Spirit possession and personhood among the Kel Ewey Tuareg

By Susan J. Rasmussen

Book Description

In the remote Air Mountains of Niger, an extraordinary spiritual phenomenon unfolds among the Tuareg people, offering profound insights into the intersection of gender, community, and transcendent experience. Susan J. Rasmussen takes readers into the world of women who become vessels for mysterious entities known as "the people of solitude," revealing a complex spiritual practice that challenges conventional understanding of possession and healing.

Through intimate case studies and careful observation, this ethnographic exploration unveils how evening ceremonies transform ordinary spaces into sacred theaters of transformation. As drums echo and voices rise in ancient songs, possessed women navigate altered states of consciousness while their communities gather to witness, participate, and even engage in the social dynamics of courtship and humor that weave through these powerful rituals.

Rasmussen's analysis goes beyond surface observations to examine the deeper symbolic meanings and aesthetic principles that guide these practices. She presents the voices and perspectives of the Tuareg themselves, allowing readers to understand how local communities interpret and value these spiritual encounters. The result is a nuanced portrait of a tolerated yet unofficial religious tradition that operates within its own moral and spiritual framework.

This scholarly yet accessible work offers valuable perspectives for anyone seeking to understand how different cultures approach spiritual healing, feminine spiritual authority, and the complex relationships between individual transformation and community witness.