Traditional Ideas that Heal a Continent.
Africa's traditional beliefs - including ancestor worship, divination and witchcraft - continue to dominate its spiritual influences. Readers in search of a better understanding of the continent will be enriched by this book's timely exploration of sub-Saharan Africa's natural philosophy.
The book records a collection of true stories which illustrate traditional belief systems, placing them in their contemporary and historical contexts. Included are the famous Malawian diviner whose prophecies were considered so accurate that people flocked from neighbouring countries to consult him; a group of western-trained Mozambican psychologists who successfully refined cross-cultural therapy by working with traditional healers to combat post-traumatic stress syndrome among child soldiers; and a Zambian archbishop whose attempt to embrace traditional African beliefs provoked serious conflict with his Christian church.
'African Magic' explains why so many Africans understand the relationship between people and unfortunate events through belief in witchcraft.
