ABSTRACT
Because religion has undergone drastic suppression, this aspect of Chiga life will have to be described in rather bare outline. Although the British ban was actually directed against one particular cult, the cult of Nyabingi, the Chiga have interpreted it as a general one. Belief in the continued power of recently deceased relatives—abazimu—was a basic element in Chiga religion. Ghosts may smite their living relatives with disease to the second generation, afflicting grandchildren in either line, and even daughters-in-law, but not the wives of grandchildren, or subsequent descending generations, or even sons-in-law. Emandwa cults are described throughout this region, from Ankole, Ruanda, and elsewhere. They all involve the idea of some sort of spirit possession and secret initiation rites. In Ankole the emandwa were the spirits of ancient kings, the Chwezi. There were several of these and their worship was part of the organized State religion.
