Les Symboles Divinatoires: Analyse Socio-Culturelle d’une Technique de Divination des Cokwe de l’Angola (Ngombo Ya Cisuka)

Abstract

This study of the Cokwe divinatory basket is an original research from various points of view, and is the result of constant work that runs from 1971 to 1978. Alternating museum and bibliographic research with fieldwork, the author was able to obtain a minimum of information on each of the many symbols manipulated by the cokwe soothsayer. Moreover, and this being a necessary complement, we have enlightened the ritual context of this practice which stems from a special initiation, which is not the case for other less elaborate techniques. [...] [Coimbra, the 25 September 1978]