Afro-Caribbean Religions: An Introduction to Their Historical, Cultural, and Sacred Traditions

by Nathaniel Samuel Murrell

Religion is one of the most important elements of Afro-Caribbean culture linking its people to their African past, from Haitian Vodou and Cuban SanteriaOCopopular religions that have often been demonized in popular cultureOCoto Rastafari in Jamaica and Orisha-Shango of Trinidad and Tobago. In Afro-Caribbean Religions, Nathaniel Samuel Murrell provides a comprehensive study that respectfully traces the social, historical, and political contexts of these religions. And, because Brazil has the largest African population in the world outside of Africa, and has historic ties to the Caribbean, Murrell includes a section on Candomble, Umbanda, Xango, and Batique.
This accessibly written introduction to Afro-Caribbean religions examines the cultural traditions and transformations of all of the African-derived religions of the Caribbean along with their cosmology, beliefs, cultic structures, and ritual practices. Ideal for classroom use, Afro-Caribbean Religions also includes a glossary defining unfamiliar terms and identifying key figures.

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Anthropology

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Eric Aguirre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro es una muy buena introducción a las diferentes religiones afrocaribeñas. Hace un repaso por la santería, el vudú, el obeah, el candomblé y los rastafaris entre otros. Gracias a este libro, he podido adentrarme en un territorio totalmente desconocido para mí. Existen muchos prejuicios con respecto a las religiones del caribe, pero con este libro las romperás de seguro. Inclusive querrás saber más al terminarlo.

[York · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, comprehensive, and an important entry in Caribbean studies. The amount of detail paid to the continuity from Yoruba, Kongo, and other African traditions to the modern expressions seen in Caribbean countries is impressive. His argument against the Catholic elements of these practices being mere facades serves to emphasize their creole natures, centering them as mixed practices for a mixed people.