Africa’s Ogun () von Sandra T. Barnes

This landmark work of ethnography explores the enduring, global worship of the African god of war-with five new essays in this new, expanded edition.Ogun-the ancient African god of iron, war, and hunting-is worshiped by more than forty million adherents in Western Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas. This rich, interdisciplinary collection draws on field research from several continents to reveal Ogun's dramatic power and enduring appeal.Contributors examine the history and spread of Ogun throughout old and new worlds; the meaning of Ogun ritual, myth, and art; and the transformations of Ogun through the deity's various manifestations. This edition includes five new essays focusing mainly on Ogun worship in the new world."e;[A]n ethnographically rich contribution to the historical understanding of West African culture, as well as an exploration of the continued vitality of that culture in the changing environments of the Americas."e; -African Studies Review

The second edition of this landmark work is enhanced by new chapters on Ogun worship in the New World. From reviews of the first edition:

" . . . an ethnographically rich contribution to the historical understanding of West African culture, as well as an exploration of the continued vitality of that culture in the changing environments of the Americas." African Studies Review

" . . . leav[es] the reader with a sense of the vitality, dynamism, and complexity of Ogun and the cultural contexts in which he thrives. . . . magnificent contribution to the literature on Ogun, Yoruba culture, African religions, and the African diaspora." International Journal of Historical Studies

Sandra T. Barnes is Professor of Anthropology and Director of African Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She is author of Patrons and Power: Creating a Political Community in Metropolitan Lagos and Ogun: An Old God for a New Age.