic terms:Subsaharan Africa
Tanzania
Subjects:ancestor worship
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External links:https://www.jstor.org/stable/1159324
https://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pao:&rft_dat=xri:pao:article:4011-1973-043-00-000011
Abstract:According to Kopytoff ('Ancestors as Elders in Africa', Africa, 41 (1971), 2), in Bantu languages there is no difference between dead ancestors and living elders and the power of the category of 'ancestral spirit' is not different from that possessed by living elders. According to the author Bantu languages do have a word for 'ancestral spirit'. (He gives a lot of examples). So his conclusion is that the term 'ancestor worship', but not 'ancestor cult' is semantically inappropriate. Examples from different African countries are given with emphasis on Tanzania. Ref., notes, summary.
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