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Amusement and Absolution: Transforming Narratives during Confession of Social Debts
Author(s) -
Kratz Corinne A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
american anthropologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1548-1433
pISSN - 0002-7294
DOI - 10.1525/aa.1991.93.4.02a00040
Subject(s) - confession (law) , amusement , narrative , interpretation (philosophy) , history , debt , sociology , aesthetics , media studies , literature , art , psychology , social psychology , philosophy , linguistics , finance , archaeology , economics
During Okiek initiation in Kenya, the final ritual event before the climax of circumcision involves public “confession” by initiates of their “social debts.” Confession is through an intermediary who questions initiates, then announces their wrongs to an assembled crowd. The questioner/announcer introduces formal transformations that recast the narrative and its interpretation. That recasting absolves initiates of their wrongs, amuses the listeners, and completes a ceremonial process that helps initiates succeed in the trial of circumcision and gradually distances them from their childhood lives.