Ritual practices, hypnotic suggestions and trance-like states in Swahili written literature

Authors

  • Cristina Nicolini School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13135/1825-263X/5889

Abstract

This article suggests an interdisciplinary analysis of Swahili written literature from Tanzania through the principles of hypnosis, such as trance-like states, post-hypnotic suggestions, therapeutic metaphors and negative autohypnosis, produced during the performance of traditional ritual practices such as initiation rituals and witchcraft acts. The objective is to illustrate how the hypnotic trance, induced by ritual performances, can be interpreted as a channel to convey Afrocentric knowledge and wisdom. The selected fictional works explored are the following two novels and four plays: Mwendo (Lema 2004), Mirathi ya Hatari (Mung’ong’o 2016), Embe Dodo (Makukula 2015), Kija: Chungu cha Mwanamwari wa Giningi (Kitogo 2009), Kivuli Kinaishi (Mohamed 1990) and Ngoma ya Ng’wanamalundi (Mbogo 2008).

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Author Biography

Cristina Nicolini, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Cristina Nicolini is a researcher in Swahili literature and culture and African philosophy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in “Oriental and African Languages and Cultures – Arabic and Swahili” cum laude (“L’Orientale,” Naples 2013); a Master’s degree in “Sciences of Languages, History and Cultures of Mediterranean and Islamic Countries” cum laude (“L’Orientale,” Naples 2015); and a Second level Master’s degree in “Economics and Institutions of Islamic Countries” cum laude (LUISS Guido Carlo, Rome 2017). She is currently a PhD candidate in “African Languages and Cultures” at the School of Oriental and African Studies – University of London (2017 – 2021). Cristina can be reached at:

christina.nicolini@gmail.com; 656298@soas.ac.uk

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Published

2021-06-13

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 1 (2021): Kervan

Section

Articles

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