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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Lugbara Illness Beliefs and Social Change |
Author: | Barnes-Dean, Virginia Lee |
Year: | 1986 |
Periodical: | Africa: Journal of the International African Institute |
Volume: | 56 |
Issue: | 3 |
Pages: | 334-351 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Uganda |
Subjects: | Lugbara traditional medicine Religion and Witchcraft Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) |
External links: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/1160688 https://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pao:&rft_dat=xri:pao:article:4011-1986-056-00-000020 |
Abstract: | Study of the shifts, between 1950 and 1973, in the classification of illness and in the way diagnosis and treatment are carried out among the Lugbara, Uganda. In traditional Lugbara culture the medical system of diagnosis and treatment reflected the all-encompassing importance of the patrilineage: most illnesses were said to be sent by patrilineal ancestors, and only when this possibility was discounted did people turn to seek the cause of illness in witchcraft and sorcery. In the new medical system sorcery seems to function as patrilineal illness did in the old system. The present diagnostic process is much shallower and involves much less social networking of the sick person. The study confirms the hypothesis that beliefs about the causes of illness and aspects of the diagnostic and treatment system are sensitive indicators of social change. App. (Lugbara illness correlated with English glosses; three cases of sorcery), bibliogr., sum. in French. |