Spirits and Slaves in Central Sudan

This historical ethnography from Central Sudan explores the century-old intertwining of zar , spirit possession, with past lives of ex-slaves and shows that, despite very different social and cultural contexts, zar has continued to be shaped by the experience of slavery.

"Although Zar is a well-documented cultural movement, this treatment is particularly rich in ethnographic detail and local voices . . . the book is an important addition to that specialized literature. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students/faculty." - CHOICE

"As an intimate and sensitive portrayal of how zar is lived and remains relevant over time as part of local histories, Kenyon's book is a significant achievement and an important contribution to research on lineage, ritual knowledge, religious institutions and change, and historical ethnography more generally." - Society for the Anthropology of Religion

"The fruit of decades of anthropological fieldwork with a set of families in Sennar, Spirits and Slaves in Central Sudan is a valuable ethnohistorical resource. This is a rich and rewarding ethnography, beautifully written and highly accessible. It is a welcome addition to the literature on Sudan, on zar, and on Sudanese women." - Janice Boddy, Professor and Chair of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Canada

"When Sudan figures in the news, reports are inevitably confined to chronic civil war, famine, and religious strife. This lively account from one of the field's leading authorities on zar spirit possession offers a wonderfully refreshing antidote. Kenyon's meticulous work deciphers the intertwined yet obscured histories of women and zar spirits in the town of Sennar. This is indeed a detailed subaltern history, as recounted through the stories and actions of remarkable women, and recorded by a truly gifted ethnographer." - Lesley Sharp, Ann Whitney Olin Professor of Anthropology, Barnard College, USA

Susan M. Kenyon is professor emerita of the Department of Anthropology at Butler University, USA.