ABSTRACT

Originally published in 1967, this book is a study of witchcraft and sorcery among the Shona, Ndebele and Kalanga peoples of Zimbabwe. It analyses in their social context verbatim evidence and confessions from a comprehensive series of judicial records. It provides the first systematic demonstration of the importance and the exstent to which such sources can be used to make a detailed analysis of the character and range of beliefs and motives. The main emphasis is on witchcraft and sorcery beliefs, the nature of accusations, confessions and divination, btoh traditional and as practised by members of the Pentecostal Church.

chapter |39 pages

Introduction

part I|26 pages

Evidence and Confessions of Wizardry

part II|64 pages

The Nature of Wizardry Beliefs

chapter III|7 pages

The Basis of Wizardry Beliefs

chapter IV|20 pages

Witchcraft and Religion

chapter V|14 pages

Witchcraft and Misfortune

chapter VI|3 pages

The Making of a Shona Witch

chapter VII|16 pages

Beliefs in the Manifestations of Witchcraft

chapter VIII|3 pages

Protection Against Wizardry

part III|114 pages

The Allegation Of Wizardry

chapter IX|31 pages

The Pattern of Accusations

chapter XI|3 pages

Divination in General

chapter XII|26 pages

Traditional Diviners and Divination Methods

chapter XIII|4 pages

The Supernatural Indication of a Wizard

chapter XIV|1 pages

Shona Names

chapter XV|8 pages

The Ordeal

chapter XVI|22 pages

Divination in the Pentecostal Churches

part IV|52 pages

The Consequences of the Allegation of Wizardry

chapter XVII|15 pages

Behaviour of Persons Involved

chapter XVIII|6 pages

Magical Vengeance Against a Wizard

chapter XIX|6 pages

The Cure of the Wizard’s Victim

chapter XX|5 pages

The Cure of the Witch

chapter XXI|19 pages

Conclusion