Ubena of the Rivers. With a Chapter by Mtema Towegale Kiwanga and an Introduction by Dr. L. H. Dudley Buxton.

CULWICK, Arthur Theodore, & Geraldine Mary.

Published by London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1935

About this Item

First edition, first impression, in the attractive dust jacket. This ethnographic work is the result of the time the Culwicks spent living with the Bena tribe in south-central Tanzania. The Bena first migrated into the highlands of southern Iringa Region (Njombe District) in the early 1800s. In the 1860s some groups migrated down into the river lands of south-western Morogoro Region. This study focuses exclusively on the "Ubena of the Rivers" in Ulanga and Kilombero Districts, Morogoro Region, and reflects the wish of the Bena elders "for a permanent record of their tribal history and customs, to preserve the memory of what must soon be forgotten if not committed to writing" (Preface). It depicts all aspects of tribal culture, including social and tribal organisation, the practice of their religion, tribal medicine, daily life, and histories of their royal families. Their study of the Bena religion is especially important, as the population is largely Christian today. The Culwicks divide their religion into three categories, with no hard-fast rules separating one from another. "The first category comprises the belief about Mulungu. The second is ancestor worship, wherein supernatural powers are attributed to the spirits of the dead and can be exercised by them to influence the living, so that it behoves the latter to maintain such relations with the ancestral spirits as will ensure that their influence shall be benevolent. The third category is uganga and includes charms, divination, medicine and all the arts whereby the medicine-man seeks either to influence supernatural forces for the good of men or to learn how man has offended and how he may please the spirits" (p. 99). Octavo. With 5 half-tone photographic plates, 2 folding maps, folding pedigree of the Ubena royal line, and full-page illustration in the text. Original blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt. With dust jacket. Top edge of front cover bumped, scattered foxing mostly to fore edge, illustrations bright and clear, a very good copy in price-clipped dust jacket, slightly soiled, chips to end of spine, edges creased or slightly torn, ghost of old price sticker on front flap, otherwise very good, with 4 pp. publisher's catalogue at end.

Seller Inventory # 157276

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Ubena of the Rivers. With a Chapter by Mtema Towegale Kiwanga and an Introduction by Dr. L. H. Dudley Buxton.
• Publisher: London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1935
• Edition: 1st Edition