Remnants of a rain-cult among the Acewa

SYNOPSIS The author draws attention to the functional significance of rain‐godesses in the traditional culture of the Cewa, a matrilinial people of Central Africa, and mentions a minor revival of the rain‐cult during a drought in 1948. He gives an account (originally rendered by a member of the Cewa) of the actual procedure during ceremonial quests for rain. The account describes briefly the status and mode of life of Cauta the female rain deity, gives an indication of the ritual procedure and sacrifice during rain ceremonies and contains a song sung on these occasions. The author concludes by drawing a distinction between Cauta the rain‐deity, and the Asumphi or rain‐priests drawn from the Banda‐clan, and mentions the use made of a type of trapdoor spider by these rain‐priests in order to forecast the advent of rain

Ancient history · Archaeology · Clan · Cult · Rainforest · Sacrifice · Sociology · African history and culture analysis · African history and culture studies · Anthropology · Caribbean and African Literature and Culture · Ecology · History

• The River-God and the Historians

  Open Access•Christopher Wrigley•The Journal of African History•1988

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