The 1960s Nyabingi spirit tradition in Uganda and Rwanda

Record summary

Nyabingi refers to a spirit or spirit-medium tradition with a complex history in Rwanda and southwestern Uganda. During the mid-twentieth century, colonial officials, Christian missionaries and local communities interpreted Nyabingi practices variously as possession, religion, rebellion or witchcraft. The lead is important for comparison because it demonstrates how a supernatural vocabulary can become entangled with anti-colonial politics, gendered authority and changing administrative categories. It is not a single encounter report, and the historical identity of Nyabingi is disputed across sources and periods.