Though Malawi and Central Africa are now predominantly Christian countries, African tradition relgion remains important everywhere. Now a classic, this study was first published in 1979 against the background of neglect in publishing texts on economic and social history and other aspects of cultural development. It provides important information on Central African territorial cults, and it one of a series recording the history of African religious systems. Ten scholars report on detailed case studies conducted in Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

In the early 1990s, the church in Malawi mounted concerted and public opposition to the regime of Hastings Banda. The Catholic bishops issued a Lenten pastoral letter, which ignited the processs that led to a democratic election. This record of the story through the 1960s onwards is about a church discovering its mandate, and struggling to live with it. The record is a chronicle of events and developments before and after the publication of the bishops' Lenten letter, It also contains the literal text, in part or in full, of important statements and docucments issued by the parties concerned.

Though Malawi in general, and the areas described in this book, are predominantly Christian, traditional religion is still an important reality, beside and within Christianity in Malawi. Matthew Schoffeleers, a Montfortian missionary priest and social anthropologist, addresses here aspects of African tradition religion, with a particular focus on spirit possesion. Both in its individual importance and in its territorial importance. Of the six papers collected in the book two deal with rain cults, which for centuries have played a central role in the political and religious life of Malawi, two with territorial spirit mediumship and two with cults of affliction.