E0153B: Zulu- Diviner's Bones

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E0153B-EE

Classification Category:

10:Unclassifiable Artifacts

Materials:

animal ➔ bone ➔ toe bones
animal ➔ shell

Dimensions:

31.1 cm L
19.5 cm W
15.7 cm H

Use/Function:

Among the Zulu the notion of disease (isifo) encompasses physical sickness together with misfortune and imbalance. Thus, anything that brings one into disharmony, be it with the environment or others can be perceived as potentially disease/illness causing. There are two types of traditional healers in many southern African tribes, including the Zulu: the diviner (Sangoma) or isiSangoma as they are known in plural and herbalists (inyanga). The Inyanga treats physical disease, whereas the Sangoma is concerned with the psychic world but may use similar media. Sangoma is usually a female, though not always. The Zulu bones divination system is worked with set of oracle bones, which are actual bones plus other objects like teeth or shell. These healers are highly revered and respected in a society where illness is thought to be caused by witchcraft, pollution (contact with impure objects or occurrences) or through neglect of the ancestors. In former times the training took approximately twenty five years. Today, as a rule, the training period covers a span of five to seven years - in cities, frequently only several months. The sangoma may otherwise lead a normal life and perhaps have a second job. Whereas the inyanga trains his son and the information is thus passed on from generation to generation.

Source Locality:

Natal, South Africa

Description:

Contents that make up the "Diviner's Bones". Includes 26 toe pieces and 4 shells. These bones were a method used by the diviner (sangoma) for diagnostic purposes. (for more information on the diviner see Diviner's bag description). Amatambo is the term connected to the use of divination via bones. The bones were thrown to assess a problem with an individual. They fell to the ground, not randomly, but with a way controlled by ancestral spirits. Each bone had a particular meaning. A diviner was able to interpret the meaning of the pattern to give a diagnosis.

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