Author: Højbjerg, ChristianK.

Source: The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Volume 12, Number 3, September 2006 , pp. 625-641(17)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

This article explains the ritual symbolism of a sacrificial rite characteristic of the so-called `secret societies' of the conflict-ridden Upper Guinea forest and coastal region of West Africa. Whereas the political dimension of these secret societies or cults is relatively well known, very little knowledge exists about the ritual communication with imperceptible beings around which the cults are organized. It appears from the study of Loma ritual prayer that secret mask cults are typical self-referential entities constituted by a symbolism emerging from a reconfiguration in ritual speech of modes of relationships characteristic of the social structure of the Loma of Guinea and Liberia. Against recent anthropological theories of ritual which reject the idea that ritual can be defined as communication of meaning, it is argued that Loma sacrificial prayer conveys an essential `message' about the secret cult's constitution. In addition to an analysis of the recontextualization of modes of relationships that typifies Loma ritual prayer, the article also pays attention to indexical expressions in prayer which serve to negotiate social relationships and power relations external to the ritual context.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2006.00356.x

Publication date: 2006-09-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Anthropology & Archeology
• By this author: Højbjerg, ChristianK.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers