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Òrìsà
Devotion as World Religion
The Globalization of
Yorùbá Religious Culture
Edited by Jacob K. Olupona and Terry Rey
"Shaped by the transatlantic slave trade, Christianity,
Islam, colonialism, and, now, globalization, Yorùbá
religious culture remains dynamic and inspirational. This volume
goes beyond the usual tendency in Diaspora studies to focus on
cultural retention. It is a significant contribution."–Mojúbàolú
Olúfúnké Okome, Brooklyn College, City University
of New York
As the twenty-first century begins, tens of millions of people
participate in devotions to the spirits called Òrìsà.
This book explores the emergence of Òrìsà
devotion as a world religion, one of the most remarkable and
compelling developments in the history of the human religious
quest. Originating among the Yorùbá people of West
Africa, the varied traditions that comprise Òrìsà
devotion are today found in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe,
and Australia.
The African spirit proved remarkably resilient in the face of
the transatlantic slave trade, inspiring the perseverance of
African religion wherever its adherents settled in the New World.
Among the most significant manifestations of this spirit, Yorùbá
religious culture persisted, adapted, and even flourished in
the Americas, especially in Brazil and Cuba, where it thrives
as Candomblé and Lukumi/Santería, respectively.
After the end of slavery in the Americas, the free migrations
of Latin American and African practitioners have further spread
the religion to places like New York City and Miami. Thousands
of African Americans have turned to the religion of their ancestors,
as have many other spiritual seekers who are not themselves of
African descent.
Ifá divination in Nigeria, Candomblé funerary chants
in Brazil, the role of music in Yorùbá revivalism
in the United States, gender and representational authority in
Yorùbá religious culture-these are among the many
subjects discussed here by experts from around the world. Approaching
Òrìsà devotion from diverse vantage points,
their collective effort makes this one of the most authoritative
texts on Yorùbá religion and a groundbreaking book
that heralds this rich, complex, and variegated tradition as
one of the world's great religions.
"Contributes to a deeper and more sympathetic understanding
of Yorùbá culture and religion and will be the
definitive text for students, teachers, and practitioners of
Òrìsà tradition for a long time."–Akintunde
E. Akinade, High Point University, North Carolina
Jacob K. Olupona is professor of African religious traditions
at Harvard Divinity School and professor of African and African
American studies in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard
University. He is the author and editor of many books, including
African Spirituality, Beyond Primitivism, and African
Traditional Religions in Contemporary Society.
Terry Rey is associate professor of religion at Temple
University. He is the author of Our Lady of Class Struggle:
The Cult of the Virgin Mary in Haiti and Bourdieu on Religion.
Contributors:
Rowland Abiódún, Cornelius Oyeleke Adepegba, Afe
Adogame, Diedre L. Badejo, Sandra T. Barnes, George Brandon,
Kamari Maxine Clarke, H. O. Danmolé, José
Jorge de Carvalho, Ikukomi Djisovi Eason, Barry Hallen,
Tracey E. Hucks, Laënnec Hurbon, Flora Edouwaye S. Kaplan,
J. Lorand Matory, Joseph M. Murphy, Jacob K. Olupona, Olásopé
Oyediji Oyèláràn , John Pemberton,
III, José Flávio Pessoa de Barros, Reginaldo
Prandi, Terry Rey, Mercedes Cros Sandoval, Rita Laura Segato,
Rev. Juan J. Sosa, Wole Soyinka, Olúfémi Táíwò, Marta Moreno
Vega, Olabiyi Babalola Yai
For more information contact our publicity manager, phone: (608)
263-0734, email: publicity@uwpress.wisc.edu
[Web manager's note: Òrìsà
is properly spelled with a mark just under the s, but this is
difficult to code in html.] |
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April 2008
592 pp. 6 x 9
18 b/w illus.
ISBN-13: 978-0-299-22460-8
Cloth $85.00 s
ISBN-13: 978-0-299-22464-6
Paper $34.95 s
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