Book

An outline of Dahomean religious belief

The American Anthropological Association (41) • Published In 1933 • Pages: 77

By: Herskovits, Melville J. (Melville Jean), Herskovits, Frances S. (Frances Shapiro).

Abstract
A collaborative work of Herskovits and Herskovits, this book systematically outlines the many dimensions of Dahomean religious beliefs. Combining information from existing accounts and original fieldwork, the authors describe Dahomey religion as a complex system consisting of a several gods, ancestral cults, personal spirits and magical powers. Relations among these powers are viewed as though hierarchical. Yet Dohomean did not worship to a universal God. Instead, each god was historically associated as the God of a specific community and/or locality. The authors argue that variations in degree of attachment and worship forms occurred only in the later years mainly due to population migration across different sections of the kingdom.
Subjects
General character of religion
Animism
Spirits and gods
Cult of the dead
Congregations
Religious experience
Prayers and sacrifices
Revelation and divination
Sacred objects and places
Magic
Theory of disease
Sorcery
Magical and mental therapy
Priesthood
Theological systems
culture
Fon
HRAF PubDate
2016
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Western Africa
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Anthropologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Teferi Abate Adem
Field Date
1931
Coverage Date
1863-1931
Coverage Place
southern Benin (Dahomey)
Notes
By Melville J. Herskovits and Frances S. Herskovits
LCCN
34005259
LCSH
Fon (African people)
Ethnology--Benin
Benin--Religion