West African Religion: A Study of the Beliefs and Practices of Akan, Ewe, Yoruba, Ibo, and Kindred Peoples

Originally I was displeased that the book was a comparitive study of the topic against christianity. However, the further I go in my study, I understand that the usefulness of comparitive religious studies. This is book is an invaluable resource for anyone looking for a scholarly and sympathetic treatment of the subject since books by the people about the people without a eurocentric, abrahamic religious lens are probably non-existent. The author lived amongst the subjects and takes care to dispell subversive ideology and misinformation about their beliefs and practices. Magic, though treated as a subordinate feature of religiosity per the current standard, is given generous weight in this book.

I am interested in learning about the religions of West Africa. This book provides a good introduction.

It took me a very long time to come across this book, but I am very happy that I did. It is refreshing to read someone who obviously has a respect for African culture write about it and research very thoroughly rather than spewing some biased nonsense.

Great book! I enjoy learning of untold stories and real history.

Edward Geoffrey Parrinder studies the religious thought and practice of various West African peoples, especially of Ghana and Nigeria. Parrinder qualifies West African polytheism by noting the concept of a single principal deity. This spirit, however, is considered remote. This deity is not usually approached directly. Instead, prayers and offerings are directed to lesser though powerful spirits.The ghosts of ancestors whose names are remembered are also venerated. Gifts of food, and other signs of respect, honor the place the recently-deceased continue to hold in the family and society.The practices of fortunetellers and diviners are also discussed. The religious practices of various devotional centers, called houses of a god, feature the ritual death and rebirth of devotees. Throughout West Africa, spiritual vocation means becoming a new person. Scarification and learning a new language are often part of starting a new spiritual life.The concepts and practices considered by Parrinder offer fascinating insights into West African theology. A good companion work would be Parrinder's excellent West African Psychology. Dominique Zahan's The Religion, Spirituality and Thought of Traditional Africa is also an excellent study. The perspectives are different; for example, Zahan mainly considers ethnic groups in French-speaking Africa, whereas Parrinder concentrates on English-speaking areas of West Africa.