Originally published in 1969, this book is a translation of Frank Edgar's Hausa folk stories, which was made primarily in Sokoto Province at the direction of Major John Alder, who in 1910 gave Edgar some Hausa texts written in the Ajemic script for transliteration into Roman characters. Edgar prepared the the first volme of the Tatsuniyoyi for publication in 1911. The Hausa whose folklore Edgar recorded so industriously are the largest ethnic group in Northern Nigeria and number many millions and these tales of past events show how Hausa conceive the histories of their states, the characters of their rulers, and their institutions of government and law. These traditions are thus equally important as documents of folk thought and as historical sources.
The subject treated is a very fascinating one, to the general reader as well as to the student of psychology and ethnology. It would be difficult to see the human race in a more fantastic light than that cast by these stories of Possession. The work abounds, moreover, in suggestions for further research. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
This is Volume III of six in a series on Anthropology and Psychology. Originally published in 1930, this collection of papers looks at possession, demonical and other, among primitive races, in antiquity, the Middle Ages and modern times.
Reprint of the great study of the migration and metamorphosis of a tale. Originally published by de Gruyter in 1958. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Writing African History is an essential work for anyone who wants to write, or even seriously read, African history. It will replace Daniel McCall's classic Africa in Time Perspective as the introduction to African history for the next generation and as a reference for professional historians, interested readers, and anyone who wants to understand how African history is written. Africa in Time Perspective was written in the 1960s, when African history was a new field of research. This new book reflects the development of African history since then. It opens with a comprehensive introduction by Daniel McCall, followed by a chapter by the editor explaining what African history is (and is not) in the context of historical theory and the development of historical narrative, the humanities, and social sciences. The first half of the book focuses on sources of historical data while the second half examines different perspectives on history. The editor's final chapter explains how to combine various sorts of evidence into a coherent account of African history. Writing African History will become the most important guide to African history for the 21st century. CONTRIBUTORS: BALA ACHI, ISAAC OLAWALE ALBERT, DIEDRE L. BADJO, DOROTHEA BEDIGIAN, BARBARA M. COOPER, HENRY JOHN DREWAL, CHRISTOPHER EHRET, TOYIN FALOLA, DAVID HENIGE, JOSEPH E. HOLLOWAY, JOHN HUNWICK, S.O.Y. KEITA, WILLIAM G. MARTIN, DANIEL MCCALL, SUSAN KEECH MCINTOSH, DONATIEN DIBWE DIA MWEMBU, KATHLEEN SHELDON, JOHN THORNTON, AND MASAO YOSHIDA John Edwards Philips is professor of international society, Hirosaki University, and author of Spurious Arabic: Hausa and Colonial Nigeria (Madison, University of Wisconsin African StudiesCenter, 2000).
First Published in 1968. This book looks at the 'Bori' of the natives in West and North Africa The Bori (like spirits) are believed to be responsible for the various illnesses suffered by mankind are propitiated accordingly by offerings and sacrifices, with designated temple rooms, and being honoured with dances or rather rites during which worshippers (the sect of the Masu-Bori) become temporarily possess or ridden by the spirits.
