Culture and Customs of the Central African Republic - (Culture and Customs of Africa) by Jacqueline Woodfork (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Central African Republic is one of the least-known African countries. This volume is the first to give a cultural overview of the key elements of this former French colony. Wood fork shows how the Republic has the fundamental building blocks, with plenty of natural resources, to take on the challenges of the modern world. The diverse ethnic groups, including Bandas and pygmies, are responding to changes such as increased urbanization.

Readers will learn about the various ways of life of the major groups and their farming, nomadic pastoral, and trading pursuits. The aggressive Islamic and Christian evangelizing alongside witchcraft and indigenous beliefs in other deities and spirits in the Central African Republic is covered as well. The chapter on food and clothing discusses the great vocabularies for food and drink in the country and the typical vibrantly colored clothes. The indigenous and French influences in cultural institutions such as education and media and literary output are explained. Insight into the family and women's roles, celebrations, and music and dance is given as well.

Book Synopsis

The Central African Republic is one of the least-known African countries. This volume is the first to give a cultural overview of the key elements of this former French colony. Wood fork shows how the Republic has the fundamental building blocks, with plenty of natural resources, to take on the challenges of the modern world. The diverse ethnic groups, including Bandas and pygmies, are responding to changes such as increased urbanization.

Readers will learn about the various ways of life of the major groups and their farming, nomadic pastoral, and trading pursuits. The aggressive Islamic and Christian evangelizing alongside witchcraft and indigenous beliefs in other deities and spirits in the Central African Republic is covered as well. The chapter on food and clothing discusses the great vocabularies for food and drink in the country and the typical vibrantly colored clothes. The indigenous and French influences in cultural institutions such as education and media and literary output are explained. Insight into the family and women's roles, celebrations, and music and dance is given as well.

Review Quotes

"Woodfork provides an introductory overview of the Central African Republic, one of the least know countries in African, both to other Africans and people of different continents. Coverage includes an historical overview and information on geography, economics and politics, followed by individual chapters exploring various aspects of Centrafrican culture and customs: religion and worldview; literature and the media; art, architecture, and living patterns; cuisine and traditional dress; gender roles, marriage, and family; social customs and lifestyle; and music and dance. The text also includes a chronology, glossary, and selected bibliography. Academic but accessible to the general reader." --Reference & Research Book News

About the Author

JACQUELINE WOODFORK is Assistant Professor of History at Loyola University New Orleans.