Dorrough Smith, Ramey/ Religions of the World, 1. African Religions

This chapter explores and then interrogates four different representations of African Religions. The first representation examines the diverse practices across the continent that people often combine under the label “African Religions.” The second representation analyzes the beliefs and practices of the Yoruba to illustrate the complexity within one of the largest and most influential forms of African Religion. The third representation considers how practitioners of traditional African religions have interacted with Muslims and Christians, since Islam and Christianity have both had a presence in the African continent since the very beginning of each religion. The fourth representation focuses on African Religions as political influence, emphasizing how the different constructions and representations of that category reflect a range of social interests.