Divine Inspiration: From Benin to Bahia (Paperback)

by Robert Farris Thompson (Author, Editor), Joseph Nevadomsky (Author), Norma Rosen (Author), Zeca Llgiero (Author), Phyllis Galembo (Author, Editor)
Key Phrases: coral beads, Chief Priest, Benin City, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The centerpiece of Galembo's book is two sets of altar photographs--the first half from Nigeria's Benin City (called Edo) and the second from the Brazilian city of Salvador (state capital of Bahia). The photographer explores their natural link: the Atlantic slave trade brought Nigerians to the Western hemisphere; as a result, both places share similar religious beliefs and rituals. Four accompanying essays explain the history, practice and cultural context of Edo and Bahian ceremony. With the exception of Brazilian playwright Zeca Ligiero's poignant essay on Candomble (African-Brazilian religious culture), the text comes across as anthropologically heavy-handed and purely ancillary. Galembo's bright natural-light color photographs and their captions tell the story much more concisely. Images of people vibrate through the reds, whites and blues of the altars and clothes; the subjects are mostly up-front in their impassivity or disdain toward the camera. Galembo is best at picking up the lived-in details of a shrine: the intricate divinity-attracting chalkmarks on the floor; sacramental objects arranged in patterns with devotional care, sharing space with dishes and soda bottles.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Photographer Phyllis Galembo was invited to Nigeria in 1985 to document the research of her friend and colleague, Norma Rosen, on the design and use of traditional Edo altars, ritual objects, and ceremonial dress. From this and subsequent journeys comes this collection of spectacular photographs and essays on Nigerian and Brazilian shrines and ritual figures. The first section of this book contains rare photographs of traditional priests and priestesses and the shrine objects they use. Both the essay by Rosen, an ordained Olokun priestess, and Galembo's powerful photographs illuminate some of West Africa's elaborate cultural and religious traditions. The second section explores the Brazilian form of ancient African spiritual religion brought to the New World during the Atlantic slave trade of the sixteenth century. The connection between the Ivory Coast of Africa and the New World has been acknowledged in works on the history, anthropology literature, folklore and music of the two areas, but never has visual documentation of this depth and quality been made available. This books breaks new ground in the study of African Diaspora while it provides powerful photographs that are, above all, a celebration of the senses.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Athelia Henrietta PR; 2nd edition (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890157171
• ISBN-13: 978-1890157173
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 11 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,002,865 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #86 in

  Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Mythology > African

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book with moving photographs and interesting essays., July 6, 1999

By A Customer

Divine Inspiration is an unusual coffee table book because the pictures do tell a thousand words, and because the text is helpful and interesting, not just filler. It is a good, respectful introduction to the Yoruba religion and its many offspring in the Americas.