Synopses & Reviews
"[Herbert] has constructed a model of power relationships structured upon gender and age, and derived from male transformative processes, and in so doing has written a notable, and most enjoyable, book." --African History
"Herbert examines with great care and thoroughness the relationships between gender and power and the rationales that give them social form.... [Her] analytical ability is outstanding." --Patrick McNaughton
"This book is a well-written and essential study of the place of belief in African material culture." --International Journal of African Historical Studies
Herbert relates the beliefs and practices associated with iron working in African cultures to other transformative activities--chiefly investiture, hunting, and pottery making--to propose a gender/age-based theory of power.
Synopsis
Herbert relates the beliefs and practices associated with iron working in African cultures to other transformative activities-chiefly investiture, hunting, and pottery making-to propose a gender/age-based theory of power.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [241]-270) and index.
About the Author
EUGENIA W. HERBERT is E. Nevius Rodman Professor of African History at Mount Holyoke College and author of Red Gold of Africa: Copper in Precolonial History and Culture.