Possession and exorcism on the margins of Islam: Mali
J. Colleyn
Social Compass November 30, 2022 DOI: 10.1177/00377686221133943 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Spirit possession cults and cases in Mali, including the Minianka area |
| Key points | Argues that spirit possession in Mali follows at least three distinct patterns, and that the common theory linking possession to protest against historical crisis and monotheist domination fits only some cases; Minianka cults contradict this ideal type, with some cults seeking compromise with spirits and others seeking to get rid of them. |
Abstract
This article focuses on three different patterns of spirit possession in Mali, a country where spirits interact with human beings. Some Malian cases – but not all of them – comfort the well-received theory asserting that possession is a form of protest and is related to a historical crisis. African possession cults are generally considered as characteristics of marginal groups in response to the domination of a monotheist religion, especially Islam and Christianity, but several cults from the Minianka area contradict this ideal type. At a national level, some cults look for a compromise with the spirits, while others are aimed to get rid of them.