The African Religions of Brazil
Toward a Sociology of the Interpenetration of Civilizations

First published in France in 1960, this book aims to develop a theory of the interpenetrations of African, European, Christian, and non-Christian cultures in Brazil since colonial times. It covers a range of topics - from mysticism and syncretism to the problems of collective memory, from the history of slavery in Brazil to race relations.

Written by one of France's most brilliant and creative anthropologists, The African Religions of Brazil is regarded as a classic in Afro-American studies. First published in France in 1960, the book represents a singular effort to develop a theory of the interpenetrations of African, European, Christian, and non-Christian cultures in Brazil from colonial times to the present. Addressing a remarkable range of topics-from mysticism and syncretism to the problems of collective memory, from the history of slavery in Brazil to world-wide race relations-the work is shaped by the author's rich and original conceptual framework. The result is a compelling study of the origins and growth of a native religious environment. The English translation is supplemented with a biographical foreword by Richard Price and a thematic introduction by Brazilian sociologist Duglas T. Monteiro.