Ancient African Religions

A History

By: Robert M. Baum

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Paperback | 13 September 2024

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Scholars have sometimes maintained that the study of the history of African religions is an impossible endeavor. Some have contended that African religions do not have a history unto themselves, apart from their interaction with the newer religious traditions of Islam and Christianity. Others concede that such a history exists, but believe the source materials are insufficient to reconstruct such a history. This book speaks directly to these critics. The history of African religions becomes in many ways like a pentathlon, expecting the scholar who conducts such research to work with written texts, to learn African languages, to live within a community where these religious traditions are practiced, to study material culture, both sacred and mundane, and a variety of archaeological sources from tree rings to stone circles and gravesites. By relying on the existing corpus of written texts, oral traditions, linguistic analyses, descriptions based on participant observation, and various types of archaeology, Robert M. Baum demonstrates that African religious history is nearly as old as humanity itself. Baum has spent his entire academic career focused on the historical study of African religious traditions, as far back as accessible sources will permit. This volume traces the history of African religions beginning with early hominids and their ritual and burial sites through ancient Egypt, North and Northeast Africa, and Africa south of the Sahara from the Fourth Millennium BCE to the birth of Islam in the Seventh Century.

Industry Reviews

"This ambitious, continent-wide investigation into African religious history from the beginning of time is written in an accessible and engaging manner and can be enjoyed by the novice and expert alike. Baum's dataset and methodology are remarkable. He draws on a treasure-trove of sources-archaeological, linguistic, and oral, tree rings, grave sites, rock art, rituals--to put to rest cynical views about the persistence of indigenous African religions following the institution of 'a hegemonic Christian tradition.' Ancient African Religions is the first of its kind." -- Nwando Achebe, Jack and Margaret Sweet Endowed Professor of History, Michigan State University

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