This series delves into the complexities of African societies and cultures through insightful ethnographic studies. It explores intricate social relations, local cultural forms, and the interconnectedness of local, national, and global levels. Readers will engage with themes of political economy, power, the interface of culture and environment, the roles of religion and ritual, and historical perspectives, all presented with a focus on social and cultural dimensions.
The book explores the UCKG's use of culturally significant rituals that resonate with local beliefs regarding the human body, personal agency, and the concept of ontological balance. It delves into how these practices are shaped by and reflect the community's values and understanding of spirituality, providing insight into the intersection of religion and local culture.
This book aims to reconstruct the religious history of the Anlo-Ewe peoples from the 1850s.
Offers an incisive biography of the life and work of South Africa's foremost social anthropologist, Monica Hunter Wilson, between the 1920s and 1960s.
The growth of a middle class has been a feature of the 'Africa Rising' narrative in recent years. Sumich sheds new light on this important topic by exploring the political, economic, and social origins of a middle class in Mozambique and the contradictions it faces.
An ethnographic study of Qur'anic schools in northern Nigeria that debunks stereotypes about such schools being recruitment grounds for Boko Haram and other violent groups. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, Hannah Hoechner explores through the eyes of students the true nature of being young, poor, and Muslim in a context of pervasive inequality.
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), a church of Brazilian origin, has been enormously successful in establishing branches and attracting followers in post-apartheid South Africa. As an ethnography of people rather than of institutions, this book offers fresh insights into the mass PCC movement that has swept across Africa since the early 1990s.
Focusing on a significant African church in South Africa, the narrative explores its growth and impact within the community. It delves into the church's cultural and social influence, highlighting its role in shaping the lives of its members and the broader society. Through personal stories and historical context, the book reveals the church's contributions to spirituality, community cohesion, and resilience in the face of challenges.
The biography explores the intricate relationships among politics, witchcraft, and the AIDS crisis in South Africa, offering fresh insights into how these elements intersect. It delves into the societal and cultural implications, revealing how beliefs and political dynamics shape public health narratives and responses. Through this lens, the book aims to enhance scholarly discourse on these critical issues, highlighting the complexities of South African society.
This book addresses the complex labour and life conditions faced by workers in the agricultural borderlands of northern South Africa.
How did Zulu Radio in apartheid South Africa, intended to stifle debate, become one of the largest stations in Africa? Gunner maps the fashioning of a modernising Black culture through radio and highlights links between these media figures with writers and political leaders from Harlem to the American South.
The book explores the impact of Salafism, a significant Muslim movement, on the transformation of religious authority in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. It delves into how this movement is influencing the religious landscape and reshaping traditional beliefs and practices within the nation. Through analysis, it highlights the broader implications of Salafism's rise in a diverse and complex socio-religious context.
Focusing on Malawi, the book advocates for prioritizing gender justice over traditional human and women's rights frameworks. It explores the unique challenges faced by women in the region and offers a critical analysis of existing rights approaches, suggesting that a gender justice perspective can lead to more effective solutions for achieving equality and empowerment. Through this lens, the author aims to reshape the discourse around rights and justice in Malawi, highlighting the importance of addressing systemic inequalities.
The book explores the religious history of the Anlo-Ewe peoples in southeastern Ghana, focusing on the 'Fofie' rituals that reflect their engagement with a painful slave-holding past. It examines how the Anlo's discomfort with their historical agency in slavery led to practices like ancestor veneration and spirit possession. The narrative highlights the impact of Christianity, modernization, and trans-Atlantic connections on these rituals, revealing how moral perceptions of slavery evolved throughout the twentieth century amidst significant social and religious changes.
This monograph explores the expansion of the Tablighi Jama'at, a transnational Islamic missionary movement that originated in India in the mid-nineteenth century.