Charlatans, spirits and rebels in Africa : the Stephen Ellis reader / edited by Tim Kelsall.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Kelsall, Tim, 1970- editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Civilization.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (651 pages)

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2022]

Summary:

When Stephen Ellis died in July 2015, African Studies lost one of its most prolific, provocative and celebrated scholars. Given the scale and uniqueness of his contribution, it is perhaps surprising that a collection of his writings did not appear during his lifetime. It is now possible to bring such a volume to the public. With an introduction by Tim Kelsall and an afterword by Jean-François Bayart, this collection aims to provide scholars and students with an introduction to the main themes in Ellis' work. These revolved around the roles of religion, criminality and violence in African society and politics--preoccupations that also informed his interpretation of African rebellions and resistance movements. The volume spans more than three decades of scholarship; case studies from six countries; highly-cited and lesser-known articles; and a sampling of works intended for public engagement as well as an academic audience. It will serve as a reader for African Politics and History, and as an invitation to students to delve deeper into Stephen Ellis' oeuvre.

Contents:

Intro Title Copyright Contents Preface (Solofo Randrianja): Stephen Ellis: The Gentleman Historian Introduction by Tim Kelsall Section One Method 1. Writing Histories of Contemporary Africa 2. Africa's Wars of Liberation: Some Historiographical Reflections 3. Tuning in to Pavement Radio 4. Rumour and Power in Togo 5. Violence and History: A Response to Thandika Mkandawire Section Two Rebellion and Repression 6. The Political Elite of Imerina and the Revolt of the Menalamba. The Creation of a Colonial Myth in Madagascar, 1895-1898 7. Mbokodo: Security in ANC Camps, 1961-1990 8. The Historical Significance of South Africa's Third Force 9. Liberia 1989-1994: A Study of Ethnic and Spiritual Violence Section Three Religion 10. Religion and Politics: Taking African Epistemologies Seriously (co-authored by Gerrie ter Haar) 11. Religion and Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa (co-authored by Gerrie ter Haar) 12. The Occult Does Not Exist: A Response to Terence Ranger (co-authored by Gerrie ter Haar) 13. Witch-Hunting in Central Madagascar 1828-1861 Section Four Crime 14. The New Frontiers of Crime in South Africa 15. Africa and International Corruption: The Strange Case of South Africa and the Seychelles 16. This Present Darkness: A History of Nigerian Organised Crime 17. West Africa's International Drug Trade Section Five Public Engagement 18. How to Rebuild Africa 19. The Roots of African Corruption 20. South Africa and the Decolonization of the Mind Afterword (Jean-François Bayart): State and Religion in Africa, or Two or Three Things that Stephen Ellis Taught Me Notes Stephen Ellis Bibliography compiled by Jos Damen Copyright Permissions and Publisher's Acknowledgement Back Cover.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-19-766740-6

0-19-766452-0