Analyzing the Azande Community: Culture, Religion, Beliefs, and Myths

This essay delves into the cultural elements of the Azande community, an ethnic group residing in North Central Africa, specifically South Sudan and the Central African Republic. It highlights the community's traditional African religion, which is gradually being influenced by Christianity, and their strong belief in witchcraft and magic inherited from ancestors. The essay further explores unique aspects of Azande culture, including historical practices like same-sex relationships and the significance of circumcision as a rite of passage for young men. Myths surrounding bride wealth, traditionally represented by iron spears, are also discussed, noting the shift towards accepting cash and other goods. The analysis emphasizes the Azande community's distinctive characteristics, such as hierarchical family inheritance and circumcision rituals, providing a comprehensive overview of their cultural and religious practices.

Running head: AZANDE COMMUNITY
Week 3 assignment
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AZANDE COMMUNITY 2
Introduction
Indigenous people refer to an ethnic group that was first to settle in a particular region.
The indigenous group I chose in week two are the Azande group of people. Azande community
are the ethnic group of people that live in North Central Africa. They occupy South Sudan and
the Central Republic of Congo. In this week 3, it will elaborate on two elements of culture
concerning the Azande group. Apart from that, it will identify critical symbols, stories, myths
and origins of the Azande group.
Critical elements of Azande group’s way of life.
Religion
When it comes to religion, Burke, (2017) says that a good number of Azande community
mainly practice the traditional African religion. However, as time goes many members of the
community are adopting the current way of worshipping. Many people are changing to be
Christians. For instance, the Catholic faith and Jehovah witness group is the contemporary
religion in the religion.
Belief
Members of the Azande community believe in witchcraft and magic as their traditional
way of life. Witchcraft is a belief that many members inherit from their ancestors. In many
instances, fathers pass the witchcraft to their male children as mothers pass the same to the
female members of the family according to Jimoh, (2017). People who have witchcraft organize
rituals on a daily basis. Consequently, some people may not be aware that they have witchcraft
until specific actions happen to their body. In some instances, members use oracles to determine

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whether one is possessed with witchcraft or not. Azande community have different types of
oracles; there are oracles for women and those for men in society.
Other stories and myths about the Azande community
Besides the above stories concerning the Azande people, this indigenous group has
another specific characteristic they practice in the community. In the early days, Sankey, (2015)
argues that this community permitted sex between the same gender. For instance, women could
sex with their fellow women to achieve their pleasure. Such action was a minor mistake in the
community, and the victims were not punished. Many women could not stand firm when
Europeans approached them. Many of them could run back to their houses.
When it comes to marriage, men could marry between the age of twenty and thirty-five.
It is usually the role of village elders and chiefs to ensure that the bride and bridegroom are of an
acceptable age before organizing for their marriage. However, men who wish to get married
must undergo circumcision as a rite of passage in this society according to Wheater,(2017). The
Azande community believe in circumcision as a ritual to introduce the boys to mature members
of the organization. On the other side, the girls would know their roles in the community by
helping their parents.
There is a myth among the Azande community whereby, they believe that iron spears represent
bride wealth. The bride’s parents would give the number of the iron spears the bridegroom
should pay. However, the belief is changing, in these days the community recognizes cash and
other materials such as goats, cloth and cassava as a form of bride price.
Conclusion.

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Many stories identify the Azande community from the rest of the society. These issues
include the hierarchical family heritance system and the circumcision. The above essay has
illustrated the significant aspect of society including belief and religion.

AZANDE COMMUNITY 5
References
Burke, P. (2017). Popular culture in early modern Europe. Routledge.
Jimoh, A. K. (2017). An African Theory of Knowledge. In Themes, Issues and Problems in
African Philosophy (pp. 121-136). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Sankey, H. (2015). Scepticism, relativism and a naturalistic particularism. Social
Epistemology, 29(4), 395-412.
Wheater, K. (2017). Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande. Macat Library.