Aafrika rahvajutud religioonietnoloogilise allikana bulsa (Põhja-Ghana) pärimuse näitel (II)
African Folk Narratives as an Ethnological Religion Source: On the Example of Bulsa (North-Ghana) Heritage (II)

Summary/Abstract: Continued from Mäetagused 16. In many Bulsa narratives, death, the deceased and ghosts have the central role. The mourning festivities have an important place in Bulsa tradition, being held not after the funeral but at the earliest in the dry season following the death, but oftern only one or more years later. Mourning ceremonies and festivities are not elaborated on in Bulsa narratives. However, they display the attitude of the Bulsas: in proper families, the members of the family feel connected with the deceased person even after his or her death. Many Bulsa narratives emphasise that God must be believed in. Nobody can be killed against the intent of the God and God punishes those doubting its power. Bulsa narratives lack the sentimental happy end: evil and ingratitude are human vices that unavoidably lead to doom. In conclusion, Bulsa folk tales can be used as an additional source in relion studies. The narratives convey no information on the details elementary for the narrator and the characters are stereotypical, the situations expressing fictive circumstances nor directly relative to everyday life. Their value in religion ethnology lies mostly in that they mark the so-called neuralgic nodes of the religion and can be used to assess the ethos, values and attitudes of the community. They are authentic in that they relay religious information not induced by European concepts and questions by foreigners.

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