Customer Reviews

African Gods: Contemporary Rituals and Beliefs

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This is a very informative book that highlights many of the misunderstood and misrepresented religions of the African continent, but the author is very condescending and rather Eurocentric in some of the judgments made on minor things such as alters and attire. The author's description of people being dedicated to serve in temples in certain African traditions as slavery is quite hypocritical considering the same thing can be cited in other more publicized religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and their variations. He even seems to complain about having to pay to take a picture of a priest. Such crying is not worthy of true professionalism. The western mentality unfortunately has the view that anyone that they feel is less technically advanced then themselves is not worthy of respect, and they should be glad to allow them to exploit them for free. The author speculates too much about possible criminal or deviant conduct by individuals' without providing actual proof (dates/ times/reports/names/eye witnesses) this feels rather slanderous. The book will drop hints of sexual exploitation of adherents without any evidence historical or otherwise. Sorry but rumors, gossip, and here say are not proof. What little cases of negative incidents that are described are not properly contrasted to their counter parts in other cultures in the world; so you get a dishonest picture, and end up believing the African is ruled by superstition, which is not the case.
The book points out some of the attitudes and conflicts of those who try and follow newer religions such as Christianity and Islam and end up persecuting others. This is a seldom explored issue, and is almost never shown in the west. The illustrations in the book are beautiful and thought provoking. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to get a quick visual overview of some of the world's oldest and most beautiful religions and traditions, but unfortunately the author's thoughtless snide comments adds an unnecessary streak of bitterness to an otherwise sweet work.