Black God: A Afroasiatic Roots Of The Jewish, Christian, And Muslim Religions (Syracuse Univ PR)
Author: Baldick, Julian
A comparative study of the Afroasiatic traditional religions of northern Africa and Arabia. The author argues that there is a common Afroasiatic language in those regions, so is there a common family of religions. He compares traditions as diverse as those in Yemen and Nigeria.
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African roots or connections with those religions, although I am not quite sure about the specifics of this author's argument, has been dismissed by some as being far-fetched. A multidisciplinary approach tells a different story.
[This message has been edited by Super car (edited 03 March 2005).]
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I just recieved this book rhrough inter-library loan,and its not what you think. The title is very misleading,but the book does offer some great detail and study of various Afro-Asiatic cultures from Yemani Arabs,Hausa Nigerians,Tuareg Berbers and et. Basically, it reviews all the cultures of the Afro-Asitic linguistic phylum and then compares and contrasts them.
Posts: 8675 | From: Tukuler al~Takruri as Ardo since OCT2014 | Registered: Feb 2003
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quote:Originally posted by ausar: I just recieved this book rhrough inter-library loan,and its not what you think. The title is very misleading,but the book does offer some great detail and study of various Afro-Asiatic cultures from Yemani Arabs,Hausa Nigerians,Tuareg Berbers and et. Basically, it reviews all the cultures of the Afro-Asitic linguistic phylum and then compares and contrasts them.
quote:Originally posted by ausar: I just recieved this book rhrough inter-library loan,and its not what you think. The title is very misleading,but the book does offer some great detail and study of various Afro-Asiatic cultures from Yemani Arabs,Hausa Nigerians,Tuareg Berbers and et. Basically, it reviews all the cultures of the Afro-Asitic linguistic phylum and then compares and contrasts them.
Yes, the book uses Herodotus and other Greco-Roman historians that talk about cultural similarities between all Afro-Asiatic groups. Mentions also that the modern Tuareg have a version of sleep incubation that was observed by the ancient Egyptians and also by modern Egyptians.
My only problem with the book is it neglected the cultural pratices of the modern rural Upper Egyptians. This would have been benefical to deeper understanding of some of the customs mentioned.
Also I found it interesting that the Southern Arabs don't circumcise at birth like modern Semitic cultures, but like Africans do it as a puberty rite.
I would definately recommend this book. I will post some excerpts from the book shortly.
In terms of ethnographic material it only says that the outdated Hamitic label wrongly applied is no longer valid. The author related that linguistic labels like Afro-asiatic were not racial and contained various groups within them. So one should not confuse race and lingustics as some often attempt to do.
Posts: 8675 | From: Tukuler al~Takruri as Ardo since OCT2014 | Registered: Feb 2003
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In terms of ethnographic material it only says that the outdated Hamitic label wrongly applied is no longer valid. The author related that linguistic labels like Afro-asiatic were not racial and contained various groups within them. So one should not confuse race and lingustics as some often attempt to do.
True, that linguistics in itself isn't racial, but like genealogy it gives us clues on the footprint or path of migrations, i.e. point of origin and destination.
[This message has been edited by Super car (edited 13 March 2005).]
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