Papers on witchcraft and African custom, 1931-1947
folder
Held at the Weston Library
Comprises:
- (fols. 1-24) papers dealing with the case of witchcraft, heard before I.L. Robinson, Magistrate, at Manyoni, 1931-1932
- (fols. 25-72) papers dealing with the case of Balagula s/o Lutamba, charged with possessing instruments of witchcraft, 1938
- (fols. 73-97) papers dealing with the case of Ranadhani, charged with exercising witchcraft, including letters from the Registrar and Wilson to the District Commissioner, Dodoma, and a report by Leslie Matola, 1942
- (fols. 98-109) article on the mutilation of dead bodies for purposes of witchcraft, and notes by L[eslie] M[atola] on the meaning of some Swahili names, n.d.
- (fols. 110-116) two detailed reports on women being killed by members of their families due to being suspected of witchcraft, Sep 1942
- (fols. 117-119) report on the mutilation of the corpse of a pregnant woman, to make hunting medicine, 1943
- (fols. 120-121) deposition of a witch doctor, containing reference to a medicine made from the Datura plant [?], 1943
- (fols. 122-127) notes on proposed prosecution of Ayubu s/o Saidi for administering medicine to women of the Wa-rufiji, to take away their powers of witchcraft, n.d.
- (fol. 128) notes on the origins and meanings of tribe names, n.d.
- (fols. 129-131) article on 'Wasambo' (thieves who employ witchcraft) and their use of the Datura plant, n.d.
- (fols. 132-133) article on the matrimonial tie unbroken even by death, n.d.
- (fols. 134-139) note on witchcraft in Uganda with covering letter from 'Tom' to Wilson; some notes by Wilson in his own hand; and a typed extract from a judgement, headed 'Psychological Healing', 1944
- (fols. 140-150) papers on witchcraft by Leslie Matola with covering letter to the Acting Chief Justice. The papers describe various 'ordeals', and the use of the Datura plant, and mention cases of witchcraft in Kenya and Zanzibar, 2 Jan 1945
- (fols. 151-154) note on witch doctors and a court case by Colonel L.B. Cane, n.d.
- (fol. 155) account of a case of 'Witchcraft' used for immoral purposes, n.d.
- (fols. 156-169) note by Leslie Matola on the Wakindiga and other people groups; on rock drawings found covered with 'green enamel' near Songa; and translations into various African languages of the Oath and lists of numerals, 1945
- (fols. 170) notes about a charge of homicide, to be brought in connection with a civil charge, n.d.
- (fols. 171-173) pages from the newspaper Tanganyika Standard, with an account of a witchcraft case at Morogoro, which involved mutilation of corpses, 27 Nov 1946
- (fols. 174-176) extracts from three cases of 'Lion Man' murders in Singida district, 1946-1947.
Dates
- Creation: 1931-1947
Extent
176 Leaves
Language of Materials
- English
Shelfmark
MSS. Afr. s. 592/8, folder 3
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk