Molefi Kete Asante, Ama Mazama1412936365, 9781412936361
Table of contents :
Cover……Page 1
Editorial Board……Page 3
Copyright……Page 5
Contents……Page 6
List of Entries……Page 8
Reader’s Guide……Page 12
About the Editors……Page 16
Contributors……Page 18
Introduction……Page 22
The 20th-Century Rediscovery of African Religion……Page 23
Polytheism or Monotheism?……Page 25
Attributes of the Supreme Deity……Page 26
Connective and Related Links……Page 30
ABALUYIA……Page 32
ABELA……Page 33
ABOSOM……Page 34
Some Key Abosom……Page 35
ABUK……Page 36
ADAE……Page 37
ADINKRA SYMBOLS……Page 38
ADU OGYINAE……Page 41
AFRICISM……Page 42
Salient Features of Africism……Page 43
The Development of the Concept……Page 44
Ascension……Page 45
Acceptance……Page 46
AGE GROUPS……Page 47
AGRICULTURAL RITES……Page 48
The Three Cycles……Page 49
AGWE……Page 50
AIDA WEDO……Page 51
AIR……Page 52
AIWEL……Page 53
AKAN……Page 54
Spirituality……Page 55
Amen and His City……Page 58
The Ahmosian Family……Page 60
The Transformation of the King……Page 61
A New God and a New City……Page 62
His Impact and Legacy……Page 63
AKHETATEN……Page 64
Historical Background……Page 65
Some Key Leaders……Page 66
ALTARS……Page 67
Name and Representation……Page 68
Power and Prominence……Page 69
AMENHOTEP……Page 70
AMMA……Page 71
AMOKYE……Page 72
AMULET……Page 74
ANANSE……Page 75
ANCESTORS……Page 76
The Descent Line……Page 78
The Spirits of the Dead……Page 79
The Ritual Protocols……Page 80
Funerals and Death……Page 81
The Idea of Ancestral Reincarnation……Page 82
Communication With Ancestors……Page 83
Ideas About Time and Immortality……Page 84
Some Examples……Page 85
Ritual and Sacrifice……Page 86
Specific Symbols……Page 87
ANIMATISM……Page 88
ANIMISM……Page 89
ANKH……Page 90
The God’s Role……Page 92
ANUKIS……Page 94
APEP……Page 95
APIS……Page 96
APULEIUS……Page 98
ASANTE……Page 100
Religious Beliefs……Page 101
The Supreme Ruler……Page 102
ASASE YAA……Page 104
ASHE……Page 105
ATEN……Page 106
ATUM……Page 107
AUSAR……Page 108
Myth……Page 109
AUSET……Page 110
AZAKA, THE LOA……Page 113
AZANDE……Page 115
BA……Page 116
BABALAWO……Page 117
BAGANDA……Page 120
Creation and Cosmology……Page 121
BAKOTA……Page 122
BALANTA……Page 124
BALENGUE……Page 125
Language and Culture……Page 126
Religious Practice……Page 127
Language and Culture……Page 128
Genesis Stories……Page 129
Leadership……Page 130
Religious Belief……Page 131
Ritual Practices……Page 132
BAMILEKE……Page 133
BANTU PHILOSOPHY……Page 134
BANYANKORE……Page 136
BANYARWANDA……Page 137
BARIBA……Page 138
BASSA……Page 139
Religion and Moral and Ethical Behavior……Page 140
BASUTO……Page 141
BATA DRUMS……Page 142
BATONGA……Page 143
BATS……Page 144
BATWA……Page 145
BAYA……Page 146
BEADS……Page 147
BEJA……Page 148
BEMBA……Page 149
BES……Page 150
A God for All Reasons……Page 152
BIRDS……Page 154
BIRTH……Page 155
BLESSING……Page 157
BLOOD……Page 158
Boats in Ritual……Page 159
BOIS CAIMAN……Page 161
Vodou in Haiti and Africa……Page 162
BOKONON……Page 163
BONDO SOCIETY……Page 164
Links to Religion……Page 165
BOOK OF THE COMING FORTH BY DAY (THE BOOK OF THE DEAD)……Page 167
How It Developed……Page 168
BOUKMAN……Page 169
BUBEMBE……Page 170
BULLS……Page 171
BUMUNTU……Page 173
BURIAL OF THE DEAD……Page 179
CALAMITIES……Page 180
Brazilian Roots……Page 181
Beliefs and Ritual……Page 183
The Sacred Chambers……Page 185
CEREMONIES……Page 186
CHAGGA……Page 187
CHAMINUKA……Page 188
Men’s and Women’s Roles……Page 190
A Complex Concept……Page 191
CHILDREN……Page 192
Children’s Role……Page 193
The Legend……Page 194
Chokwe Beliefs……Page 196
Religious Practice……Page 197
Historical Background……Page 198
Practice in Africa……Page 199
Controversies……Page 200
CLAY……Page 201
Traditional Roots……Page 202
Opposition……Page 203
COLOR SYMBOLISM……Page 204
CONGO JACK……Page 206
CONJURERS……Page 207
CONVINCE……Page 208
Symbols and Myths……Page 209
Spiritual Forces……Page 210
COWRIE SHELLS……Page 211
Use in Kemet……Page 213
The Diaspora and Divination……Page 214
Commonalities……Page 215
Implications for Human Beings……Page 216
CROSSROADS……Page 217
CULTURAL RELOCATION……Page 218
CURSE……Page 219
DAGU……Page 222
DANBALA WEDO……Page 223
DANCE AND SONG……Page 224
DAUSI……Page 225
DEATH……Page 226
Vodu Belief……Page 227
DESTINY……Page 228
African Themes……Page 229
DIASPORA……Page 230
Historical Perspective……Page 231
DINKA……Page 232
Marriage and Family……Page 233
DIOLA……Page 234
DIOULA……Page 235
DISEASE……Page 236
Social Role……Page 237
Among the Yoruba……Page 239
Basic Description……Page 240
Relationship to the Supreme Being……Page 242
DOGON……Page 243
The Granary……Page 246
Creation Myths……Page 247
Agriculture……Page 248
The Granary Symbol……Page 249
Knowledge of Matter……Page 250
DREAMS……Page 251
DRUM, THE……Page 252
History……Page 254
DWAT……Page 255
DYOW INITIATIONS……Page 256
EARTH……Page 260
EFIK……Page 261
EGUNGUN……Page 262
Religious Practices……Page 264
EKPO SECRET SOCIETY……Page 265
Social Function……Page 266
ELDERS……Page 267
Elder Roles……Page 268
ELEDA……Page 269
What Is Expected……Page 270
ENNEAD……Page 271
EPA SOCIETY……Page 272
EPISTEMOLOGY……Page 273
Ways of Knowing……Page 274
Major Characteristics……Page 275
ESU, ELEGBA……Page 276
Attributes……Page 277
ETERNAL LIFE……Page 278
African Belief……Page 279
EVIL……Page 280
Major Deities……Page 281
EYE OF HORUS……Page 282
EZILI FREDA……Page 285
FA……Page 288
Kinship Concepts……Page 289
Marriage……Page 290
FANG……Page 291
FARO……Page 292
FATIMAN, CÉCILE……Page 293
Social Importance……Page 294
Ritual and Art……Page 295
Fetishes in Africa……Page 296
Renewed Respect……Page 297
FIRE……Page 298
Description and Use……Page 299
Historical Record……Page 300
Fon Cosmology……Page 301
Ritual Practice……Page 303
FULA (FULBE)……Page 306
Ideas About Death……Page 307
Funeral Practices……Page 308
GA……Page 310
GAMO RELIGION……Page 311
GÈLÈDÈ……Page 312
The Afterlife……Page 314
GOD……Page 315
African Assessments……Page 316
Can God Be Known?……Page 317
God’s Attributes……Page 318
God and Names……Page 321
The African Vision……Page 322
Isis and Maat in Egypt……Page 324
Elsewhere in Africa……Page 325
GOLA……Page 326
GOVI……Page 327
Sanctity and Sanctuary……Page 328
GULU……Page 329
GURO……Page 331
GURUNSI……Page 332
GWOBONANJ……Page 333
HAPI……Page 334
Harvest Festivals……Page 336
Great Mother……Page 337
Worship……Page 338
HAYA……Page 339
Some Examples……Page 340
Kinds of Illness……Page 341
Health Care……Page 342
HEKA……Page 343
Symbolic Horus/Heru……Page 344
Archetypal Horus/Heru……Page 345
Legacy of Horus/Heru……Page 346
Links to Africa……Page 347
Cultural Impact……Page 348
HOUNGAN……Page 349
HOUNSI……Page 350
The God of the Forest……Page 351
The Sacred Texts……Page 352
An Afrocentric Project……Page 353
HUTU……Page 354
IBIBIO……Page 356
A Writing System……Page 357
IDOMA……Page 358
Death-Related Inquests……Page 359
Divination System……Page 360
Becoming a Priest(ess)……Page 362
Contemporary Influence……Page 363
Religious Beliefs……Page 364
New World Slavery……Page 365
IKIN……Page 366
IMHOTEP……Page 367
Transition to Deity……Page 368
The Christian Debate……Page 369
Ancestral Connections……Page 370
Use in Worship……Page 371
INFERTILITY……Page 372
Education and Seclusion……Page 373
Two Illustrations……Page 374
INTERMEDIARIES……Page 375
INVOCATIONS……Page 376
IWA……Page 377
Characteristics of Iwa……Page 379
IYALORISHA……Page 380
Ongoing Restrictions……Page 381
Life as an Iyalorisha……Page 382
JOK (ACHOLI)……Page 384
JOLA……Page 385
JUJU……Page 386
JUSTICE……Page 387
KA……Page 390
KABRE OF TOGO……Page 391
KHNUM……Page 392
KIMBUNDU……Page 394
Contemporary Significance……Page 395
The Cosmology of African Kingship……Page 396
Contemporary Expressions……Page 397
KINTU MYTH CYCLE……Page 398
The Role of Cattle……Page 399
A Rich Culture……Page 400
KUMINA……Page 401
Historical Context……Page 402
KURUMBA……Page 403
KWA BA……Page 404
LAKES……Page 406
VoduVodu in New Orleans……Page 407
The Vodu Queen……Page 408
Survival of Vodu……Page 409
LELE……Page 410
A Religious Explanation……Page 411
Religious Beliefs……Page 413
LOMWE……Page 414
LOVEDU……Page 415
Moral Values……Page 416
Religious Beliefs……Page 417
Invoking the Ancestors……Page 418
Shrines……Page 420
LUO……Page 421
Religious Beliefs……Page 422
Describing the Lwa……Page 423
Marrying the Lwa……Page 425
MAASAI……Page 428
MAAT……Page 429
MAGIC……Page 430
The Slave Years……Page 431
His Death and Legacy……Page 432
Initiation Rites……Page 433
Community Leader……Page 434
Impact of Worship……Page 435
MAROON COMMUNITIES……Page 436
A Continuing Struggle……Page 437
The Haitian Insurrections……Page 438
Contemporary Communities……Page 439
Preparation and Negotiation……Page 440
Ceremony and Separation……Page 441
MAWU-LISA……Page 442
Offspring Gods……Page 443
MEDICINE……Page 444
Disease and African Worldview……Page 445
Healing and Healing Practices……Page 446
Traditional Medicine Specialists……Page 447
Contemporary Appropriation……Page 449
Preparation and Practice……Page 450
Some Examples……Page 451
MEDIUMS……Page 452
Ancestral Spirits……Page 453
Other Spirits……Page 454
MONTU……Page 456
MOON……Page 457
Mossi Deities……Page 458
MOUNTAINS AND HILLS……Page 460
MOUNT CAMEROON……Page 461
The Gikuyu Myth……Page 462
MUMMIFICATION……Page 464
MUSIC……Page 465
His Calling……Page 467
His Impact……Page 468
NAMING……Page 470
NANA BULUKU……Page 471
NANNY……Page 472
N’DOMO……Page 474
NEB ANKH……Page 475
Mbuya Nehanda……Page 476
Chargwe Nyakasikana……Page 477
NGAI……Page 478
NGANGA……Page 479
NGEWO……Page 480
NKULUNKULU……Page 483
NKWA……Page 484
NOMMO……Page 485
NORTH AMERICA, AFRICAN RELIGION IN……Page 487
Yoruba Orisha and Ifa Traditions……Page 488
The VoduVoduTradition……Page 489
Bantu Religious Traditions……Page 490
NUER……Page 491
Meanings of the Number 2……Page 493
Meanings of the Number 4……Page 494
NYAME……Page 495
NZAMBI……Page 497
OATHS……Page 500
OBATALA……Page 501
OBEAH……Page 503
Physical Ocean……Page 504
ODUDUWA……Page 505
Ifa Teachings……Page 507
ODU IFA……Page 506
OFFERING……Page 509
OGBONI SOCIETY……Page 510
OGDOAD……Page 511
OGUN……Page 512
Okyeame, Okomfo Asare, and Ohum Rites……Page 514
The Week of Ohum……Page 515
Ohum and the Oracle of Kofi Gyemperem……Page 516
OKANDE……Page 517
OKOMFO ANOKYE……Page 518
Etymology……Page 519
OLOKUN……Page 520
The Status of Olorun……Page 522
ONTOLOGY……Page 523
OPENING OF THE MOUTH CEREMONY……Page 525
God/Gods as Oracle……Page 527
The Sacred Site as Oracle……Page 528
ORAL TEXT……Page 529
ORAL TRADITION……Page 530
ORI……Page 531
The Psychological Theory……Page 532
A Complex Unity……Page 534
Kinds of Orisha……Page 536
ORISHA NLA……Page 537
ORUNMILA……Page 538
Patron of the Ifa Divination Corpus……Page 539
OSHUN……Page 540
OUMFÒ……Page 541
OVAHERERO……Page 542
The Concept of God……Page 543
Visiting the Graves……Page 544
OYA……Page 545
Legends and Paths to Oya……Page 546
Representations of Oya……Page 547
Worldview……Page 548
Palo: The Cuban Practice……Page 549
Practice of Palo in Other Parts of the Americas……Page 550
PEDI……Page 551
PERSONHOOD……Page 552
Ontology……Page 553
Nature of Community……Page 554
Person in Community……Page 555
PETWO……Page 557
PEUL……Page 558
PHOENIX……Page 559
PLACENTA……Page 560
PLANTS……Page 561
POCOMANIA……Page 562
PORO SOCIETY……Page 563
POTOMITAN……Page 565
PREDESTINATION……Page 566
PREGNANCY……Page 567
Duties of the Priests……Page 569
Purification……Page 570
PROCREATION……Page 571
PROVERBS AND TEACHING……Page 572
PTAH……Page 574
PUBERTY……Page 577
PUNISHMENT……Page 578
PURIFICATION……Page 579
PYTHONS……Page 583
QUEENS……Page 586
RA……Page 588
RAIN……Page 590
RAIN DANCE……Page 591
RAIN QUEEN……Page 593
RED……Page 594
REINCARNATION……Page 596
RESISTANCE TO ENSLAVEMENT……Page 598
Birth: Naming Ceremony……Page 601
Marriage……Page 603
Death……Page 604
RITES OF RECLAMATION……Page 605
RITUALS……Page 606
Rituals Take Many Forms……Page 607
Rituals Associated With Royalty……Page 610
RIVERS AND STREAMS……Page 611
ROCKS AND STONES……Page 612
RUHANGA……Page 613
Types of Sacrifice……Page 614
Sacrificial Victims……Page 615
Initiation……Page 616
Skills……Page 617
SANKOFA, FILM……Page 618
Origins……Page 620
Beliefs……Page 622
Diffusion of Santeria……Page 623
SARA……Page 624
SARAMACCA……Page 625
SARCOPHAGUS……Page 626
SEBA……Page 627
Life Cycle Rituals……Page 628
Power and Renewal of Hegemony……Page 630
Contemporary Contexts……Page 631
SEKHMET……Page 632
SENUFO……Page 634
SERAPIS……Page 636
SERER……Page 637
SERPENT……Page 638
SESHAT……Page 639
SET……Page 640
SEVEN……Page 641
SHAME……Page 642
SHANGO……Page 643
SHAWABTI……Page 645
SHILLUK……Page 646
SHONA……Page 647
SHU……Page 648
SKY……Page 650
Rites of Passage……Page 651
Conclusion……Page 652
Narrative Myth……Page 653
Origins……Page 654
Beliefs……Page 655
SOTHO……Page 656
SOUL……Page 658
SPACE AND TIME……Page 660
SPEAR MASTERS……Page 661
Beliefs……Page 662
Communication Practices of Spirit Mediums……Page 664
SPIT……Page 665
SUICIDE……Page 666
SUN……Page 667
SUNSUM……Page 668
SUSU……Page 670
SWAHILI……Page 671
SWAZI……Page 672
Taboos and Morals……Page 676
TALLENSI……Page 678
TANO RIVER……Page 679
TAUETONA……Page 680
TEFNUT……Page 681
TEKE……Page 682
TELLEM……Page 683
TEMNE……Page 684
The Nature of the Sacred Place……Page 685
Types of Temples……Page 687
The Idea of the Temple of God……Page 689
THOTH……Page 691
THREE……Page 693
The Cult of Sango……Page 694
TIME……Page 695
TIV……Page 696
TOTEM……Page 697
TRANSCENDENCE AND COMMUNION……Page 698
TRANSFORMATION……Page 700
TREES……Page 701
TSONGA……Page 703
TSWANA……Page 704
Art and Spirituality……Page 705
TUTSI……Page 706
TWINS……Page 707
UMBANDA……Page 710
Fang……Page 712
Mossi……Page 713
UNDERWORLD……Page 714
VAI……Page 716
VÈVÈ……Page 717
VILOKAN……Page 719
VODOU AND THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION……Page 720
VODOU IN BENIN……Page 722
Selected Vodun in Benin and Their Attributes……Page 723
The Vodun Adepts or the Vodunsi……Page 724
Vodun in Benin Today……Page 725
History……Page 726
Communal Rituals……Page 728
Vodou in the Diaspora……Page 730
VODUNSI……Page 731
WAMALA……Page 734
WASET……Page 735
WATER……Page 736
WATERFALLS……Page 740
Problems of Naming……Page 742
Definition and Naming……Page 743
WHITE……Page 744
WIND……Page 748
Essential Principles and Concepts of Winti……Page 749
The Spiritual Human Soul Triad……Page 751
The Winti Pantheon……Page 752
Winti Rites……Page 753
Conclusion……Page 754
WOMEN……Page 755
WORDS……Page 756
WOYENGI……Page 757
XHOSA……Page 760
YAM……Page 762
YANVALOU……Page 764
YAO……Page 765
YE. MO. NJA……Page 766
YORKA……Page 768
YORUBA……Page 769
ZARMA……Page 772
ZIN……Page 773
ZOSER……Page 774
ZULU……Page 775
Names of God Among Some Kenyan Ethnicities……Page 778
Names of God Among Some Sudanese Ethnicities……Page 779
Names of God Among Some Tanzanian Ethnicities……Page 780
Bibliography……Page 782
Index……Page 828
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