Selective Borrowing? The Possibility of San Shamanistic Influence on Southern Bantu Divination and Healing Practices

Abstract

Two problems are addressed: the nature of possible San influence on the mediumistic divinatory practices of Nguni, and the reason for the uniqueness of the Nguni system among Southern Bantu generally. It is suggested that borrowing from San was highly selective and indeed only influenced the nature of the thwasa initiatory period, not divination as such. The reason for the Nguni adoption of mediumistic divination (rather than divination by the divining dice, as in all other groups) is to be found in female reaction to the strongly patrilineal (and patriarchal) character of Nguni social organization. *Received January 1998, revised March 1998