Among the Tuareg people in the Air Mountain region of Niger; women are sometimes possessed by spirits called 'the people of solitude'. The evening curing rituals of the possessed; featuring drumming and song; take place before an audience of young men and women; who joke and flirt as the ritual unfolds. In her analysis of this tolerated but unofficial cult; Susan Rasmussen analyses symbolism and aesthetic values; provides case studies of possessed women; and reviews what local people think about the meaning of possession.
#7680943 in Books 1982-09Original language:English #File Name: 0049421751288 pages
Review