Santeria from Africa to the New World: The Dead Sell Memories (Blacks in the Diaspora) [Paperback]

George Brandon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Blacks in the Diaspora | Publication Date: March 22, 1997

"On his own terms, Brandon more than fulfills his promise to take the reader on the transatlantic journey of the orisha and to explore the complexities of African memory in the diaspora." —American Historical Review

"He adeptly addresses broader issues, such as power relations within Caribbean slavery, multiculturalism, and the forms of religious accommodation to cultural change. In addition, he offers a fresh and cogent assessment of the production and reproduction of African beliefs and practices in new contexts. Brandon's exemplary archival research is supplemented by skillful participant observation." —Choice

The Yoruba religious tradition arose in West Africa, but its influence has spread beyond Africa to millions of adherents in the Americas as well. Santeria from Africa to the New World retraces one path taken by this tradition—a path from Africa to Cuba and to New York City. George Brandon examines the religion's transatlantic route through Cuban Santeria, Puerto Rican Espiritismo, and Black Nationalism. In following the historical and anthropological evolution of the Yoruba religion, Brandon discusses broader questions of power, multiculturalism, cultural change, and the production and reproduction of African retentions.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

GEORGE BRANDON is Associate Professor and Director of the Program in Sociomedical Sciences at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education of the City University of New York. He is the author of articles in the Journal of Caribbean Studies, the Journal of Black Studies, Oral History Review, and Griot.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (March 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 025321114X
• ISBN-13: 978-0253211149
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly Overview, November 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Santeria from Africa to the New World: The Dead Sell Memories (Blacks in the Diaspora) (Paperback)

I felt compelled to write in defense of George Brandon's scholarly work on Santeria after seeing it so absurdly misrepresented (...). Brandon is not under any misperceptions about the fact that Santeria emerged as a New World form of African Diasporan Religion. The book begins with an elaborate coverage of the African religious context from which Santeria and other African Diasporan Religions emerged via the transatlantic slave trade. While the title could be confusing to some, page 1 clarifies Brandon's stance that "Santeria belongs to the transatlantic tradition of the Yoruba religion...and should be seen as a variant of that religion." Brandon goes on to examine stages of Santeria's development in Cuba, taking into account religious, political, and economic influences. His book has thorough documentation from the most highly respected sources in African Diasporan Studies. If you are looking for a scholarly, though highly readable, historical overview of Santeria, this book can serve you well. It is not an unannotated, self-help book for Ifa or Santeria wannabes, so if you are looking for do-it-yourself-Santeria, look elsewhere. (...)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first sourcebook on Yoruba New World by a scholar-insider, July 28, 2005

By 

Y. Chireau (a small college town) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Santeria from Africa to the New World: The Dead Sell Memories (Blacks in the Diaspora) (Paperback)

Brandon is an anthropologist looking at a very complex system of religions from historical and ethnographic perspectives. He is an insider-participant and a scholar but does not let the latter cloud his rigorous interpretation of Yoruba traditions. Read his chapter on the rise of Santeria in New York City - it was ground-breaking. This book is ONLY for intelligent readers who want to consider OTHER theoretical possibilities for viewing African-based religions in the diaspora.

7 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not up to academic par, November 12, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Santeria from Africa to the New World: The Dead Sell Memories (Blacks in the Diaspora) (Hardcover)

Mr. Brandon writes about Santeria from the standpoint of an academic rather than a participant. He is not an initiate of the religion, and seemed to use many published sources that are known to be not accurate. In his description of the offerings made to Yemaya, a deity/Orisha, he has made important errors. Throughout the book are factual errors that show that either some of his informants gave him false information (perhaps on purpose--since the religion is still a secret maybe some of his informants were toying with him), or his informants did not know what they were talking about. Errors include details about rituals and the nature of certain deities. The book on the whole is really just a big literature review on Afro-Cuban religion. If you are conducting academic research you should ignore this book entirely. If you are just curious about Santeria you would be better off ignoring this book, and buying something by Joseph Murphy or Lydia Cabrerra.