Divine Inspiration: From Benin to Bahia

Photographer Phyllis Galembo was invited to Nigeria in 1985 to document the research of her friend and colleague, Norma Rosen, on the design and use of traditional Edo altars, ritual objects, and ceremonial dress. From this and subsequent journeys comes this collection of spectacular photographs and essays on Nigerian and Brazilian shrines and ritual figures. The first section of this book contains rare photographs of traditional priests and priestesses and the shrine objects they use. Both the essay by Rosen, an ordained Olokun priestess, and Galembo's powerful photographs illuminate some of West Africa's elaborate cultural and religious traditions. The second section explores the Brazilian form of ancient African spiritual religion brought to the New World during the Atlantic slave trade of the sixteenth century. The connection between the Ivory Coast of Africa and the New World has been acknowledged in works on the history, anthropology literature, folklore and music of the two areas, but never has visual documentation of this depth and quality been made available. This books breaks new ground in the study of African Diaspora while it provides powerful photographs that are, above all, a celebration of the senses.