ABSTRACT
Ritual has recently been described as that aspect of customary behaviour that makes statements about the hierarchical relations between people (Leach, 1968). This is vividly delineated in Audrey Richards's account of the chisungu ceremonies among the Bemba (1956). Her monograph is one of the very few that succeed in conveying the preoccupation with respect for authority that is so striking in the day-to-day life of certain African societies. Throughout, tIle chisungu rituals emphasize the importance of respecting chiefs, elders, the mistress-ofceremonies, all those older than the initiates, and especially their betrothed llusbands. This is done explicitly in the oftrepeated song which proclaims 'the arm-pit is not higher than the shoulder' (precedence is established at birth and not to be challenged). It is done through the miming of respect to seniors in the presenting of food and other offerings which occurs throughout the ceremonies. And one of the night-long rituals involves teasing the initiates until they weep, to make them show their respect for authority. Quite apart from those aspects of the rites themselves which focus concern on respect, there are many nuances of address, clothing, the manner in which food is proffered, greeting postures, and dance that implicitly reaffirm its importance.
