Encounters With Witchcraft: Field Notes from Africa

by Norman N. Miller

A renowned authority on East Africa examines the effects of witchcraft beliefs on African culture, politics, and family life.

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read and very informative. I was looking for a book that wasn't too dry or academic, about witchcraft in Africa, and this was perfect. Miller spent many years living and traveling around Africa, and the book documents his gradual understanding of how witchcraft works, what it achieves and what it destroys. He sees it as a source of social power for certain people, and the witch-hunt as a very similar form of exploitation. He further touches on the role of religion--traditional, mainstream, evangelical, and syncretic--which he doesn't see as differing much from the fundamental tenets of witchcraft.

Giving numerous examples from history and from his personal experience, Miller describes his meetings with a variety of experts, officials and practitioners of African witchcraft, each of whom sheds light on witchcraft and sorcery in a different way. By the end of the book, I was putting the pieces together with my own experiences during a decade in Africa.

I love Miller's style: he is clearly very well-versed in African history and culture, but he doesn't bog down his story with analysis and pedantic details. Instead, he follows his line of inquiry from one decade to the next, starting from the early 60s up to his last visit to Africa in 2002. His explanations are clear for the non-anthropologist, and his has a sly sense of humor. His many photos add additional whimsy and detail to the book.

I'm very happy that I had a chance to read this great book.

[Maddie Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Encounter's with Witchcraft" is an engaging, detailed and captivating account of Norman Miller's time in Africa and what he came to learn about witchcraft. The biographical and storytelling style keep the reader engaged while at the same time conveying a great amount of of first hand information. The story is also told in incredible detail, giving one an intimate and accurate depiction of what Miller encountered. The subject matter, witchcraft, seems specific, however, the oppression and corruption that come with it can be paralleled in many other cultures. Throughout the story and the descriptions, the reader ends up learning a lot about Africa and African culture not including witchcraft. Overall, the combination of informative and engaging writing that Miller uses, makes this a book worth reading.

[John Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Norman Miller at the African Studies Association conference. He is a very warm and welcoming person, now in his 80s. In this book, which he gave to many of us for free, he tells of his 40+ years in East Africa, arriving as a young man about the same time that I arrived there as an infant. Through out his many visits to East Africa, he explored the question of witchcraft in the villages where presumed witches were banished to its influence on political life in the country. The book consists of encounters with many East Africans as he tells stories and relates conversations he had in trying to understand what it means. An interesting book told in a very engaging style.

[Kendall Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a cultural anthropology class and quite enjoyed it. While the names get harder to follow the longer the book goes on, it was still overall entertaining and educational. I would absolutely recommend if you're interested in the study of modern magic in any way.

[Jane Glaister · Rating 4 out of 5]

A considered, engaging account.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

for school. reads like a story not an ethnography or field journal.