African Spirituality, Politics, and Knowledge Systems: Sacred Words and Holy Realms (Bloomsbury Studies in Black Religion and Cultures)

Focusing on the three leading religious traditions in Africa (African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity), this book shows how belief in the supremacy of sacred words compels actions and influences practices in contemporary Africa. "Sacred words” are taken to mean holy texts as in divination, the Quran and the Bible. Toyin Falola evaluates how religious leaders engage with sacred words, both orals and texts, engendering practices that reveal the expression of religious beliefs, the impact of those beliefs, and the knowledge contained in them. Attention is given to the key ideas in the words chosen by religious leaders, and how they form a continuous knowledge system, impacting the politics of managing society and people. "Focusing on the three leading religious traditions in Africa (African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity), this book shows how belief in the supremacy of sacred words compels actions and influences practices in contemporary Africa. "Sacred words" are taken to mean holy texts as in divination, the Bible and the Quran. Toyin Falola evaluates how religious leaders engage with sacred words, both orals and texts, engendering practices that reveal the expression of religious beliefs, the impact of those beliefs, and the knowledge contained in them. Attention is given to the key ideas in the words chosen by religious leaders, and how they form a continuous knowledge system, impacting the politics of managing society and people."-- Provided by publisher Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Preface 9 Acknowledgments 12 Notes on Sources 13 Introduction: Sacred Words 14 Part I: Indigenous Systems 34 Chapter 1: Diviners and Indigenous Knowledge 36 Chapter 2: Shamanism as a Knowledge System 65 Chapter 3: Magic and Witchcraft 97 Part II: Islam 112 Chapter 4: Sufism as a Knowledge System 114 Chapter 5: Political and Intellectual Thoughts of Usman Dan Fodio 138 Chapter 6: Shaykh Amadou Bamba and the Muridiyya Sufi Order 157 Part III: Christianity 176 Chapter 7: Missionaries and Knowledge Production about Africa 178 Chapter 8: Pentecostalism: Philosophies and Practices 206 Chapter 9: African Spiritual Churches 222 Conclusion 240 Notes 246 Bibliography 276 Index 295