Totemism and Humananimal Relations in West Africa

List of contents

1. An Historical Review of Totemism 2. Penumbras, Ontons and Presencing 3. Hunting and Domestication 4. Killing and Consumption 5. Body-Shifting 6. Totem Crocodiles and Pythons 7. Ontology of Human–Animal Relations

About the author

Sharon Merz is a senior anthropology consultant for SIL International. She also lectures in anthropology at Moorlands College, Christchurch, UK, and at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria, Jos, Nigeria.

Summary

Focusing on totemic relationships with animals among the Bebelibe of West Africa, this book employs the concepts of ‘presencing’ and ‘the ontological penumbra’ to shed light on the ways in which people make sense of the world around them, showing how these concepts account for empathetic and intersubjective encounters with non-human animals.

Product details

• Authors: Sharon Merz, Sharon (Theological College of Northern Nige Merz
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.03.2021
• EAN: 9780367861865
• ISBN: 978-0-367-86186-5
• No. of pages: 208
• Series: Multispecies Encounters
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; SOCIAL SCIENCE / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / Social Theory, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / Urban, HISTORY / Africa / East, Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography, Christianity, Animals & society, Social and cultural anthropology, West Africa, Animals and society, Traditional African religions and spiritual beliefs, Tribal religions, Indigenous, ethnic and folk religions and spiritual beliefs