Remains of Ritual: Northern Gods in a Southern Land PDF
Preview Remains of Ritual: Northern Gods in a Southern Land
Remains of Ritual chicago studies in ethnomusicology A series edited by Philip V. Bohlman, Bruno Nettl, and Ronald Radano Editorial Board Margaret J. Kartomi Anthony Seeger Kay Kaufman Shelemay Martin H. Stokes Bonnie C. Wade Northern Gods in a Southern Land Remains of Ritual Steven M. Friedson The University of Chicago Press Chicago & London steven m. friedson is Regents Professor of Music and Anthropology at the University of North Texas and the author of Dancing Prophets: Musical Experience in Tumbuka Healing, published by the University of Chicago Press. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637 The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London © 2009 by The University of Chicago All rights reserved. Published 2009 Printed in the United States of America 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 1 2 3 4 5 ISBN-13: 978-0-226-26504-9 (cloth) ISBN-13: 978-0-226-26505-6 (paper) ISBN-10: 0-226-26504-8 (cloth) ISBN-10: 0-226-26505-6 (paper) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Friedson, Steven M. (Steven Michael), 1948– Remains of ritual : northern gods in a southern land / Steven M. Friedson. p. cm.—(Chicago studies in ethnomusicology) Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-226-26504-9 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-226-26505-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-226-26504-8 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-226-26505-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Ewe (African people)—Music— Religious aspects. 2. Music—Africa, West—Religious aspects. 3. Ewe (African people)—Rites and ceremonies. 4. Dance—Africa, West—Religious aspects. 5. Spirit possession—Africa, West. I. Title. ML350.F754 2009 781.7'9683374—dc22 2008011084 o The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. Angels (they say) don’t know whether it is the living they are moving among, or the dead. —rainer maria rilke, Duino Elegies Contents List of Illustrations ix Acknowledgments xi On Language xiii Note on Transcriptions xv Southern Lands 1 Northern Gods 7 Brekete Pantheon 13 1 Where Divine Horsemen Ride 15 2 Salah! Salah! 43 3 The Poured Gift 69 4 Deadland 97 5 The Rhythm of the Crossroads 123 6 Burials 155 Coda: Opening the Door 181 viii Contents Postlude 187 Notes 191 Glossary 215 Bibliography 219 Index 231 Additional materials can be found on www.remainsofritual.com. Illustrations Figures Frontispiece The Welcoming Fig. 1.1 Northern gods dancing at a triennial cow sacrifi ce following p. 14 Fig. 1.2 Bangle / Ketetsi as gorovodu fetish 24 Fig. 1.3 Brekete drummers kneeling out of respect for priests who are dancing 27 Fig. 1.4 Gorovoduwo fetishes gathered together in pans to receive the sacrifi ce 29 Fig. 1.5 Bosomfowo in sacrifi cial shirts singing ase songs 31 Fig. 1.6 Kunde 41 Fig. 2.1 Onset of possession 45 Fig. 2.2 Onset of possession 45 Fig. 2.3 Dreamer of salah 48 Fig. 2.4 Women at salah prayers 51 Fig. 2.5 Wives of Bangle and Wango at a salah 57 Fig. 3.1 Sɔfo Tɔsavi in “hunter’s” tunic with talismans 73 Fig. 3.2 Kunde gorovodu fetish 76 Fig. 3.3 Ablewa gorovodu fetish 76 Fig. 3.4 Sanya Kompo gorovodu fetish 77 Fig. 3.5 Wango gorovodu fetish 77 Fig. 3.6 Sɔfo Kwasi Anibra 95 Fig. 4.1 Painting of Kodzokuma on a shrine wall 102
The list of books you might like
