NCJ Number
76836
Journal
Culture Medicine and Psychiatry Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1980) Pages: 151-165
Date Published
1980
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Using a case history of a man known as an incorrigible rapist, this article discusses the belief system of the Gusii, a tribal community in southwest Kenya and their attitudes toward criminal behavior and rape.
Abstract
Although many Gusii have become Christian and their traditional social structures have collapsed, they still believe that antisocial behavior is caused by malevolent ancestors' spirits or witches. Because Gusii patrilocal society allows for little migration within the tribal area, most crimes are perpetrated against one's relatives and constitute taboo violations of various sorts. Traditional culture was extremely puritanical, and young men were removed from sexual temptation by working as herders and warriors in cattle camps. When the British abolished the camps and forced young men to live at home, warfare was replaced by sexual marauding, and the reported incidence of rape rose markedly. Since the end of colonial rule, sexual puritanism has rapidly disappeared, and young people engage in premarital sex without violent repercussions. However, rape by older men is still a frequent occurrence. The Gusii do not expect secular authorities to handle criminal behavior problems within their community but consult diviners and conduct sacrifices to appease spirits that make an individual commit crimes. Moreover, the Kenyan penal system has only one mental hospital and one prison with a section for the criminally insane. The police or government chiefs tend to intervene only when some grossly violent act has been perpetrated by one stranger against another. The Gusii beliefs and attitudes toward criminals are illustrated by a detailed case history of a 40-year-old man who has been educated as a teacher and inherited extensive lands but also committed rapes since childhood. Both the community and the man did not believe that he was responsible for behavior which had finally destroyed his life but attributed all problems to malevolent spirits. The discussion notes that the Gusii ignored factors in this man's life which would immediately interest western observers, such as a family history of unstable behavior. The community resisted a deviant as a marginal member of society given his education and reputation as a good teacher. The article includes 10 footnotes.