Chimpanzees, sorcery and contestation in a protected area in Guinea‐Bissau. (31st May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sousa, Joana; Hill, Catherine M.; Ainslie, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Social anthropology. Volume 25:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 364
• Page End: 379
• Publication Date: 2017-05-31
• Subjects: chimpanzees -- sorcery -- national park -- nature conservation -- reciprocity; chimpanzés -- sorcellerie -- parc national -- protection de la nature -- réciprocité; Ethnology -- Europe -- Periodicals; Europe -- Social life and customs -- Periodicals; 306
• DOI: 10.1111/1469-8676.12418
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-0282

Abstract

Abstract : In Cantanhez National Park in Guinea‐Bissau the construction of meaning made after encounters with chimpanzees is associated with local social life. If a chimpanzee makes an unprovoked attack on a person, its actions are often understood as those of a sorcerer. Chimpanzees are involved in two parallel accusation discourses: one is played in intimate spheres of sociability where sorcerers harm their kin to benefit from secret alliances, and the other addresses a wider audience perceived to benefit from chimpanzees which are being protected at the expense of other humans. Both narratives represent local criticism against transgressions to calculations of redistribution and reciprocity.