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<p>Notes on Contributors xi</p> <p>Foreword xix<br /><i>Jacob K. Olupona</i></p> <p>Acknowledgments xxii</p> <p>Introduction 1<br /><i>Elias K. Bongmba</i></p> <p><b>Part I Methodological Perspectives on African Religions 23</b></p> <p>1 Methodological Views on African Religions 25<br /><i>James L. Cox</i></p> <p>2 Philosophy of Religion on African Ways of Believing 41<br /><i>V.Y. Mudimbe and Susan Mbula Kilonzo</i></p> <p>3 Neo-Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism: Perspectives from the Social Sciences 62<br /><i>Jean Comaroff and John L. Comaroff</i></p> <p>4 Divination in Africa 79<br /><i>René Devisch</i></p> <p>5 Orality, Literature, and African Religions 97<br /><i>Jonathan A. Draper and Kenneth Mtata</i></p> <p>6 African Rituals 112<br /><i>Laura S. Grillo</i></p> <p>7 Postcolonial Feminist Perspectives on African Religions 127<br /><i>Musa W. Dube</i></p> <p>8 Religion and the Environment 140<br /><i>Edward P. Antonio</i></p> <p>9 Christianity in Africa: From African Independent to Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches 153<br /><i>Birgit Meyer</i></p> <p><b>Part II Interpreting Religious Pluralism 171</b></p> <p>10 Neo-traditional Religions 173<br /><i>Marleen de Witte</i></p> <p>11 Spirit Possession in Africa 184<br /><i>Susan J. Rasmussen</i></p> <p>12 Christian Missions in Africa 198<br /><i>Norman Etherington</i></p> <p>13 Christianity in Africa 208<br /><i>David T. Ngong</i></p> <p>14 Coptic Christianity 220<br /><i>Jason R. Zaborowski</i></p> <p>15 The Ethiopian Orthodox Church 234<br /><i>Christine Chaillot</i></p> <p>16 African Theology 241<br /><i>Elias K. Bongmba</i></p> <p>17 The Church and Women in Africa 255<br /><i>Isabel Apawo Phiri</i></p> <p>18 Feminist Theologies in Africa 269<br /><i>Sarojini Nadar</i></p> <p>19 Church and Reconciliation 279<br /><i>Tinyiko Maluleke</i></p> <p>20 Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements in Modern Africa 295<br /><i>Matthews A. Ojo</i></p> <p>21 African Initiated Churches in the Diaspora 310<br /><i>Afe Adogame</i></p> <p>22 Islam in Africa 323<br /><i>Yushau Sodiq</i></p> <p>23 Women in Islam: Between Sufi sm and Reform in Senegal 338<br /><i>Penda Mbow</i></p> <p>24 Islam and Modernity 355<br /><i>Carmen McCain</i></p> <p>25 Jihad 365<br /><i>John H. Hanson</i></p> <p>26 Shari’a in Muslim Africa 377<br /><i>David Cook</i></p> <p>27 Hinduism in South Africa 389<br /><i>P. Pratap Kumar</i></p> <p><b>Part III Religion, Culture, and Society 399</b></p> <p>28 Religion and Art in Ile-Ife 401<br /><i>Suzanne Preston Blier</i></p> <p>29 Sufi Arts: Engaging Islam through Works of Contemporary Art in Senegal 417<br /><i>Allen F. Roberts and Mary Nooter Roberts</i></p> <p>30 Religion, Health, and the Economy 430<br /><i>James R. Cochrane</i></p> <p>31 Religion, Illness, and Healing 443<br /><i>David Westerlund</i></p> <p>32 Religion and Politics in Africa 457<br /><i>Stephen Ellis and Gerrie ter Haar</i></p> <p>33 Religion and Development 466<br /><i>Steve de Gruchy</i></p> <p>34 Religion, Media, and Confl ict in Africa 483<br /><i>Rosalind I.J. Hackett</i></p> <p>35 Gospel Music in Africa 489<br /><i>Damaris Seleina Parsitau</i></p> <p>36 Religion and Globalization 503<br /><i>Asonzeh Ukah</i></p> <p>37 Religion and Same Sex Relations in Africa 515<br /><i>Marc Epprecht</i></p> <p>Bibliography 529</p> <p>Index 590</p>

<p>“Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty.”  (<i>Choice</i><i>,</i> 1 June 2013)</p>

<p><b>THE EDITOR</b> <p><b>ELIAS KIFON BONGMBA</b> holds the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Chair in Christian Theology and is Professor of Religious Studies at Rice University. He is the author of <i>Facing a Pandemic: The African Church and Crisis of AIDS</i> (2007), <i>The Dialectics of Transformation in Africa</i> (2006), which won the 2007 Frantz Fanon Prize for outstanding work in Caribbean thought, and <i>African Witchcraft and Otherness: A Philosophical and Theological Critique of Intersubjective Relations</i> (2001).

<p><b>THE WILEY-BLACKWELL COMPANION TO AFRICAN RELIGIONS</b> <p><b>EDITED BY<br> Elias Kifon Bongmba</b> <p><i>The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to African Religions</i> presents multidisciplinary perspectives on the religious beliefs and practices of the peoples in Africa. The rich diversity of African religious traditions is revealed through contributions from renowned scholars from across a variety of fields. Initial essays focus on methodological approaches to religion from anthropological, philosophical, and historical perspectives. These are followed by chapters addressing religious experiences in indigenous, Christian, and Islamic traditions across the continent. <p>Collectively, the volume offers rich insights into both the historical developments in African religions and contemporary religious issues, including the development of African-initiated churches, neo-traditional religions, Pentecostalism, African indigenous religions, and gender relations. A concluding section delves into important topics at the intersection of culture and religion in Africa, including the arts, health, politics, globalization, and the economy.

This timely contribution to the study of African religions will become an indispensable tool and resource for anyone interested in the subject whether in the academy or beyond. The themes and issues are central to the current debate on the status, role and future of religion on the continent and the contributors are all distinguished scholars in the field and experts on their assigned topics.<br /> —<b>John W. de Gruchy,</b> Emeritus Professor of Christian Studies, University of Cape Town

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