About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherCambridge University Press

ISBN-101107016282

ISBN-139781107016286

eBay Product ID (ePID)112501474

Product Key Features

Number of Pages259 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameWitchcraft and Alife in the New South Africa

SubjectWitchcraft (See Also Religion / Wicca), Anthropology / Cultural & Social, Customs & Traditions

Publication Year2012

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaBody, Mind & Spirit, Social Science

AuthorIsak Niehaus

SeriesThe International African Library

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.9 in

Item Weight17 Oz

Item Length9.2 in

Item Width6.2 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

LCCN2011-040991

Reviews'This is biography with a purpose; Niehaus makes the point that witchcraft is lived, not merely believed, and illustrates a new theoretical perspective from which to understand it. The narrative that recounts the intelligent, educated Jimmy Mohale's reluctant progress toward the conviction that his father is bewitching him is illuminated by detailed ethnography, extensive scholarship, and timely discussion. To be read at many levels.' Jean La Fontaine, London School of Economics and Political Science, 'This is biography with a purpose; Niehaus makes the point that witchcraft is lived, not merely believed, and illustrates a new theoretical perspective from which to understand it. The narrative that recounts the intelligent, educated Jimmy Mohale's reluctant progress toward the conviction that his father is bewitching him is illuminated by detailed ethnography, extensive scholarship, and timely discussion. To be read at many levels.' Jean La Fontaine, London School of Economics, "...deeply learned. thoroughly researched and yet surprisingly accessible book." -T . M. LUHRMANN, Times Literary Supplement, Advance praise: 'South Africa sometimes seems to elicit the big, the overgeneralized. Isak Niehaus demonstrates the power of small, intimate, contextualized detail in this description of the life and death of one of his research assistants. The result is both moving and illuminating. By the end, witchcraft, AIDS, and the New South Africa all stand in a new light.' Donald L. Donham, University of California, Davis, 'South Africa sometimes seems to elicit the big, the overgeneralized. Isak Niehaus demonstrates the power of small, intimate, contextualized detail in this description of the life and death of one of his research assistants. The result is both moving and illuminating. By the end, witchcraft, AIDS, and the New South Africa all stand in a new light.' Donald L. Donham, University of California, Davis, 'A deeply learned, thoroughly researched and yet surprisingly accessible book.' Times Literary Supplement

Dewey Edition23

Series Volume NumberSeries Number 43

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal133.4/30968

Table Of Content1. Introduction; 2. Early experiences, initial suspicions; 3. Becoming a man; 4. 'Then I did not believe'; 5. 'My second initiation'; 6. 'I see things differently now'; 7. Seeking revenge; 8. AIDS and Oedipus; 9. Reconstructing an ideal life; 10. Last words.

SynopsisCasting new light on scholarly understandings of the connections between politics, witchcraft and AIDS in South Africa, this biography reconstructs the life of Jimmy Mohale, who studied and worked as a teacher during the anti-apartheid struggle and died from an undiagnosed sickness, attributing his misfortunes to witchcraft., Witchcraft and a Life in the New South Africa reconstructs the biography of an ordinary South African, Jimmy Mohale. Born in 1964, Jimmy came of age in rural South Africa during apartheid, then studied at university and worked as a teacher during the anti-apartheid struggle. In 2005, Jimmy died from an undiagnosed sickness, probably related to AIDS. Jimmy gradually came to see the unanticipated misfortune he experienced as a result of his father's witchcraft and sought remedies from diviners rather than from biomedical doctors. This study casts new light on scholarly understandings of the connections between South African politics, witchcraft, and the AIDS pandemic., Witchcraft and a Life in the New South Africa reconstructs the biography of an ordinary South African, Jimmy Mohale. Born in 1964, Jimmy came of age in rural South Africa during apartheid, then studied at university and worked as a teacher during the anti-apartheid struggle. In 2005, Jimmy died from an undiagnosed sickness, probably related to AIDS. Jimmy gradually came to see the unanticipated misfortune he experienced as a result of his father's witchcraft and sought remedies from diviners rather than from biomedical doctors. This study casts new light on scholarly understandings of the connections between South African politics, witchcraft and the AIDS pandemic.

LC Classification NumberBF1584.S6 N53 2013