STUDENT NAME: Sonja Davies
STUDENT NUMBER: 55920330
ASSIGNMENT 2: First Semester
UNIQUE NUMBER: 651795
Due date: 29 March
Question 1: Multiple choice questions. [20]
QUESTION ANSWER
1. 3
2. 2
3. 3
4. 3
5. 1
6. 2
7. 2
8. 3
9. 1
10. 2
QUESTION 2:
In no more than one page discuss the trance dance as the central ritual of Drakensberg
San hunter-gatherers. You must discuss the way in which they induced the trance, what
they saw when they fell into a trance, the functions of the trance and the modern
neuropsychological interpretation of their trances. Use your own words, that is, do not
simply rewrite or paste in the study material as it stands in the tutorial letter. [25]
ANSWER 2:
Trance dancing was a very important ritual to the San. It was a ritual which could be performed
by men and women, allowing them to enter into a trance-like state for recreational purposes.
In my opinion, not too different to dancing in general through the ages, when it has been used
and still is, in times of celebration and at social occasions to express oneself freely and
artistically. However for some San it was a means for them to enter the spirit world so as to
get their supernatural powers, which according to the San, could only be obtained through the
trance dance. Those who managed to enter the spirit world or realm were considered to be
shaman and they had a big responsibility to their people. How this dance would be performed
was very specific. Although women could do the dance, it was mostly men that were the ones
to dance and the women would clap and sing to the beat. Not all those who performed this
dance and entered into a trance-like state, were able to enter the spirit realm. Those that did
were considered to be the shaman. The dance was performed by simply going round and
round a burning fire with short steps in a monotonous rhythm. The dancers would have rattles
tied to their ankles, which added to the monotonous beat. This would continue at great length
until dancers entered into a trance-like state and the shaman entered into what the San
believed to be the spirit world or realm. When in the spirit realm, the shaman would experience
an altered state of mind and consciousness, in which he would have visions of people with
animal features and animals with people features (therianthropes). This is evident in cave
drawings / rock paintings found in the Drakensberg Mountains. Not only do the rock paintings
depict the therianthropes but also people bent over (forward) with their arms thrown backward
in the air, with some of them bleeding from the nose. This is believed to be evidence of the
trance-like state they were in. The Shaman would purposely perform these ritual dances, so
as to conjure up and take on supernatural powers and strength from the spirits. In addition to
this the shaman told of being submerged underwater and the presence of eels and fish in
some of the rock art is testament to this altered state of mind they are believed to have
experienced.
, The supernatural powers afforded the shaman were used specifically for healing purposes
and to bring rain when it was needed. The Drakensberg San depicted thunderstorms as a bull,
whereas the soft, soaking rainfall was depicted as a cow. It was the San shaman’s job to enter
into the trance-like state and once there he was to capture the cow and lead her to the areas
that were in need of rainfall. It is evident in the rock paintings that different paintings depict the
‘rain cows’ in varying styles, which is attributed to the different shaman telling their stories
through their unique rock paintings.
With science on our side, neurosychological research shows that world-wide people have
similar experiences when their conscious state is altered. In a light trance they experience a
vortex / tunnel and see flashes of light and geometric patterns. This is evident in the San cave
paintings in the form of white spots and red threads. When people experience a very deep
trance state, they hallucinate and ‘see’ hybrids of animals and humans. For the Drakensberg
San these hybrids of animals were eland or smaller antelope with human heads, as can be
seen in their rock art. The Drakensberg San would not have understood that their monotonous,
rhythmic dancing rituals were able to induce an altered state of consciousness. They believed
it was their transition from the real world into the supernatural realm, where they were able to
perform healing and bring rain.
QUESTION 3:
In no more than one page discuss the diviner as a central institution of traditional
Bantuspeaking farmers. You must discuss the traditional functions of the diviner, and
show how the role of diviners has changed under modern industrial and urban
conditions. Use your own words, that is, do not simply rewrite or paste in the study
material as it stands in the tutorial letter. [25]
The diviner is and always has been a means for Bantuspeaking African farmers to
communicate with their Ancestors. Ancestors are considered to be the ‘living dead’ and are
highly respected and revered. They are family members who have ‘passed on’ before and
watch over the living. It is important to keep them happy. People do not pray directly to the
Ancestors or worship them, for they are not the ‘one’ creator, but it was and is of great
importance to know if and when the Ancestors are troubled or unhappy. The way to determine
this, is by consulting a diviner. In addition to the diviner being able to determine whether the
Ancestors need to be appeased, diviners are able to identify ‘witches’ who are believed to be
inherently evil and bestow misfortune on others. Since there is no way of appeasing witches,
the diviner would insist that the identified witch pay for or replace any loss or damage she has
caused. In the past, the diviner would go as far insisting that the witch be killed or banished
from the community. Although this practice is no longer allowed and is illegal, as it violates a
person’s basic human rights, it does still persist.
Diviners are also accomplished herbalists and able to mix certain herbs and mixtures of herbs
and other ingredients to concoct traditional medicines to treat various illnesses and ailments.
In modern times however endangered plants and animals need to be protected, so when
diviners make their traditional medicines they have to adhere to new laws that have been
implemented to regulate usage of the protected plants.
Over the years as cities flourished and industry grew Bantuspeaking people migrated from
rural homesteads to the cities and industrial developments to seek work. And so too did many
of the diviners, who have adapted to life in the townships and cities. People still consult diviners
for advice on how to appease their ancestors or request treatment for an ailment. In South
Africa diviners and traditional healers are considered practitioners of traditional medicine and
Government has put systems in place to legitimise the ‘profession’ and regulate the practice
within the healthcare system.
Diviners and/or traditional healers are very important in Bantuspeaking communities and
play a crucial role as educators of traditional culture and spirituality. They also offer services
STUDENT NUMBER: 55920330
ASSIGNMENT 2: First Semester
UNIQUE NUMBER: 651795
Due date: 29 March
Question 1: Multiple choice questions. [20]
QUESTION ANSWER
1. 3
2. 2
3. 3
4. 3
5. 1
6. 2
7. 2
8. 3
9. 1
10. 2
QUESTION 2:
In no more than one page discuss the trance dance as the central ritual of Drakensberg
San hunter-gatherers. You must discuss the way in which they induced the trance, what
they saw when they fell into a trance, the functions of the trance and the modern
neuropsychological interpretation of their trances. Use your own words, that is, do not
simply rewrite or paste in the study material as it stands in the tutorial letter. [25]
ANSWER 2:
Trance dancing was a very important ritual to the San. It was a ritual which could be performed
by men and women, allowing them to enter into a trance-like state for recreational purposes.
In my opinion, not too different to dancing in general through the ages, when it has been used
and still is, in times of celebration and at social occasions to express oneself freely and
artistically. However for some San it was a means for them to enter the spirit world so as to
get their supernatural powers, which according to the San, could only be obtained through the
trance dance. Those who managed to enter the spirit world or realm were considered to be
shaman and they had a big responsibility to their people. How this dance would be performed
was very specific. Although women could do the dance, it was mostly men that were the ones
to dance and the women would clap and sing to the beat. Not all those who performed this
dance and entered into a trance-like state, were able to enter the spirit realm. Those that did
were considered to be the shaman. The dance was performed by simply going round and
round a burning fire with short steps in a monotonous rhythm. The dancers would have rattles
tied to their ankles, which added to the monotonous beat. This would continue at great length
until dancers entered into a trance-like state and the shaman entered into what the San
believed to be the spirit world or realm. When in the spirit realm, the shaman would experience
an altered state of mind and consciousness, in which he would have visions of people with
animal features and animals with people features (therianthropes). This is evident in cave
drawings / rock paintings found in the Drakensberg Mountains. Not only do the rock paintings
depict the therianthropes but also people bent over (forward) with their arms thrown backward
in the air, with some of them bleeding from the nose. This is believed to be evidence of the
trance-like state they were in. The Shaman would purposely perform these ritual dances, so
as to conjure up and take on supernatural powers and strength from the spirits. In addition to
this the shaman told of being submerged underwater and the presence of eels and fish in
some of the rock art is testament to this altered state of mind they are believed to have
experienced.
, The supernatural powers afforded the shaman were used specifically for healing purposes
and to bring rain when it was needed. The Drakensberg San depicted thunderstorms as a bull,
whereas the soft, soaking rainfall was depicted as a cow. It was the San shaman’s job to enter
into the trance-like state and once there he was to capture the cow and lead her to the areas
that were in need of rainfall. It is evident in the rock paintings that different paintings depict the
‘rain cows’ in varying styles, which is attributed to the different shaman telling their stories
through their unique rock paintings.
With science on our side, neurosychological research shows that world-wide people have
similar experiences when their conscious state is altered. In a light trance they experience a
vortex / tunnel and see flashes of light and geometric patterns. This is evident in the San cave
paintings in the form of white spots and red threads. When people experience a very deep
trance state, they hallucinate and ‘see’ hybrids of animals and humans. For the Drakensberg
San these hybrids of animals were eland or smaller antelope with human heads, as can be
seen in their rock art. The Drakensberg San would not have understood that their monotonous,
rhythmic dancing rituals were able to induce an altered state of consciousness. They believed
it was their transition from the real world into the supernatural realm, where they were able to
perform healing and bring rain.
QUESTION 3:
In no more than one page discuss the diviner as a central institution of traditional
Bantuspeaking farmers. You must discuss the traditional functions of the diviner, and
show how the role of diviners has changed under modern industrial and urban
conditions. Use your own words, that is, do not simply rewrite or paste in the study
material as it stands in the tutorial letter. [25]
The diviner is and always has been a means for Bantuspeaking African farmers to
communicate with their Ancestors. Ancestors are considered to be the ‘living dead’ and are
highly respected and revered. They are family members who have ‘passed on’ before and
watch over the living. It is important to keep them happy. People do not pray directly to the
Ancestors or worship them, for they are not the ‘one’ creator, but it was and is of great
importance to know if and when the Ancestors are troubled or unhappy. The way to determine
this, is by consulting a diviner. In addition to the diviner being able to determine whether the
Ancestors need to be appeased, diviners are able to identify ‘witches’ who are believed to be
inherently evil and bestow misfortune on others. Since there is no way of appeasing witches,
the diviner would insist that the identified witch pay for or replace any loss or damage she has
caused. In the past, the diviner would go as far insisting that the witch be killed or banished
from the community. Although this practice is no longer allowed and is illegal, as it violates a
person’s basic human rights, it does still persist.
Diviners are also accomplished herbalists and able to mix certain herbs and mixtures of herbs
and other ingredients to concoct traditional medicines to treat various illnesses and ailments.
In modern times however endangered plants and animals need to be protected, so when
diviners make their traditional medicines they have to adhere to new laws that have been
implemented to regulate usage of the protected plants.
Over the years as cities flourished and industry grew Bantuspeaking people migrated from
rural homesteads to the cities and industrial developments to seek work. And so too did many
of the diviners, who have adapted to life in the townships and cities. People still consult diviners
for advice on how to appease their ancestors or request treatment for an ailment. In South
Africa diviners and traditional healers are considered practitioners of traditional medicine and
Government has put systems in place to legitimise the ‘profession’ and regulate the practice
within the healthcare system.
Diviners and/or traditional healers are very important in Bantuspeaking communities and
play a crucial role as educators of traditional culture and spirituality. They also offer services
