The Jukun Concept of Personhood

Abstract

While in the West, the self is largely seen as distinct from the social group, in non-Western contexts, the self is perceived largely as co-extensive with the group. This different conception of personhood may have been the single most important factor that shaped the interaction between Christian missionaries and indigenous Jukun. The Jukun derived personhood from the socio-religious context that birthed and nurtured them, so the individualised framework in which the Christian message was couched made conversion harder. Additionally, Jukun personhood transcended physical life, extending into the afterlife and in some cases leading to rebirth. These distinctions combined to shape the dynamics of the interaction between the two systems.

“Anwu ba bu pa zu ba.” (“A child does not belong to one person.”) – Jukun proverb