‖isituta, noun

/ˌisiˈtʊːta/
Forms:
isi-tute, issetatorShow more Also isi-tute, issetator, issitata, issitoota.
Plurals:
unchanged.
Origin:
IsiZulu isithutha.
Among Zulus: an ancestral spirit; a snake embodying such a spirit. Also attributive. See also itongo.
1836 A.F. Gardiner Journey to Zoolu Country 152The transmigration of souls..was universally believed among them...The breath or spirit then passed into the body of some animal, generally a snake, called issitata, which is harmless.
1836 A.F. Gardiner Journey to Zoolu Country 314They knew not how long the issitoota, or Spirit of the deceased person, existed after its departure from the body.
1836 N. Isaacs Trav. (1937) II. 248These are also sworn to tell the truth, by an appeal to the ‘Issetator’ or Spirit of their forefathers, which is their most sacred oath.
1866 W.C. Holden Past & Future 284The name of ghosts or departed spirits is, Amaxosa, imishologu; Natal, isituta.
1866 W.C. Holden Past & Future 285Other crimes relate to the body and time; these, to the manes of the dead, and the mysterious dwelling-place in which the isituta reside.
1934 C.P. Swart Supplement to Pettman. 79Isituta, A Zulu term meaning a family or ancestral spirit...The spirit of the dead man calls out to his brother to perpetuate his memory, and the brother buys a wife with the dead man’s property and establishes in his..kraal an Isituta House (Spirit House) and the eldest son of the wife of the House succeeds to the dead brother’s property.
an ancestral spirit; a snake embodying such a spirit. Also attributive.
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IsiZulu
Isithwalandwe, nounn.Island, nounn.
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