10/5/23, 11:09 AM Summary, Article: Shakespeare In the Bush
Shakespeare in the Bush by Laura Bohannon
Went to Tiv in West Africa
Author thinks human nature is the same throughout the whole world, even if
details are different
Hamlet as an example
2nd trip to tribe, lived with elder for 3 months
o wanted to see ceremonies but old men cannot walk from homestead to
homestead because the swamps rose
could only brew beer (drank all day)
had to do research before noon cuz everyone was drunk
after that
important people don’t ladle beer themselves
o read papers because they were from “her country”
elders refused to tell stories unless she told stories first
o tried to explain about ghosts but they believe that ghost = omen sent by
witch (Hamlet)
omens are for chiefs/elders not young peope
omens don’t talk
ghosts = “zombis”
o in Africa, the younger brother marries the elder brothers widow and
becomes the father of his children
genealogical differences are very important
o two years to remarry is too long because nobody can work
chief must have many wives to prepare things for his guests
better than paid servants (America)
if the girl is bad, the father will give enough presents and
patronage to make up the difference
only witchcraft can make anyone mad unless they see the beings that lurk in the
forest
o only relatives in the male can bewitch them
o a man should never scold his mother
o a man may never use violence against his senior relatives
cannot take vengeance on a madman
o witches make people drown not water
about:blank 1/1
Shakespeare in the Bush by Laura Bohannon
Went to Tiv in West Africa
Author thinks human nature is the same throughout the whole world, even if
details are different
Hamlet as an example
2nd trip to tribe, lived with elder for 3 months
o wanted to see ceremonies but old men cannot walk from homestead to
homestead because the swamps rose
could only brew beer (drank all day)
had to do research before noon cuz everyone was drunk
after that
important people don’t ladle beer themselves
o read papers because they were from “her country”
elders refused to tell stories unless she told stories first
o tried to explain about ghosts but they believe that ghost = omen sent by
witch (Hamlet)
omens are for chiefs/elders not young peope
omens don’t talk
ghosts = “zombis”
o in Africa, the younger brother marries the elder brothers widow and
becomes the father of his children
genealogical differences are very important
o two years to remarry is too long because nobody can work
chief must have many wives to prepare things for his guests
better than paid servants (America)
if the girl is bad, the father will give enough presents and
patronage to make up the difference
only witchcraft can make anyone mad unless they see the beings that lurk in the
forest
o only relatives in the male can bewitch them
o a man should never scold his mother
o a man may never use violence against his senior relatives
cannot take vengeance on a madman
o witches make people drown not water
about:blank 1/1
