「呪薬の神」としての仮面

カメルーン南西部, エジャガム族のオバシンジョムについて

抄録

The Ejagham are Bantoid cultivators who live in the Cross River region of southwestern Cameroon and southeastern Nigeria. They have many types of ritual medicine called njom, which is used for preventioning and curing diseases and other misfortunes caused by evil spirits, in particular by witchcraft. Obhasinjom is one of these njom, and its supernatural power is well known not only among the Ejagham, but also among other peoples of the Cross River region. Obhasinjom means “god of the ritual medicine”, and also denotes the mask which is used for oracles.
Obhasinjom's supernatural power derives from this mask. The mask is made of the cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra), which itself is believed to be a strong medicinal tree. This mask is assigned certain features of crocodiles and great blue turacoes both of which are strong and smart. It should be renewed every 7 years; sacrifice should be done against it; and a human wife should be given to it. On oracle performance, the mask bearer put it on and off in front of the audience. It is not a secret who is in the mask. He is well known by all the villagers as the inborn shaman who is possessd by Obhasinjom. The use of supernatural power therefore, does not rely upon the anonymousness of the mask bearer. All these aspects suggest that this mask has ritual power in itself, which comprises a great difference from other types of mask in the Cross River region. Two items held by the mask bearer and his costume also convey rich symbolism and play important roles in the Obhasinjom ritual and its oracle performance.
The Obhasinjom ritual is thought to have spread widely in Cross River region in the beginning of 20th century when the Ejagham were seriously troubled with witchcraft under the German colonial rule. From the styles of masked figure and its attendants as well as their performance, Obhasinjom seems to have originated from local hunting ritual. Moreover, searching for animals in hunting is easily associated with detecting the witch, that is believed to transform into animals.