Music and spirit possession at a Shona Bira
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21504/amj.v5i4.1620Abstract
During the year 1971-72 and the summers of 1974 and 1975, in which I carried out field research in Rhodesia on mbira music, I had the opportunity to attend as an observer and, at times, as a performer, over thirty spirit possession ceremonies held by members of the traditionalist segment of Shona culture. At these events villagers participate with tremendous energy and the intensity of their music is deeply moving. In this article, my aim is to describe the purpose underlying Shona spirit possession ceremonies as well as the nature of the music and the interaction among participants at these eventsReferences
Berliner, Paul. F, 1975, "The Vocal Styles Accompanying the Mbira DzaVadzimu”, Zambezia, forthcoming issue.
Garbett, G. Kingsley, 1969,"Spirit Mediums as Mediators in Valley Korekore Society”, Spirit Mediumship and Society in Africa. New York: Africans Publishing Corporation, p.104-127.
Gelfand , Michael, 1962, "Shona Ritual”. Cape Town: Juta & Co., Ltd.
Kauffman, Robert, 1969, "Some Aspects of Aesthetics in the Shona Music of Rhodesia”, Ethnomusicology, XIII, p.507-511.
Murphree, Marshall W., 1969,”Christianity and the Shona, New York”, Humanities Press, Inc.
Tracey, A. 1970,"How to Play the Mbira (Dza Vadzimu)”, Roodepoort, South Africa, International Library of African Music.
Tracey, H. 1969, "The Mbira Class of African Instruments in Rhodesia (1932)”, African Music, IV, 3, p.78-95.
Garbett, G. Kingsley, 1969,"Spirit Mediums as Mediators in Valley Korekore Society”, Spirit Mediumship and Society in Africa. New York: Africans Publishing Corporation, p.104-127.
Gelfand , Michael, 1962, "Shona Ritual”. Cape Town: Juta & Co., Ltd.
Kauffman, Robert, 1969, "Some Aspects of Aesthetics in the Shona Music of Rhodesia”, Ethnomusicology, XIII, p.507-511.
Murphree, Marshall W., 1969,”Christianity and the Shona, New York”, Humanities Press, Inc.
Tracey, A. 1970,"How to Play the Mbira (Dza Vadzimu)”, Roodepoort, South Africa, International Library of African Music.
Tracey, H. 1969, "The Mbira Class of African Instruments in Rhodesia (1932)”, African Music, IV, 3, p.78-95.
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Published
1975-11-30
How to Cite
Berliner, Paul. 1975. “Music and Spirit Possession at a Shona Bira”. African Music : Journal of the International Library of African Music 5 (4):130-39. https://doi.org/10.21504/amj.v5i4.1620.
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