The Azande people, who inhabit the northern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and parts of South Sudan, have a rich cultural tradition that includes a belief in supernatural powers and the practice of various rituals and magic. Central to their beliefs is the idea that there is a constant interaction between the spiritual world and the physical world, and that this interaction can be harnessed through the performance of rituals and the use of magic. **Rituals** play an important role in Azande society, and they are performed for a variety of purposes. One common type of ritual is the rainmaking ceremony. Azande believe that rain is essential for the fertility of their crops, and so they perform rituals to appease the spirits and bring about rainfall. These rituals typically involve dance, music, and the sacrifice of animals.
These rituals typically involve dance, music, and the sacrifice of animals. The belief is that these actions will communicate with the supernatural world and invoke the spirits to bring rain. Another important ritual among the Azande is the healing ceremony.
Don't share photos of gang-rape: victim's father
The father of a 16-year-old girl who was gang-raped by as many as seven males at a Pitt Meadows party wants other teens to stop making his family's suffering worse.
Police and parents have been powerless to stop the spread of graphic photos of the sexual assaults, which have gone viral on Facebook and on cell phones, while other teens continue to make vicious, untrue statements about the victim online, said the father.
"The rape continues with all the photos and comments on Facebook," said the father, who CTV News has declined to name because that would identify the victim of a sexual assault. "It makes me sick."
"I want to appeal to parents to look at their kids' computers and cell phones. Delete these pictures if they have them, not for the fear of being arrested, but because it's the moral and ethical thing to do," he said.
He said his daughter went to the party at a residential acreage at 12993 Harris Road Friday night with several hundred other people, both teens and adults.
The father said her friends and had a safe meeting spot just in case anyone got lost. Somehow his daughter was separated from the group, and when her friends met up at the meeting spot she wasn't there.
Police say the girl had been drugged, taken to a nearby field, and repeatedly raped by as many as seven boys and men. Several people watched as the drugged girl was assaulted and took pictures.
Police were shocked by several posted comments that suggested the gang rape was consensual.
"I have never ever seen anything like it," Cpl. Jennifer Hyland told a Thursday morning press conference. "It's disgusting. I'm not saying it's not happened before, but morally, in this community, the comments that are being said about his victim and the insinuations that are being made…when we have the physical and medical evidence about the injuries this girl's suffered…it's disgusting to read what these youth are posting and even more disgusting that the photos are being shared and put onto more sites. I've never seen anything like it."
She said many youths contacted by police were uncooperative when asked to stop distribution of the photos. They continue to be distributed through social networking sites such as Facebook, and on Blackberrys and iPhones.
One boy has been arrested and charged with the production of child pornography.
The victim's father said he had been told by police that more charges are in the works for the rape itself.
He said the victim has little memory of the attacks, but had seen the pictures, which she found incredibly disturbing.
"I wouldn't want to see any parent go through this with their daughter. It's life changing," he said. "It's something that's going to be with us for the rest of our lives."
He said for now he is focussing on helping his family. But he also said that he will be exploring legal options for a potential lawsuit against the owners of the property for allowing the crime to take place on their property.
Records show the property is owned by Davinder and Amrik Mahal, who are the listed directors of Pitt Meadows Enterprises, which has several online posts describing the company as blueberry farmers.
A reporter from CTV News visited their residence, but even though people were inside the house, no one came to the door.
The girl's father says his daughter has not been to school but is hoping to return next week. He believes she is a strong young woman and will eventually bounce back.
"Until I die I will fight this battle for my daughter," the father said. "We will get through it."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jon Woodward
RELATED IMAGESThe father of a 16-year-old girl who was gang-raped by as many as seven males at a Pitt Meadows party wants other teens to stop making his family�s suffering worse.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jon Woodward
When someone falls ill, it is believed that their sickness is caused by supernatural forces. In order to cure the illness, a ritual must be performed to identify the cause and remove it. This often involves divination, in which the witch doctor communicates with the spiritual world to determine the cause of the illness and prescribe the appropriate treatment. **Magic**, or witchcraft, is also an integral part of Azande culture. There is a belief that certain individuals possess magical powers, which they can use for both good and evil purposes. These individuals, known as witches, are believed to have the ability to manipulate the spiritual world and cause harm to others. The Azande have elaborate systems for identifying witches and dealing with them. A witch doctor, or nganga, is called upon to perform divination to identify the witch, and then various rituals and sacrifices are performed to counteract the witch's powers. It is important to note that the Azande do not see rituals and magic as separate entities, but rather as interconnected practices that are used to manipulate the supernatural world. Rituals are seen as a means of communication with the spirits, while magic is seen as a way of harnessing supernatural powers for specific purposes. In conclusion, supernatural rituals and magic are deeply ingrained in the culture of the Azande people. These practices reflect their belief in the constant interaction between the spiritual and physical worlds, and their conviction that these interactions can be influenced through the performance of rituals and the use of magic. These rituals and magic play a central role in various aspects of Azande life, including the cultivation of crops, the healing of illnesses, and the identification and dealing with witches..
Reviews for "The Phenomenon of Possession and Ritual Mediumship among the Azande"
1. Emma - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Supernatural rituals and magic among the azande people". The book marketed itself as an in-depth exploration of the Azande culture and their supernatural practices, but it fell short in several aspects. The author often got too caught up in the intricate details of the rituals without providing any context or explanation, making it hard to follow along for readers who are not familiar with the subject. Additionally, the writing style was dry and lacked the storytelling element that could have made it more engaging. Overall, I found the book to be quite tedious and not as informative as I had hoped.
2. Michael - 2/5 - I had high expectations for "Supernatural rituals and magic among the azande people", but unfortunately, it didn't meet them. While the book did offer some insights into the Azande culture and their supernatural beliefs, it lacked a cohesive structure and clear focus. The author seemed to jump from one topic to another without providing a clear overarching narrative. As a result, I found myself feeling disconnected and struggling to stay engaged with the material. The book also lacked any sort of critical analysis or deeper exploration of the cultural implications of these rituals, which was a missed opportunity. Overall, I was left wanting more from this book and wouldn't highly recommend it.
3. Sarah - 3/5 - "Supernatural rituals and magic among the azande people" was an interesting read, but it didn't fully meet my expectations. While the book did shed light on the Azande culture and their supernatural practices, it lacked a clear structure and was at times difficult to follow. The author provided a lot of detailed information about the rituals and beliefs, but it felt overwhelming and lacked a cohesive narrative. Additionally, I would have liked to see more analysis and exploration of the cultural and historical context surrounding these practices. Overall, it was an okay read, but it could have been more comprehensive and engaging.
4. Mark - 1/5 - I really struggled with "Supernatural rituals and magic among the azande people". The book was incredibly dense and filled with jargon and academic language that made it almost inaccessible to a general reader like myself. The author seemed more interested in showcasing their expertise and knowledge than in making the subject matter understandable and relatable. As a result, I found myself lost and unable to connect with the material. Additionally, the lack of clear organization and structure made it even more challenging to follow along. Overall, I would not recommend this book unless you have a deep interest in anthropology and are willing to put in the effort to decipher its content.