Nuer colwic ceremony
58 x 55 mm | Negative film nitrate
There are records relating to alternative images that we do not have scans for in the database:
1998.355.536.2 - Print gelatin silver , (58 x 55 mm )
1998.355.536.2 - Print gelatin silver , (58 x 55 mm )
Date of Print:
Unknown
Previous PRM Number:
EP.N.XI.77
Previous Other Number:
02 2
Accession Number:
1998.355.536.1
Description:
A group of men gathering around a sacrificed animal to see how it falls, an indication of the auspiciousness of the sacrifice.
The sacrifice has been made near the beer vessels arranged near a colwic shrine, erected for the spirit of a girl called Nyakewa killed by lightning.
This event was witnessed by Evans-Pritchard in 1936.
The colwic shrine, consisting of an mound of earth surrounded by offerings of tobacco with a sapling of the nyuot tree planted in the centre can be seen in other images.
Nyakewa was considered to have become a colwic, a spirit taken directly by God.
This specific intervention by the divine was considered so dangerous to all associated with the deceased that sacrifice is made by all relatives.
In all more than twenty animals were sacrificed over several days.
Photographer:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Date of Photo:
1936 October - November
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Wahda Nyueny
Group:
Nuer Leek Karlual
NamedPerson:
Nyakewa
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1966
Other Owners:
E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection
Class:
Religion , Ritual , Vessel
Keyword:
[Shrine] , Animal
Activity:
Ritual Activity
Event:
Sacrifice
Documentation:
Original catalogue lists in Manuscript Collections. Additional material in related documents files. [CM 27/9/2005]
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry [p.
98] 1966.27 [1 - 24] G[ift] PROFESSOR E.
E.
EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST.
OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD.
OXFORD 1966.27.1-16 S.
SUDAN.
NUER TRIBE.
Sixteen negative albums containing negatives
and
prints of photographs taken by donor during field-work.
All listed in albums.
Added Accession Book Entry - [p.
98 in right hand column, in pencil] Catalogue room.
Manual Catalogues [index taken from album book XI, ms ink] - 77. Colwic sacrifice
Manual Catalogues [index taken from album book XI, ms ink] - 77. Colwic sacrifice
Other Information:
In Nuer Religion (Oxford University Press 1974 [1957]), page 59, E-P mentions that the colwic ceremony for Nyakewa took place in the same village as the possession of Galuak by the spirit nai, an event that took place during E-P's fieldwork in Nyueny village among the Karlual in 1936.
[Chris Morton 16/6/2004]
Recorder:
Christopher Morton [4/8/2004] [Southern Sudan Project]
