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Divination processes : an examination of the incorporated belief systems of several Nguni diviners and the subsequent effects on the symbolism, form, structure and style of the music associated with their ritual practices

The traditional musical practices of the Nguni people of Southern Africa are of a social nature, directed at fulfilling specific functions. Divination music in particular is of no exception, and it is intricately linked to the methodology and religious symbolism employed by Southern Nguni diviners,...

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Main Author: Stinson, Kathryn Lee
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: College of Music 2024
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access_status_str Open Access
author Stinson, Kathryn Lee
author_browse Stinson, Kathryn Lee
author_facet Stinson, Kathryn Lee
author_sort Stinson, Kathryn Lee
collection Thesis
description The traditional musical practices of the Nguni people of Southern Africa are of a social nature, directed at fulfilling specific functions. Divination music in particular is of no exception, and it is intricately linked to the methodology and religious symbolism employed by Southern Nguni diviners, providing proof of the role of the ancestors as protectors of health and welfare of their living descendants. Divination songs are a means of artistic expression and communication between the ancestors and the people, and are performed in the context of rituals in which they convey special meanings and serve a certain purpose. This study is concerned with structures of divination and several methods employed by Nguni diviners (ie. of Zulu, Xhosa and Swazi origin). My analysis of the training of diviners and the examination of particular rituals performed by certain Southern Nguni diviners, is carried out in the context of their world view and systems of beliefs, as documented in current anthropological literature and in the words of my informants. I also attempt to examine innovations arising from cross-culturalisation, which find expression in such ritual action.
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language eng
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license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2024
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/39999 Divination processes : an examination of the incorporated belief systems of several Nguni diviners and the subsequent effects on the symbolism, form, structure and style of the music associated with their ritual practices Stinson, Kathryn Lee Music The traditional musical practices of the Nguni people of Southern Africa are of a social nature, directed at fulfilling specific functions. Divination music in particular is of no exception, and it is intricately linked to the methodology and religious symbolism employed by Southern Nguni diviners, providing proof of the role of the ancestors as protectors of health and welfare of their living descendants. Divination songs are a means of artistic expression and communication between the ancestors and the people, and are performed in the context of rituals in which they convey special meanings and serve a certain purpose. This study is concerned with structures of divination and several methods employed by Nguni diviners (ie. of Zulu, Xhosa and Swazi origin). My analysis of the training of diviners and the examination of particular rituals performed by certain Southern Nguni diviners, is carried out in the context of their world view and systems of beliefs, as documented in current anthropological literature and in the words of my informants. I also attempt to examine innovations arising from cross-culturalisation, which find expression in such ritual action. 2024-06-20T12:44:39Z 2024-06-20T12:44:39Z 1998 2024-06-19T11:28:36Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters Masters http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39999 eng application/pdf College of Music Faculty of Humanities
spellingShingle Music
Stinson, Kathryn Lee
Divination processes : an examination of the incorporated belief systems of several Nguni diviners and the subsequent effects on the symbolism, form, structure and style of the music associated with their ritual practices
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Divination processes : an examination of the incorporated belief systems of several Nguni diviners and the subsequent effects on the symbolism, form, structure and style of the music associated with their ritual practices
title_full Divination processes : an examination of the incorporated belief systems of several Nguni diviners and the subsequent effects on the symbolism, form, structure and style of the music associated with their ritual practices
title_fullStr Divination processes : an examination of the incorporated belief systems of several Nguni diviners and the subsequent effects on the symbolism, form, structure and style of the music associated with their ritual practices
title_full_unstemmed Divination processes : an examination of the incorporated belief systems of several Nguni diviners and the subsequent effects on the symbolism, form, structure and style of the music associated with their ritual practices
title_short Divination processes : an examination of the incorporated belief systems of several Nguni diviners and the subsequent effects on the symbolism, form, structure and style of the music associated with their ritual practices
title_sort divination processes an examination of the incorporated belief systems of several nguni diviners and the subsequent effects on the symbolism form structure and style of the music associated with their ritual practices
topic Music
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39999
work_keys_str_mv AT stinsonkathrynlee divinationprocessesanexaminationoftheincorporatedbeliefsystemsofseveralngunidivinersandthesubsequenteffectsonthesymbolismformstructureandstyleofthemusicassociatedwiththeirritualpractices