The Land of Fetish

Name: The Land of Fetish
Author: A. B. Ellis

By A. B. Ellis

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Archaeology & Anthropology History - Other Travel Writing

About This Book

This travelogue and ethnographic account recounts journeys along West African coasts and interior settlements, combining scene descriptions, encounters with local rulers and communities, and detailed observations of religious and fetish practices, including offerings to river, tree, and lightning deities and rituals for illness, twins, and protection. It reports on coastal towns, slave-trade legacies, markets, peculiar legal and funeral customs, military and political events involving Dahomey, Ashanti, and other polities, missionary activity, and colonial administration. Vivid anecdotes illustrate ceremonies, human sacrifices, female military units, sanitary conditions, and clashes between indigenous and European institutions.

About the Author

A. B. Ellis

A. B. Ellis was a British author and historian known for his contributions to the understanding of Caribbean history and culture. His notable works include "The History of the First West India Regiment," which provides insights into the military and social dynamics of the Caribbean during the colonial period, and "The Land of Fetish," which explores the cultural practices and beliefs of African communities in the West Indies. Through his writings, Ellis aimed to document and analyze the complexities of colonial life and the impact of African heritage in the Caribbean.