The road to power or to doom: Micropolitics of religion among Tonga families in the Gwembe Valley, Zambia

Ute Luig

Africa Spectrum, 1998, vol. 33, issue 3, 291-310

Abstract: In the article the story is told of an African family in the Gwembe Valley in South Zambia the main persons of which being five brothers. Although their life stories show great structural similarities, all the brothers try to set up their own spheres of power by controlling religious cults, economic interests also playing their part. Several consecutive deaths bring to light the smouldering conflicts among them. Of interest is the fact that these are not ascribed to personal rivalry but rather to the use of witchcraft through the oldest brother. Upon the image of the sorcerer are concentrated all anti-social characteristics leading to the destruction of the group. The discourse on witchcraft takes a surprising turn however in that the supposed witch suddenly becomes, himself, a victim of his former rival for the office of rain-priest who threatens to wipe out the whole family by means of witchcraft working collectively (mulile). The biography of this family shows clearly conflict-ridden negotiating processes of power and family control continuing from generation to generation. These processes underline the legitimating and/or sanctioning roles which religious cults still exercise in acephalous societies.

Date: 1998
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