How did the political standing of an oracle’s owner affect the oracle’s authority among the Zande?

Among the Zande people, the authority of an oracle is directly tied to the political status of its owner. While many Zande individuals are capable of performing common divinatory techniques, extraordinary credibility is required for sensitive or contentious issues. In these cases, the oracle’s reliability is perceived as a reflection of the owner's political standing.

For instance, the king’s oracle is regarded as the final authority. To maintain this status, the royal court is meticulously organized to protect the oracle from any form of contamination, ensuring its power remains absolute.1