African Magic

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Folklore & Mythology, Anthropology
Cover of the book African Magic by Heidi Holland, Penguin Random House South Africa
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Heidi Holland ISBN: 9780143527855
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa Publication: September 26, 2012
Imprint: Penguin Language: English
Author: Heidi Holland
ISBN: 9780143527855
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Publication: September 26, 2012
Imprint: Penguin
Language: English

Africa's traditional beliefs - including ancestor worship, divination and witchcraft - continue to dominate its spiritual influences. Readers in search of a better understanding of the continent will be enriched by this book's timely exploration of sub-Saharan Africa's natural philosophy. The author's meticulous research reveals that, whereas technology-driven Western societies prefer to rely largely on logical explanations, many Africans continue to obey their intuition - trusting in images, dreams and divination to rationalise misfortune and illness. African Magic explains why so many Africans understand the relationship between people and unfortunate events not through the Western concept of chance in the case of accidents, or germ theory in the case of illness, but through belief in witchcraft. The book records a collection of true stories which illustrate this traditional belief system. Included are the famous Malawian diviner whose prophecies were considered so accurate that people flocked from neighbouring countries to consult him; a group of Western-trained Mozambican psychologists who successfully refined cross-cultural therapy by working with traditional healers to combat post-traumatic stress syndrome among child soldiers; Ghanaian and Zimbabwean 'witches' living in a nightmare world where popular belief becomes their reality; and a Zambian archbishop whose attempt to embrace traditional African beliefs provoked serious conflict within his Christian church.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Africa's traditional beliefs - including ancestor worship, divination and witchcraft - continue to dominate its spiritual influences. Readers in search of a better understanding of the continent will be enriched by this book's timely exploration of sub-Saharan Africa's natural philosophy. The author's meticulous research reveals that, whereas technology-driven Western societies prefer to rely largely on logical explanations, many Africans continue to obey their intuition - trusting in images, dreams and divination to rationalise misfortune and illness. African Magic explains why so many Africans understand the relationship between people and unfortunate events not through the Western concept of chance in the case of accidents, or germ theory in the case of illness, but through belief in witchcraft. The book records a collection of true stories which illustrate this traditional belief system. Included are the famous Malawian diviner whose prophecies were considered so accurate that people flocked from neighbouring countries to consult him; a group of Western-trained Mozambican psychologists who successfully refined cross-cultural therapy by working with traditional healers to combat post-traumatic stress syndrome among child soldiers; Ghanaian and Zimbabwean 'witches' living in a nightmare world where popular belief becomes their reality; and a Zambian archbishop whose attempt to embrace traditional African beliefs provoked serious conflict within his Christian church.

More books from Penguin Random House South Africa

Cover of the book The Cutting Room by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Freedom Flight by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Bundu Food for the African Bush by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Pocket Guide to Birds of East Africa by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Rage of Life by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Hiking Trails of South Africa by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Everything I Know About Leadership...I Learnt from the Kids by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Tortoises, Terrapins & Turtles of Africa by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book The Cheetah Who Ran Too Fast by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book The Vegetarian Kitchen by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book The Grand Scam by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Call It Like It Is by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Soweto Inside Out by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Munch by Heidi Holland
Cover of the book Fresh from the Vegetarian Kitchen by Heidi Holland
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy