Spirited Diasporas

First-person accounts that show the expandingdemographics of African-descended religions In this focused portrayal of global dispersal and spiritual sojourning, Martin Tsang draws together first-person accounts of the evolving Afro-Atlantic religious landscape. Spirited Diasporas offers a glimpse into the frequently misunderstood religions of Afro-Cuban Lucum, Haitian Vodou, and Brazilian Candombl, adding to the growing research on the transnational yet personal nature of African diasporic religions.In these accounts, practitioners from many origins illustrate the work and commitment they undertook to learn and become initiated in these traditions. They reveal in the process a variety of experiences that are not often documented. Their perspectives also show the expanding contemporary demographics of African-descended religions, many of whose members identify as LGBTQIA+ or are part of other minoritized populations, and they counter inaccurate and often racialized portrayals of these religions as being antimodern and geographically limited.Through the voices of the professionals,scholars, and activists gathered here, readers will appreciate the purpose andbelonging to be found in the far-reaching communities of these Latin Americanand Caribbean spiritualities. As the seekers in these stories discover and comehome to their new religious families, Spirited Diasporas displays the relevanceand generative power of these traditions.Contributors: Morgan M. Page |Michael Atwood Mason | Eugenia Rainey | Alex Bettencourt | Solimar Otero |Yoshiaki Koshikawa | Belia Mayeno Saavedra | Sue Kucklick-Arencibia | IvorMiller | Terri-Dawn Gonzlez | Dr. Martin A. Tsang | Giovanna Capponi | PhilippeCharlier