Comparative aspects of Luvale female puberty ritual

Bibliographic Data

ID2138367
AuthorsC M N White (corresponding author), J Chinjavata, L E Mukwato
Year1958
Volume17
Issue4
Pages204-220
Publication date1958-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAfrican Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-0184 • E-ISSN: 1469-2872
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00020185808707065
OpenAlexW2051259426
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited8

SYNOPSIS The Luvale female puberty ritual is examined against the comparative background of the Bemba rites, recently described by Dr A. Richards. The main contrasting features of Luvale and Bemba society are outlined. The sequences of events in the rites are then compared. The significance of the Luvale string games to take the place of the Bemba mbusa is of special note here. The interpretation of the Luvale ceremony is considered to bear out most of Richards's suggestions made from the Bemba ritual, except where differences in the structure of Luvale and Bemba societies produce variations. The paper then compares Luvale female and male puberty rites, and finds a close correspondence in their respective patterns. It is suggested that the parallelism of male and female rites in those tribes in which both occur should be examined on a wider comparative basis. Some additional data to supplement Richards's Appendix on chisungu ceremonies in Central Africa is furnished, and some examples of Luvale songs sung at the puberty rites are given

Archaeology · Art · Ceremony · Contradiction · Interpretation (philosophy · Linguistics · Literature · Parallelism (grammar · Sociology · Anthropology · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · Gender Studies · History · Philosophy

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