When Gods Begin Again: Intro to African and African Diaspora Religions

This introductory course examines Indigenous African and African Diaspora religions from an interdisciplinary perspective. We explore Yorùbá and other African religions, along with African Christianity, Islam, Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santería, Brazilian Candomblé, Sango Baptist of Trinidad and Tobago, Rastafari and Obeah of Jamaica, Black American conjure, and Oyotunji Village. Important themes of religions in Africa and the Afro-Atlantic Diaspora are addressed, such as: the veneration of God(s), Spirit(s), Ancestors, and the natural world; divination, initiation, sacred space, and healing; the impact of slavery on conversion and continuity; fetish as a colonial construct; globalization, race, gender, and power. Ultimately, this course encourages students to reevaluate their understanding of Africana religions, recognize diverse cultural practices and ritual knowledge systems, and engage with oral, written and audio/visual texts that underscore the values of these traditions.