What is Pa divination in Nigeria? Who or what is Mami Water? Does a single African spirituality exist across all indigenous cultures; even after their contact with Western religions such as Christianity? In this illustrated book; a perfect introduction to the fascinating world of African religion; spirituality; and cosmology; writers from Margaret R. Miles and Kathleen O’Brien Wicker to Ogbu Kalu and Abdulkader I. Tayob lead us into discussions of the diversity of African spiritual traditions and the forms and patterns that link them. Special topics include Dagbamba; Haitian Vodun; shrines; divination; candomble; and Sufism and the role of Islam.
#1206434 in Books University of Pittsburgh Press 2004-10-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .90 x 6.13l; 1.11 #File Name: 0822958651360 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A generally careful book marred by one understandable errorBy John HarrisonBreaking The Backcountry: The Seven Years' War In Virginia And Pennsylvania 1754-1765– by Matthew C. Ward is a well written; but still scholarly approach to a little known part of American history in the fullest sense of both words. Ward is a professor at the University of Dundee in Scotland so he did not come by his knowledge naturally; he had to work for it.The book covers the Seven Years War and its aftermath in the backcountry; which at this point includes much of western Pennsylvania and Virginia. This is the very root of the soon to be United States of America and Ward does an admirable job of weaving military; social and Native American history of the era into a fascinating story.His portrait of the Native American actors; and he identifies many by name; is persuasive; as are his descriptions of the main British players. Jeffry Amherst does not; at least in Ward’s telling; deserve his place as recorded in more general histories of the era.Unfortunately; there is one problem with the book. It appears that Ward was among those historians taken in by Michael Bellesiles book; Arming America: The origin of a National Gun Culture. For those not aware of the scandal; Bellesiles Bancroft Prize for his book Arming America was revoked. This was the first time that has ever occurred. Fortunately; this forms only a very small part of this otherwise excellent work.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A New FrontierBy richard m rocconThis volume is actually an impressive work. Much of the information contained is geographically unique to the Virginia/ Pennsylvania frontier; which is not to say this is a bad thing. In fact; quite the opposite is true. Few scholars have concentrated on the peripheral implications of colonial American military conflict. The book does however get into some pretty detailed verbiage which can begin to take a toll on the reader after a while.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Ok RradBy Robert H. ClineWhile the topic was thoroughly covered; I found the organization confusing. Some topics were lightly covered while others were examined extensively. Some questionable generalizations were made that conflict with newer studies. Because of the organization difficulties; some of the information was repeated at different points in the text. Generally an easy enough read .
