African Spirituality, Politics, and Knowledge Systems: Sacred Words and Holy Realms

Description

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. Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Preface Acknowledgments Notes on Sources Introduction: Sacred Words Part I: Indigenous Systems Chapter 1: Diviners and Indigenous Knowledge Chapter 2: Shamanism as a Knowledge System Chapter 3: Magic and Witchcraft Part II: Islam Chapter 4: Sufism as a Knowledge System Chapter 5: Political and Intellectual Thoughts of Usman Dan Fodio Chapter 6: Shaykh Amadou Bamba and the Muridiyya Sufi Order Part III: Christianity Chapter 7: Missionaries and Knowledge Production about Africa Chapter 8: Pentecostalism: Philosophies and Practices Chapter 9: African Spiritual Churches Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index