Encyclopaedia of African Religion

897 Pages·2009·14.6 MB·English

by  Molefi Kete Asante

Editorial Board
Editors
Molefi Kete Asante Ama Mazama
Temple University Temple University
Editorial Board
Chinua Achebe Marta Moreno Vega
Bard College Caribbean Cultural Center
Kwame Gyekye Isidore Okpewho
University of Ghana Binghamton University,
State University of New York
Maulana Karenga
California State University, Kofi Asare Opoku
Long Beach Lafayette College
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
AFRICAN
RELIGION
EDITORS
MOLEFI KETE ASANTE
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
AMA MAZAMA
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
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EncyclopediaofAfricanreligion/editors,MolefiKeteAsante,AmaMazama.
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Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978-1-4129-3636-1(cloth:alk.paper)
1. Africa—Religion—Encyclopedias. I.Asante,MolefiK.,1942-II.Mazama,Ama,1961-
BL2400.E532009
299.603—dc22 2008027578
Thisbookisprintedonacid-freepaper.
08 09 10 11 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
List of Entries vii
Reader’s Guide xi
About the Editors xv
Contributors xvii
Introduction xxi
Entries
A 1 N 439
B 85 O 469
C 149 P 517
D 191 Q 555
E 229 R 557
F 257 S 583
G 279 T 645
H 303 U 679
I 325 V 685
J 353 W 703
K 359 X 729
L 375 Y 731
M 397 Z 741
Appendix: African Names of God 747
Bibliography: African Religious Sources 751
Index 797

List of Entries
Abaluyia Anukis Bata Drums
Abasi Apep Batonga
Abela Apis Bats
Abosom Apuleius Batwa
Abuk Asamando Bawon Samdi
Adae Asante Baya
Adinkra Symbols Asantehene Beads
Adu Ogyinae Asase Yaa Beja
Africism Ashe Bemba
Afterlife Aten Bes
Age Groups Atum Bete
Agricultural Rites Ausar Birds
Agwe Auset Birth
Aida Wedo Ax Blessing
Air Azaka, the Loa Blood
Aiwel Azande Boats
Akamba Bobo
Akan Ba Bois Caiman
Akhenaten Babalawo Bokonon
Akhetaten Baga Bondo Society
Alafin of Oyo Baganda Bondye
Altars Bakongo Book of the Coming Forth by
Amen Bakota Day(TheBookoftheDead)
Amenhotep Balanta Boukman
Amma Balengue Bubembe
Amokye Bali Bubi
Amulet Baluba Bulls
Ananse Bamana Bulu
Ancestors Bamileke Bumuntu
Ancestors and Harmonious Bamun Burial of the Dead
Life Bantu Philosophy
Animal Images Banyankore Calamities
Animals Banyarwanda Candomblé
Animatism Bariba Caves
Animism Barotse Ceremonies
Ankh Bassa Chagga
Anubis Basuto Chaminuka
vii
viii ListofEntries
Chewa Elders Haya
Chi Eleda Healing
Children Eniyan Health
Chiwara Ennead Heka
Chokwe Epa Society Heru, Horus
Circumcision Epistemology Hoodoo
Clay Esu, Elegba Hotep
Clitorectomy Eternal Life Houngan
Color Symbolism Evil Hounsi
Congo Jack Ewe Hunting
Conjurers Eye of Horus Husia
Convince Ezili Dantò Hutu
Cosmology Ezili Freda
Cowrie Shells Ibibio
Creation Fa Ibis, Symbol of Tehuti
Crossroads Family Idoma
Cultural Relocation Family Rites Ifa
Curse Fang Igbo
Faro Ikin
Dagu Fatiman, Cécile Ilé-Ifè
Danbala Wedo Fertility Imhotep
Dance and Song Fetish Incarnation
Dausi Fire Incense
Death Flag and Flag Planting Infertility
Desounen Fon Initiation
Destiny Food Intermediaries
Diaspora Fula (Fulbe) Invocations
Dinka Funeral Iwa
Diola Iwa Pele
Dioula Ga Iyalorisha
Disease Gamo Religion
Divination Systems Gèlèdè Jok (Acholi)
Divinities Ginen Jola
Dogon God Juju
Dogon Religion and Science Goddesses Justice
Dreams Gola
Drum, The Govi Ka
Duala Groves, Sacred Kabre of Togo
Dwat Gulu Kalûnga
Dyow Initiations Guro Khnum
Gurunsi Khonsu
Earth Gwobonanj Kimbundu
Efik Kings
Egungun Hapi Kintu Myth Cycle
Ekoi Harvest Kirdi
Ekpo Secret Society Hathor Kisalian Graves
ListofEntries ix
Kumina Ngai Palo
Kurumba Nganga Pedi
Kwa Ba Ngewo Personhood
Nkisi Petwo
Lakes Nkulunkulu Peul
Laveau, Marie Nkwa Phoenix
Lele Nommo Placenta
Lightning North America, African Plants
Lobi Religion in Pocomania
Lomwe Nuer Poro Society
Lovedu Number Potomitan
Symbolism
Lugbara Predestination
Nyame
Luo Pregnancy
Nzambi
Lwa Priests
Procreation
Oaths
Maasai Proverbs and Teaching
Obatala
Maat Ptah
Obeah
Magic Puberty
Ocean
Makandal Punishment
Oduduwa
Mambo Purification
Odu Ifa
Mami Wata Pyramids
Offering
Maroon Communities Pythons
Ogboni Society
Marriage
Ogdoad
Mawu-Lisa Queens
Ogun
Medicine
Ohum Festival
Medicine Men and Women Ra
Okande
Mediums Rada
Okomfo Anokye
Mende Rain
Olodumare
Min Rain Dance
Olokun
Montu Rain Queen
Olorun
Moon Red
Ontology
Mossi Reincarnation
Opening of the Mouth
Mountains and Hills Resistance to Enslavement
Ceremony
Mount Cameroon Rites of Passage
Oracles
Mount Kenya Rites of Reclamation
Oral Text
Mummification Rituals
Oral Tradition
Muntu. See Bumuntu Rivers and Streams
Ori
Music Origin of Religion River Tano. See Tano River
Mutwa, Credo Vusamazulu Orisha Rocks and Stones
Orisha Nla Ruhanga
Naming Orunmila
Nana Buluku Oshun Sacrifice
Nanny Oumfò Sangoma
N’domo Ovaherero Sankofa, Concept
Neb Ankh Ovambo Sankofa, Film
Nehanda Oya Santeria