Description
Book SynopsisIn this book, Eric Montgomery and Christian Vannier provide an ethnographically informed text on the cultural meanings and practices surrounding the gods and metaphysics of Vodu, as they relate to daily life in an ethnic Ewe fishing community on the coast of southern Togo. The authors approach this spirit possession and medicinal order through “shrine ethnography,” understanding shrines as parts of sacred landscapes that are ecological, economic, political, and social. Giving voice to practitioners and situating shrines and Vodu itself into the history and political economy of the region make this text pertinent to the social changes and global relevance of Millennial Africa.
Trade Review"Through their extensive engagement with vodu shrine priests, devotees, and villagers, anthropologists Montgomery (Wayne State Univ.) and Vannier (Univ. of Michigan-Flint) clarify the interconnected ritual economy of Gbedala, in which dedication to particular vodu deities is a source of both spiritual and material benefits." E. P. Renne, University of Michigan, CHOICE, Vol. 54 No. 12 'Eric Montgomery and Christian Vannier’s (2017) book is a careful, ethnographically rich, and historically grounded contribution to African Studies and especially to the understanding of Vodu, one of the world’s most well-known West African religious complexes (...) If encouraging readers to think in different ways is a measure of success, then I give Montgomery and Vannier’s book five stars. This is a study of tremendous value to scholars of religions in the African Atlantic World that will resonate with historians and anthropologists alike. It is sophisticated enough to speak to specialists and engaging enough to capture the attention of students and the interested public. For anyone wishing to learn more about Africa or religion, this is a superb exploration of both.' Timothy Landry, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, Journal of Religion in Africa 48 (2018).
