spirit possession/spirit succession: aspects of social continuity among Malagasy speakers in Mayotte
American Ethnologist November 1, 1988 DOI: 10.1525/ae.1988.15.4.02a00070 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Malagasy speakers in Mayotte |
| Key findings | The paper argues that spirits in Mayotte are frequently passed down through generations and linked to particular families, and that possession plays a role in constituting and refiguring family groups, personal identity, and the experience of social continuity. |
Abstract
When the identities of the spirits that possess particular individuals in communities of Malagasy speakers in Mayotte are taken into account, it becomes evident that spirits are frequently passed on from generation to generation and thus associated, though not exclusively, with particular families. The paper presents a number of case studies of spirit succession, attempting to draw out some of the social structural and personal implications. Possession's role in the constitution and refiguration of family groups, personal identity, and the experience of social continuity is analyzed.