Themes in Spirit Possession in Ugandan Christianity
International Journal of Modern Anthropology April 1, 2013 R. James 2 citations
Spirit possession and belief in witches and curses are common in Uganda. Many possession stories share themes, especially sex as a motif for deviance and evil, and all contact with spirits is considered fundamentally dangerous. Comparing interviews and observations from Uganda with the book 'Saved from the Powers of Darkness', Ugandan cultural traditions, and Ugandan experiences of terrorism suggests Nigerian influence on some Ugandan expressions of spirit possession, though Ugandan traditions and experiences are probably more important overall. Breaking witches' curses can be a cohesive community activity, and casting out spirits is linked to a desire for moral reform. The evidence supports Horton's idea that spirit possession is a way to theorize the world to understand and affect it.