animismpowers. Thus, ancestors introduce disorder into the beer, which excites
the drinker and motivates him to establish the ancestor in the cult.
Although ancestors possess authority over the living, they may behave
capriciously or ambivalently in the sense they can behave punitively or
benevolently. Because the deceased is a kind and generous person while
alive, this does not necessarily mean that they will act the same way
when they become ancestors. As a general rule, ancestors can only inter-
vene where they have authority. For those who break the social norms,
the ancestors dispense punishment. Among the Apache of the American
southwest, ancestral punishment is called ghost sickness, owl sickness,
or darkness sickness. It is called owl sickness, for instance, because a
ghost returns in the form of an owl. Symptoms of the disease include
irregular beating of the heart, choking sensations, and faintness. Other
accompanying symptoms are trembling, weeping, and headache, which
are all symptomatic of fright.
If we consider the relationship between an ancestor and the living, the
latter owe obedience, economic service, and respect to the ancestor.
Among the Lo Dagaa of Africa, a person is obligated to return to the
ancestor any wealth acquired by inheritance. This can mean, for instance,
that an heir must periodically sacrifice a portion of livestock to the ances-
tor. Not only do ancestors intervene in human affairs, and punish the
living, they also have the power to ward off evil and misfortune. A witch
among the Lovedu, a Bantu people of Africa, cannot kill a person without
the consent of an ancestor, and medicines are ineffective without the
cooperation of ancestors. Finally, it is common to find the living appeal-
ing to ancestors for good crops, fertility, good fortune, and success.
Although ancestors have an intimate relationship with the living, they
also have an independent existence in the afterlife. Among the Ashanti
of Africa, there is a world of spirits where all ancestors live a life similar
to that on earth. In the culture of the Mende of Sierra Leone, the life of
ancestors is also similar to that of people on earth.
Further reading: Colson (1962); Jordan (1969); Opler (1965); Rattray (1969);
Ray (1976); Turner (1968); Xu (1948)
ANIMISM
This concept is derived from the Latin term anima (spirit), which is a
belief that things within nature – animate and sometimes inanimate – are
energized by spirits. Animism is most often a feature of some indigenous