Myal
E67736
Myal is an Afro-Caribbean spiritual tradition originating among enslaved Africans in Jamaica, characterized by spirit possession, healing rituals, and resistance to oppression.
Aliases (2)
- Myal-man ×1
- Myal-woman ×1
Statements (50)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
African diasporic religion
→
Afro-Caribbean spiritual tradition → Jamaican folk religion → |
| associatedWith |
African traditional religions
→
Akan religious traditions → Kongo religious traditions → Obeah → Pukumina → Revival Zion → |
| developedDuring |
transatlantic slavery period
→
|
| hasBelief |
communication with spirits
→
existence of duppies (spirits of the dead) → possession by benevolent spirits → rituals can restore balance between humans and spirits → spiritual causes of illness → |
| hasCharacteristic |
communal ceremonies
→
drumming → healing rituals → ritual dancing → singing of sacred songs → spirit possession → trance states → use of charms and spiritual objects → |
| hasCulturalOrigin |
Afro-Caribbean people
→
|
| hasFunction |
community cohesion
→
counteracting witchcraft → moral regulation in the community → protection from malevolent forces → resistance to oppression → spiritual healing → |
| hasHistoricalOrigin |
enslaved Africans in Jamaica
→
|
| hasHistoricalRole |
form of cultural resistance
→
preservation of African identity in Jamaica → |
| hasOppositionalRoleTo |
colonial oppression
→
planter-class authority → |
| hasOriginPlace |
Jamaica
→
|
| hasRitualElement |
collective singing
→
exorcism-like practices → possession dances → ritual feasting → spirit invocation → use of drums → |
| hasRitualSpecialist |
Myal-man
→
Myal-woman → |
| hasTemporalContext |
eighteenth century Jamaica
→
nineteenth century Jamaica → |
| influenced |
Afro-Jamaican religious culture
→
Jamaican Revivalist movements → |
| practicedBy |
Afro-Jamaican communities
→
enslaved Africans in Jamaica → |