The focus of this studyl - the Gosha people, a section of whom speak a Bantu language called Chizigula, are said to be descendants of runaway or freed slaves who escaped along the Juba River. Over the last centuries they have reconstructed their communal and selfidentity: a relevant role in this process was played by the performance of certain rituals including dances organised according to matri-kin centred units cailed mviko. The word mviko is used to indicate both the matri-kin grouping as well as the actual ritual. Among the Chizigula speakers a matri-kin unit is also referred to as kolwa. People belonging to the same mviko would join together in performing certain dances and rituals as a propitiatory act. Such acts are considered fkndamental to achieve happiness in life. Whenever discontent, illness, infertility or misfortune of any sort occurs, divination acts (mnamulo in Chizigula, or faal in the Somali language) or dreams (sozi, in Chizigula) prescribe the performance of certain mviko rituals and dances. The very performance of these bring relief to the individuals or groups involved and people do not feel better unti1 the performances have been completed.
Matri-kin unit and the Power of the Dance: the Case of Ex-slaves Communities in Southern Somalia
DECLICH, FRANCESCA
1994
Abstract
The focus of this studyl - the Gosha people, a section of whom speak a Bantu language called Chizigula, are said to be descendants of runaway or freed slaves who escaped along the Juba River. Over the last centuries they have reconstructed their communal and selfidentity: a relevant role in this process was played by the performance of certain rituals including dances organised according to matri-kin centred units cailed mviko. The word mviko is used to indicate both the matri-kin grouping as well as the actual ritual. Among the Chizigula speakers a matri-kin unit is also referred to as kolwa. People belonging to the same mviko would join together in performing certain dances and rituals as a propitiatory act. Such acts are considered fkndamental to achieve happiness in life. Whenever discontent, illness, infertility or misfortune of any sort occurs, divination acts (mnamulo in Chizigula, or faal in the Somali language) or dreams (sozi, in Chizigula) prescribe the performance of certain mviko rituals and dances. The very performance of these bring relief to the individuals or groups involved and people do not feel better unti1 the performances have been completed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
