Description:
This commentary on the political culture of the BaKongo of Lower Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo) is based on texts in the KiKongo language. They were written by young Kongo men between 1914 and 1916 at the instigation of K. E. Laman, a Swedish missionary. The most important texts were the work of Lutete Esaya, a teacher at the Lolo and Vungu stations of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Lutete devoted much of his attention to aspects of Kongo ritual and religious belief, including minkisi and the rituals for the installation of chiefs. Lutete's original text and those of the other informants are given with translation and notes.
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Part One discusses the origin and nature of the texts, the traditions of migration they report, and the way the traditions can be read with regard to organization of trade in the Lower Congo in the 19th century. It also describes problems of cognition, ideology, and translation. Part Two deals with the ritual of powers as the texts report them.

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