Magical Interpretations, Material Realities

Modernity, Witchcraft and the Occult in Postcolonial Africa

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Anthropology
Cover of the book Magical Interpretations, Material Realities by , Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: ISBN: 9781134575572
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: September 2, 2003
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author:
ISBN: 9781134575572
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: September 2, 2003
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

**'**Magical Interpretations, Material Realities brings together many of today's best scholars of contemporary Africa. The theme of "witchcraft" has long been associated with exoticizing portraits of a "traditional" Africa, but this volume takes the question of occult as a point of entry into the moral politics of some very modern African realities.' - James Ferguson, University of California, USA

'These essays bear eloquent testimony to the ongoing presence and power of the occult imaginary, and of the intimate connection between global capitalism and local cosmology, in postcolonial Africa. A major contribution to scholarship that aims to rework the divide between modernity and tradition.' - Charles Piot, Duke University, USA

This volume sets out recent thinking on witchcraft in Africa, paying particular attention to variations in meanings and practices. It examines the way different people in different contexts are making sense of what 'witchcraft' is and what it might mean.
Using recent ethnographic materials from across the continent, the volume explores how witchcraft articulates with particular modern settings for example: the State in Cameroon; Pentecostalism in Malawi; the university system in Nigeria and the IMF in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. The editors provide a timely overview and reconsideration of long-standing anthropological debates about 'African witchcraft', while simultaneously raising broader concerns about the theories of the western social sciences.

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

**'**Magical Interpretations, Material Realities brings together many of today's best scholars of contemporary Africa. The theme of "witchcraft" has long been associated with exoticizing portraits of a "traditional" Africa, but this volume takes the question of occult as a point of entry into the moral politics of some very modern African realities.' - James Ferguson, University of California, USA

'These essays bear eloquent testimony to the ongoing presence and power of the occult imaginary, and of the intimate connection between global capitalism and local cosmology, in postcolonial Africa. A major contribution to scholarship that aims to rework the divide between modernity and tradition.' - Charles Piot, Duke University, USA

This volume sets out recent thinking on witchcraft in Africa, paying particular attention to variations in meanings and practices. It examines the way different people in different contexts are making sense of what 'witchcraft' is and what it might mean.
Using recent ethnographic materials from across the continent, the volume explores how witchcraft articulates with particular modern settings for example: the State in Cameroon; Pentecostalism in Malawi; the university system in Nigeria and the IMF in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. The editors provide a timely overview and reconsideration of long-standing anthropological debates about 'African witchcraft', while simultaneously raising broader concerns about the theories of the western social sciences.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Transgender Emergence by
Cover of the book Electronic Democracy by
Cover of the book The Ethics of War in Asian Civilizations by
Cover of the book Regulating Fraud (Routledge Revivals) by
Cover of the book Multinational Service Firms (RLE International Business) by
Cover of the book The Changing Law of the Employment Relationship by
Cover of the book The Great Depression by
Cover of the book History of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) by
Cover of the book Views on Hindu Dharma by M.K. Gandhi by
Cover of the book Planning the Curriculum for Pupils with Special Educational Needs by
Cover of the book Human Rights Horizons by
Cover of the book Parliamentary Oversight Tools by
Cover of the book Linguistic Survey of the Northern Bantu Borderland by
Cover of the book Reading Comprehension Difficulties by
Cover of the book Intoxicated Identities by
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