Sidney M. Greenfield - Reinventing religions: syncretism and transformation in Africa and the Americas

Cover

Page 1

Reinventing Religions

Page 2

The above picture, taken in southern Brazil by photographer Peter Kloehn of New York City, is of an Umbanda altar on which are placed representations of the spirits believed to guide its members. Many of these supernatural beings are believed to incorporate in the leaders of the group when they enter into trance during rituals. This is when the spirits consult with and help the members of the group. The representation of Christian saints, orixs (deities) from Africa, and spirits of former slaves and other marginalized Brazilians on the same altar clearly depicts the syncretic mixing of the supernaturals venerated by the members of this group and is representative of the theme of Reinventing Religions.

Page 3

Syncretism and Transformation in Africa and the Americas

Edited by Sidney M. Greenfield and Andr Droogers

ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD PUBLISHERS, INC.

Lanham Boulder New York Oxford

Page 4

ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD PUBLISHERS, INC.

Published in the United States of America by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

4720 Boston Way, Lanham, Maryland 20706

http://www.romanlittlefield.com

12 Hid's Copse Road, Cumnor Hill, Oxford OX2 9JJ, England

Copyright 2001 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover photo is courtesy of Jualynne E. Dodson of the African Atlantic Research team of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Jos Millet Batista, senior research associate of Casa del Caribe en Santiago de Cuba, March 2000.

The cover photograph, taken in Santiago de Cuba, comes from practitioners of the tradition of Regla de Palo. It shows a section of an altar that was displayed in a priest's home. The altar is both recognition and reverence of the Native American's first occupation of the land and spiritual space in the Americas. The other elements displayed, such as the rock, pieces of tree leaves, and sticks from the earth, are derived from the African religious heritage in Cuba.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Reinventing religions: syncretism and transformation in Africa and the Americas / edited by Sidney M.Greenfield and Andr Droogers.

p. cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0-8476-8852-6 (alk. paper) ISBN 0-8476-8853-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. BlacksReligionCongresses. 2. Syncretism (Religion)Africa, Sub-SaharanCongresses. 3. Syncretism (Religion)Latin AmericaCongresses. 4. Afro-Brazilian cultsCongresses. I. Greenfield, Sidney M. II. Droogers, A.F.

Printed in the United States of America

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials,
ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Page 5

To Ellie and Ineke ,
for their patience and support

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9

Religion, in its broadest sense, is fundamental in the lives and meaning systems of most people, especially those of Africa. It also has been at the heart of most encounters between Africans and outsiders. This book is about syncretism, specifically religious syncretism. Its focus is on the religious beliefs and practices of those alive today who are the products of the contact, mixing or interpenetration between Africans, Euro-Americans and others during the last five centuries.