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Avatar of power: Southern Kuba masquerade figures in a funerary context

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2011

David A. Binkley
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Extract

The relationship of masquerade performance to social organization and to the differentiation of traditional power and authority in everyday life is scarcely noted in the literature on African ritual. And yet research among two Kuba-related groups (Northern Kete and Southern Bushoong) in south-central Zaire indicate an enduring relationship, such that we can better understand the one by examining the others. The appearance of masquerade figures during initiation rituals both reinforces and validates distinctions of power in Kuba culture. Furthermore, funerals for initiated men in conjunction with masquerade performance provide a setting in which some of the activities relating to these distinctions of power are acted out.

Résumé

Avatar de Puissance: figures de masquarade de Kete du nord et du Bushoong du sud dans un contexte funéraire

Les recherches effectuées sur le terrain parmi les Kuba du sud au Zaïre sud central semblent indiquer que les rites funéraires, tels que les rites d'initiation, confèrent un cadre qui renforce et valide les distinctions de l'autorité traditionnelle. Un élément majeur de l'acceptation de la sagesse traditionnelle ainsi que de l'autorité des aînés est réalisé par le truchement de figures de masquarade. Au cours des rites funéraires des Kuba du sud, un masque entre dans le village et parle au mauvais esprit du défunt tandis que la dépouille mortelle est exposée. Comme les connaissances ésotériques présentées au cours de l'initiation, la justification des paroles prononcées par le masque, et done l'autorité des détenteurs qui contrôlent son apparition, a lieu lorsque le mauvais esprit du défunt est supposé quitter le village paisiblement pour entrer dans le pays des morts. De plus, les funérailles apportent la scène rituelle principale pour la représentation de la richesse des genres de célébration visuels et verbaux qui font partie intégrante de l'expérience de l'initiation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 57 , Issue 1 , January 1987 , pp. 75 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1987

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