West Africa's Women of God: Alinesitoué and the Diola Prophetic Tradition - Hardcover

Baum, Robert M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 025301767X ISBN 13: 9780253017673

Publisher: Indiana University Press, 2015

Synopsis

West Africa’s Women of God examines the history of direct revelation from Emitai, the Supreme Being, which has been central to the Diola religion from before European colonization to the present day. Robert M. Baum charts the evolution of this movement from its origins as an exclusively male tradition to one that is largely female. He traces the response of Diola to the distinct challenges presented by conquest, colonial rule, and the post-colonial era. Looking specifically at the work of the most famous Diola woman prophet, Alinesitoué, Baum addresses the history of prophecy in West Africa and its impact on colonialism, the development of local religious traditions, and the role of women in religious communities.

About this title

About the Author

Robert M. Baum is Associate Professor of African and African American Studies and Religion at Dartmouth College. He is author of Shrines of the Slave Trade: Diola Religion and Society in Precolonial Senegambia.

Review

"A masterful and meticulous study of religious history."

(African Studies Review)

"The whole of West Africa's Women of God represents an exceptional and long-awaited monograph. The quality of Baum's research and writing alike solidify this book as a tour de force that sets an exceedingly high standard for scholars to follow."

(Religious Studies Review)

"[T]his intelligibly constructed and well-structured book will be useful to scholars of African religions, cultural anthropologists, and theologians alike. The field of African religious studies would certainly diminish without its contributions."

(Reading Religion (JAAR))

"

This is a superb book and an important contribution to the literature on African religion.

"

(Nova Religio)

"

This book importantly demonstrates that a religious system oriented around female prophets emerged among the rice cultivators of Senegambia. Baum's claim that it is a uniquely West African tradition will hopefully inspire others to explore similar practices of messianic revelation along the Guinea Coast.

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(Journal of African History)

"Baum (African and African American studies and religion, Dartmouth) focuses on the history of women prophets who came into prominence after WW I with the increasing oversight of French colonial officials. Highly recommended."

(Choice)

About this edition

• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 025301767X
• ISBN 13: 9780253017673
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 306