The Azande

1. The Azande By: Amber and Stacey

2. History • Live in south-western Sudan, north of Zaire and east of Central African Republic • They developed sleeping sickness from the tse-tse fly, so authorities relocated them to concentrated settlements near roads

3. History continued • The clans that lived along the river were autonomous local groups • Azande tell of a person who’s wisdom and kindness, gained him power within the clan, the Avongara, and conquered more than 50 other clans which became the Azande group

4. Settlements • The home is the focus of their economic system • They are built of mud and grass framed on wooden poles, and thatched with grass • Each has a granary for millet and are built around courtyards • “Kitchen gardens” are planted adjacent to the courtyards, and are used to plant pineapple, mango, papaya, and other plants that are used immediately after picking

5. Courtyards • Courtyards are places for gathering and conversation, • Their upkeep is very important since they are evidence of the responsibility and status of their owners • It represents the structure of the households which it is attached to • Each women is required to have her own house and granary, so in a polygynous household the courtyard space is larger, than in a monogamous

6. Subsistence • They practice shifting cultivation • They cultivate maize, millet, gourds, pumpkins, manioc, bananas, groundnuts, and beans • They get their meat from hunting • In their region there’s plenty of rainfall and springs, so usable water is available year-round • Distance is measured by the number of streams between the points in question

7. Subsistence continued • The year has two seasons, a rainy and a dry • Rainy: • Land is cultivated • Dry: • Crops grow and are harvested • More hunting • Fish, smakes, and crustaceans are caught in the low rivers • Termites were a favorite food, rich in fat and protein

8. Manufacture • Each family was an independent unit of production • Iron tools were bride-wealth items • There was a sexual division of labor • There was little chance of inheritance of property because a person’s things were burned upon death • Men- repaired the house and granary • Women- maintained the courtyard and gardens • Woodworking, pottery, making clothing of bark, nets and baskets were their most important skills

9. Kinship and Chiefdoms • Clan affiliation is not stressed at the local level • They were organized into chiefdoms, each independent from the others • The Avongara were nobility, chiefs came from this lineage • Chiefs appointed emissaries (Avongara people) who manage sections of their territories • Chiefs were the military, economic, and political leaders

10. Warfare • Miles of unsettled land lay between chiefdoms, and this is where fights broke out • In the rainy season attacks were made on these borders by a provincial leader, without the Chief knowing

11. The Oracle and the Spy • A poison oracle was sought to tell what day and place for a raid, the number of casualties, and who should be the spy • An animal would be poisoned and its behavior interpreted • The spy would act like he is visiting a relative or wanting to trade, and gather information of the area that would be raided • They would usually raided on a feast day because the men would be unarmed and drunk • The spy could tell when the feast would be by the stage in the brewing process

12. Marriage • When a man wanted to marry a women he sent a intermediary to go to her father with the offer • The father discussed it with his brothers and sisters then with his daughter • If she agreed the money sent with the intermediary was accepted • Then the suitor would visit his promised bride’s parents, bringing gifts • The bride would also visit the suitor’s home for a “trial period” of several weeks, then she would com home and make her decision

13. Marriage continued • The suitor consulted oracles to determine whether the marriage would be a happy one • If both the bride and the oracle said the marriage would be successful, the women and her family went to the grooms home where the ceremony was held • Sealed by the installation of the wife’s cooking hearth • The husband was always in debt to his wife’s family, and had the responsibility to help in their fields, and mortuary obligations if one of them died

14. Homosexuality and Lesbianism • Homosexuality has been addressed because the unmarried warriors who spent years apart from women had relations with their apprentice warriors • Boy-wives • After this however they entered into hetero-sexual marriages • Lesbianism was practiced in polygamous homes • If the women wished to formalize their relationship they could do it in a ritual creating a permanent bond

15. Mbori • Is defined by Evans-Prichard as “a ghostly being to whom the creation of the world is attributed.” • They have no shrines to Mbori or any materials used in worship • They only have one ceremony that involves his name and is not preformed often

16. The Trickster Tales • Tales mainly serve to assert and affirm social rules. • Provided examples of consequence one can expect if moral dictates are not observed. • Told for benefit of children to supplement didactic social training. • Appeals to young audience by featuring main character who possess child’s curiosity and temptation to break rules.

17. Witchcraft • Mostly known for belief in witchcraft than any other aspect of culture • Thought to be actual physical property residing inside individuals, who might be unaware of their power • Believe if soul of father’s much stronger, the child born will be a boy, and same goes if mother’s is stronger • Supporting framework of entire judicial system

18. Witchcraft Continued • Child product of both mother and father, each having more of one particular parent • Witchcraft deployed by sheer willpower • “soul of the witchcraft” travels so Azande people more secure when distant from their neighbors • Believe witchcraft is base of ALL misfortune • No concept of “accidental” death, die only as victims of murder of either witches or magic of revenge

19. Oracles • Ask for guidance in planning marriage, taking a journey, building a house, organizing a raid • Oracle device for revelation • Most powerful benge, poison oracle used only by men • Older men likely to seek counsel from oracle • Poison elaborate procedure: poison poured on to small chicken. Expert must know how much and how much time between doses. Every movement counts that’s made from chicken

20. Oracles Continued • Termite oracle used often by women and men, and even children. • 2 branches cut from different trees, and inserted together into termite mound and left overnight. • Answer indicated by which branch was eaten. • More of a time consuming procedure because only 1 question at a time and wait over night to answer.

21. Oracles Continued • Least reliable is rubbing-board oracle, made of 2 small pieces of wood, easily carried anywhere. • 1 piece of wood carved w/ handle, and rubbed across top of second piece, fashioned w/ legs to stand on. • Questions answered as wood is moved, as sticks or catches answer revealed.

22. Accusing a Witch • 2 sorts of accusations of witchcraft: • When illness or misfortunate has occurred • After someone has died • Chicken dies during benge, wing cut off, placed on stick, and taken to local deputy of chief revealing the name of individual who has committed crime

23. Witchcraft as Social Control • Serves as effective agent of social control • Acts as leveling mechanism by keeping the wealth balanced, thus having the Azande not likely to attempt out producing each other