Women and religion in the African diaspora
Book Description
This groundbreaking scholarly collection illuminates the rich spiritual lives of women across the African diaspora, revealing how faith has shaped their daily experiences and extraordinary contributions throughout history. Editor R. Marie Griffith brings together newly commissioned essays that span continents and cultures, examining the religious practices of women from North America, the Caribbean, Brazil, and Africa.
The volume explores how women of African descent have woven spirituality into the fabric of their ordinary lives while sometimes rising to extraordinary leadership roles. Contributors examine diverse faith traditions including Christianity, Islam, and African-derived spiritual practices like Candomblé, investigating questions of authenticity, tradition, and cultural memory in diasporic communities.
These essays reveal women serving as spiritual leaders, artists, musicians, preachers, and active participants in religious communities both within and beyond institutional boundaries. The collection addresses how memories of historical suffering continue to influence contemporary spiritual expression, while highlighting the power dynamics and leadership roles women navigate in their religious communities.
Through its transnational perspective and innovative analytical approaches, this work challenges conventional academic frameworks for understanding religion in diaspora. The book offers fresh insights into how women's spiritual practices create meaning across geographical boundaries and generational divides, making it essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the intersection of gender, faith, and cultural identity in the modern world.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)
📄 Length: 374 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Garifuna (Caribbean people)
- ✓ Explore African diaspora
- ✓ Explore Vrouwen
- ✓ Explore Candomble (Religion)
- ✓ Explore Diaspora
- ✓ Explore Schwarze Frau
- ✓ Explore Medical
