Examining the ways in which social anthropologists might gain from and contribute to, historical studies this volume contains papers on historical studies by anthropologists on 19th century Nupe, Yoruba and Benin and 17th century Cameroons in West Africa; on the succession in kingship in Buganda; and on the development of national politics in Albania. First published in 1968.

Routledge is proud to be re-issuing this landmark series in association with the International African Institute. The series, published between 1950 and 1977, brings together a wealth of previously un-co-ordinated material on the ethnic groupings and social conditions of African peoples. Concise, critical and (for its time) accurate, the Ethnographic Survey contains sections as follows: Physical Environment Linguistic Data Demography History & Traditions of Origin Nomenclature Grouping Cultural Features: Religion, Witchcraft, Birth, Initiation, Burial Social & Political Organization: Kinship, Marriage, Inheritance, Slavery, Land Tenure, Warfare & Justice Economy & Trade Domestic Architecture Each of the 50 volumes will be available to buy individually, and these are organized into regional sub-groups: East Central Africa, North-Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, West Central Africa, Western Africa, and Central Africa Belgian Congo. The volumes are supplemented with maps, available to view on routledge.com or available as a pdf from the publishers.

Routledge is proud to be re-issuing this landmark series in association with the International African Institute. The series, published between 1950 and 1977, brings together a wealth of previously un-co-ordinated material on the ethnic groupings and social conditions of African peoples. Concise, critical and (for its time) accurate, the Ethnographic Survey contains sections as follows: Physical Environment Linguistic Data Demography History & Traditions of Origin Nomenclature Grouping Cultural Features: Religion, Witchcraft, Birth, Initiation, Burial Social & Political Organization: Kinship, Marriage, Inheritance, Slavery, Land Tenure, Warfare & Justice Economy & Trade Domestic Architecture Each of the 50 volumes will be available to buy individually, and these are organized into regional sub-groups: East Central Africa, North-Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, West Central Africa, Western Africa, and Central Africa Belgian Congo. The volumes are supplemented with maps, available to view on routledge.com or available as a pdf from the publishers.

First published in 1980, this second edition of Islam in Tropical Africa presents specialist studies of the history and sociology of Muslim communities in Africa south of the Sahara. The studies cover an extensive and range of time and place, and include consideration of particular aspects of Muslim belief and practice in regions such as Senegal and Somalia. The second edition includes an updated introduction which draws attention to the ways in which differently organized traditional cultures and social systems had reacted and adapted to Muslim influence in the field of politics, law and ritual in the second half of the twentieth century. This book will be of interest to those studying Islam, African studies and ethnography.

I.M. Lewis's wide-ranging comparative study looks at the psychological, medical, aesthetic, religious, and cultural aspects of possession, and covers themes including soul-loss, ecstatic trance, divination, erotic passion and exorcism. Probing the mysteries of spirit possession through the critical lens of anthropological and sociological theory, this fully revised and expanded third edition is of crucial importance for students of psychology, sociology, religious mysticism and shamanism.

States of spirit possession, in which believer's feel themselves to be "possessed" by the deity and raised to a new plane of existence, are found in almost all known religions. From Dionysiac cults to Haitian voodoo, Christian and Sufi mysticism to shamanic ritual, the rapture and frenzy of ecstatic experience forms an iconic expression of faith in all its devastating power and unpredictability.;"Ecstatic Religion", first published in 1971 and now in its third edition, is an investigative study of these phenomena. Exploring the social and political significance of spiritual ecstasy and possession, it concerns the distinct types of functions of mystical experience - in particular, the differences between powerful male-dominated possession cults which reinforce established morality and power, and marginal, renegade ecstatics expressing forms of protest on behalf of the oppressed, especially women. I.M. Lewis's wide-ranging comparative study looks at the psychological, medical, aesthetic, religious and cultural aspects of possession, and covers themes including soul-loss, ecstatic trance, divination, erotic passion and exorcism. Probing the mysteries of spirit possession through the c

Religious power assumes strikingly different forms, often regarded as unique and unrelated. Religion in Context, however, argues that these apparently contradictory experiences are part of a web of mutually sustaining elements. I.M. Lewis analyzes phenomena such as witchcraft, cannibalism, and shamanism, revealing connections among them and with the world religions. This expanded and updated edition illuminates critical aspects of religious power, and will be of value to anyone concerned with the nature of religion in the modern world.

Religious power assumes many strikingly different forms, which are often regarded as unique, unrelated, and even mutually exclusive. Religion in Context, however, adopts a holistic approach and argues that these apparently contradictory mystical experiences are in fact part of a web of mutually defining and sustaining elements. Stressing the importance of rigorous social contextualisation, I. M. Lewis analyses phenomena such as spirit-possession, witchcraft, cannibalism, and shamanism, revealing connections between them and with the world religions. This expanded and updated edition illuminates critical aspects of religious power, and demonstrates the value of a comparative approach to formulating anthropological theory. It will be of value to students of anthropology, religion, and to anyone concerned with the nature of religion in the modern world.

This latest edition of "A Modern History of the Somali" brings I. M. Lewis's definitive history up to date and shows the amazing continuity of Somali forms of social organization. Lewis's history portrays the ingeniousness with which the Somali way of life has been adapted to all forms of modernity.

With a new Introduction by Said S. Samatar and an Afterword by the author This series of Classics in African Anthropology is primarily drawn from a distinct family of texts which dominated the academic analysis of society in mid-20th century Africa. The texts reproduced are significant yet often neglected, and have stood the test of time. New edition of I.M. Lewis's classic 1961 study of pastoralism in Somalia, published in association with the International African Institute North America: Transaction Books; Germany: Lit Verlag

This book aims to provide a sociologically and anthropologically informed history of the Somali people. It seeks to elucidate the circumstances of the holy war waged by Sayyid Muhammad 'Abdille Hassan against the colonizers between 1900 and 1920.

First published in 1980, this second edition of Islam in Tropical Africa presents specialist studies of the history and sociology of Muslim communities in Africa south of the Sahara. The studies cover an extensive and range of time and place, and include consideration of particular aspects of Muslim belief and practice in regions such as Senegal and Somalia. The second edition includes an updated introduction which draws attention to the ways in which differently organized traditional cultures and social systems had reacted and adapted to Muslim influence in the field of politics, law and ritual in the second half of the twentieth century. This book will be of interest to those studying Islam, African studies and ethnography.