Doppia possessione, doppia inversione: breve storia di una coppia in Marocco

In Meknes over the last decade, a couple—a man possessed by a female spirit and a woman possessed by a male spirit—has become established in spirit possession contexts. Their life stories and marital relationship are deeply intertwined with experiences of the invisible world. Their alliance with spirits reveals a personal drama unfolding around daily life and ritual activities, and serves as proof of their expertise as rites officiants to the wider possession cult community. Hamid, possessed by female spirit Lalla Malika, is a specially qualified officiant of female possession rites. Iman, possessed by Jewish spirit David, embodies double otherness of gender and religious affiliation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In Meknes over the last decade a couple consisting of a man possessed by a female spirit and a woman possessed by a male spirit has established themselves in the context of spirit possession. The events comprising their individual life stories and marital relationship are extraordinarily closely integrated with their experiences with the world of the invisible. The alliance with the spirits provides a picture of their personal drama, which unfolds around their daily lives and ritual activities, and is also proposed to the wider community of adepts in possession cults as proof of their expertise as rites officiants. Hamid is possessed by a female spirit, Lalla Malika, which makes him a specially qualified officiant of female possession rites. Iman is possessed by David, a Jewish spirit, which gives her a double otherness, of both gender and religious affiliation