Chibale Zambia: possession cult groups
History of the possession cult groups
Chibale Zambia: possession cult groups. Most spirit possessed organise themselves in groups. In the course of history the association of these groups changed from the local, central cults to more peripheral cults of affliction, be it with some central functionalities.
In the past, one or two Kaluwe mediums formed the centre of a group of hunters. And one or more Ciwila mediums formed the centre of a music and/or dance group that roamed the area. In the beginning of the previous century, cult of affliction groups arose around the rare big Mashabe shing’anga and around minor, that is Kaluwe or Moba, shing’anga. These groups also may have included some Ciwila and Kaluwe possessed.
In the Fetulo period these groups disappeared.
In the 1980s and later, the Mwami possessed, most of the Ciwila possessed and some of the Kaluwe possessed were organised in cult of affliction groups. Only the few Ciwila and Kaluwe mediums who, because of their success, could place their mediumship within the framework of the older local cults were not members of a possession cult group.
At present, less Mwami possession cult groups are active in Chibale. Some Kaluwe mediums who are hunters themselves, still work in co-operative hunting groups. They perform the ritual functions necessary for successful hunting. A few Ciwila possessed (ing’omba) operate solo. They are invited for Cililo, Ipupo and cultural heritage occasions.
Composition of the possession cult groups
Chibale Zambia: possession cult groups. A shing’anga is the leader of the cult group. He or she has healed the members of the group.1The word shing’anga needs some further explanation. Anyone who is able to heal or to solve problems is called a shing’anga. So the herbalist, who can treat minor illnesses, and the diviner, who diagnoses minor problems, are called shing’anga. But also the exceptional person who is able to heal madness or other serious illnesses and problems. When comparing them, the former shing’anga are called ‘minor’ (munini) and the latter ‘big’ (mukalamba). In the 1980s, a few of the latter were also called ‘big’ when not comparing them with others. On this website, we refer with shing’anga to a possessed healer and cult leader. Anyone, who is suffering from possession illness or another serious illness can become a member of the cult group.
The possession cult groups are composed of a small number of possession illness patients called mwana (‘children’): people who are in the process of learning how to accommodate the possessing spirit, ten to fifty adepts (initiated possessed), zero to two apprentice shing’anga (mwanang’anga), and the shing’anga. The latter organises most and leads all of the gatherings of the cult group. He treats people suffering from possession illness as well as those inflicted by other serious (‘complicated’) illnesses or misfortune. For instance, barrenness, madness, and afflictions caused by witchcraft. For less serious (‘simple’) illnesses people visit the local Rural Health Centre where conventional Western healing methods are used. In the 1980s, the shing’anga and the Rural Health Centre referred certain types of patients to each other.
Rituals of the possession cult groups
Chibale Zambia: possession cult groups. Group contacts take place during and around the rituals, called Cibombe, that the shing’anga organises or that are organised under her guidance. The ritual can be directed to a special member of the group, all members of the group, or in honour of the spirits possessing the shing’anga. Certain other patients or ex-patients, notably women who were barren and have had a child after treatment by the shing’anga, are more or less loosely connected to the group. Apart from the group contacts for rituals, a member can visit the shing’anga for personal advice or treatment.
In the 1980s, a clear relationship existed between the success a person had during the possession rituals in dancing and in bringing songs and the importance of that person’s role in the cult group and the rituals it organised.
Footnotes
- 1The word shing’anga needs some further explanation. Anyone who is able to heal or to solve problems is called a shing’anga. So the herbalist, who can treat minor illnesses, and the diviner, who diagnoses minor problems, are called shing’anga. But also the exceptional person who is able to heal madness or other serious illnesses and problems. When comparing them, the former shing’anga are called ‘minor’ (munini) and the latter ‘big’ (mukalamba). In the 1980s, a few of the latter were also called ‘big’ when not comparing them with others. On this website, we refer with shing’anga to a possessed healer and cult leader.