Concise, expert, and fully accessible, this is an excellent introduction to the complex, diverse religious traditions
of Africa practiced by peoples with vastly different cultures and languages. Religions of Africa outlines and clarifies
the historical development of indigenous African belief systems, discusses the impact of colonization, Christianity,
Islam, and liberation movements on the continent's religious evolution, and examines the interaction between time-honored
customs and new worlds of thought to "illustrate the process of traditions in transformation and transformations
in tradition." Lawson presents the history, myths, rituals, institutions, and sociocultural patterns of two
representative groups: the Yoruba of Nigeria and the Zulu of South Africa. Through understanding the religious
worlds in which these groups live, the student gains a solid basis for understanding the whole spectrum of the
religions of Africa.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Zulu and Their Religious Tradition
3. The Yoruba and Their Religious Tradition
4. Individuals, Roles, and Systems
Glossary
Notes
Selected Reading List