The Modernity of Witchcraft Modernity of Witchcraft: Politics and the Occult in Postcolonial Africa Politics and the Occult in Postcolonial Africa

By Peter Geschiere

Book Overview

To many Westerners, the disappearance of African traditions of witchcraft might seem inevitable wuth continued modernization. In The Modernity of Witchcraft, Peter Geschieres uses his own experiences among the Maka and in other parts of eastern and southern Cameroon, as well as other anthropological research, to argue that contemporary ideas and practices of witchcraft are more a response to modern exigencies than a lingering cultural custom. The prevalence of witchcraft, especially in African politics and entrepreneurship, demonstrates the unlikely balance it has achieved with the forces of modernity. Geshiere explores why modern techniques and commodities, usually of Western Provenance, have become central in rumors of the occult.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813917034
• ISBN13: 9780813917030
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: University of Virginia Press
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.9"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Excelent book on the cultural implications of Witchcraft in central Africa

This book is a little dated, 1997-98, but it is still an excellent resource about the implications of witchcraft in modern Africa. It covers legislation, persecution, and social views on Witchcraft. It also addresses the fact that the term "witchcraft" is a colonialist term, and is problematic in post-colonial Africa.