202557(en)/32 - Tone and Shadow. Constitution of Body and the Person Among Black-Afro-Mexican Peoples on the Costa Chica of Oaxaca, Mexico
TONE AND SHADOW. CONSTITUTION OF BODY AND THE PERSON AMONG BLACK-AFRO-MEXICAN PEOPLES ON THE COSTA CHICA OF OAXACA, MEXICO
TONO Y SOMBRA. CONSTITUCIÓN DEL CUERPO Y DE LA PERSONA ENTRE LOS PUEBLOS NEGROS-AFROMEXICANOS EN LA COSTA CHICA DE OAXACA, MÉXICO
Céline Marie-Jeanne Demol
This article examines the concept of body and personhood among the black Afro-Mexican peoples on the Costa Chica of Oaxaca through the lens of tonalism—together with the illness known as enfermedad del monte—and the affliction known as espanto de muerto. First, it addresses the dangerous perception of the world of tones along with the protective rituals performed to prevent transformation into an animal and to shield children from the risk of contracting enfermedad del monte. It then focuses on espanto de muerto, an ailment associated with death and the shadow of the deceased, which reveals components of the body and notions of personhood among coastal Afro-Mexicans. To conclude, the article highlights the ontological transformations inherent in the activation of the bond with the animal tono, while also attending to the agency of the shadow in death