Death by Magic: Kinship and Reflection

Now, every culture has an idea of life after death, according to my Anthropology lecture class, it is one of the few things every culture has in common. However, in looking at my last post, which is essentially about the cause of death rather than what happens after (which by the way, Azande believe that we become spirits that reside by rivers…) I decided that what this shows most about the Azande is the importance of their kin groups.

Now, kinship, among the Azande, usually refers to a clan’s blood line, their blood kin. (their consanguinial relatives) This may seem like a random topic in a blog about witchcraft, however, lineage and kinship is very important to the Azande belief in magic.

For one, it is believed that mangu is passed down through mothers. So observing the matrilineage in a clan can help discover who is a witch. (though, their powers may never manifest or become useful) Also, loyalty and duty to one’s kin is the basis for the aforementioned vengeance magic. Your kin group, your family, is important enough to kill over. In fact, they are expected to either exact compensation (usually a large monetary or goods compensation) or vengeance magic. (This also depends if you can find the witch through the Poison Oracle, which you are also expected to do)

In my own culture, family is also important. At least, in my family, one is expected to keep in contact, celebrate each other’s birthdays, and spend Christmas together. But it seems in comparison to the Azande, we are not close at all. If one of my family members was killed (by witchcraft, or no) vengeance of any sort (other than the legal kind) would be highly frowned upon. This actually made me question my own ideas of vengeance a little. It got me thinking about the whole “turn the other cheek” sort of proverb my culture perpetrates. (Or at least, what my own personal culture tells me) Sure I would want some vengeance, but I don’t think I would go so far as to kill, and yet in this close-knit kinship in the Azande, it’s expected. It’s even disloyal if you do not.