Society of the dead : Quita Manaquita and Palo praise in Cuba /

Anthropologist and religious studies scholar Ochoa (Univ. of North Carolina) offers an insightful, empathetic narrative of his personal encounters with two religious specialists who practice Palo, a Kongo-inspired religion that differs from other Afro-Cuban religions due to its focus on the apprehension of Kalunga--the ambient dead. Conducting his research within a single religious house located on the outskirts of Havana, Ochoa was a fully engaged participant in Palo. At the same time, he maintains a degree of skepticism as a thoroughgoing "materialist" seeking to "make sense" of Palo by reference to various continental philosophies. Refreshingly, he does not allow philosophical speculation to interfere with the flow of his compelling first-person narrative. Ochoa spent 12 years writing this book, experimenting with various ways of portraying Palo, and his time was well spent. His presentation is clear and well organized. With respect to style, the book compares favorably with other writings on Afro-Cuban religions. With respect to content, the book contains much corroborating detail and is brimming with ethnographic authority. While Ochoa's coverage of Palo is intentionally incomplete, his work is unlikely to be superseded. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Most levels/libraries. S. D. Glazier University of Nebraska--Lincoln