Iron, Gender, and Power: Rituals of Transformation in African Societies"[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. |
Contents
Techniques and Cosmology | 1 |
Those Who Play with Fire | 23 |
Rituals of Transformation and Procreation | 55 |
Exclusions and Taboos | 78 |
The Smith and the Forge | 97 |
Ironmaking and Belief | 115 |
Le RoiForgeron | 131 |