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Literature Review: Recreating Africa by James Sweet

In this book, James sweet explores the lives of African slaves in terms of culture in the

context of the old Portuguese colonial world. The problem here is the resistance of Africans to

throw away their cultural beliefs in the faces of oppression by their colonial masters. This

analysis looks at the millions of Central Africans that prevailed the problematic journey to south

American, specifically Brazil and unravels what their lives looked like. In this book, Sweet

focuses on their life as Africans and not Brazilians (Aimé, 128). With a specific focus on the

lives and cultural practices of the slaves from central African communities like the Ndembu,

Kongo and Imbangala, Sweet examines the particular rites s well as beliefs that prevailed their

departure from Africa into the Portuguese colonial world. His argument here is that they did not

give up on their culture immediately they were sold as slaves but stuck with them for some time.

Through the access of various historical materials obtained from inquisition trials, the

author reveals in the book shows that the slaves took them many cultural rites from Africa to

Brazil. Some of those that they carried along were divination rituals, burial rituals, kinship

restrictions on a diet, judicial ordeals as well as their respective secret societies (Sweet, 1444).

He posits that Africans maintained these structures in their initial day in the Portuguese colonial
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world. However, with time these practices transformed a bit as they learned to adapt to their new

environment.

In this realization, they used religious rituals as portent approaches to fighting slavery and

hardships that they were protesting against. Additionally, he says that many African cultural

practices and morphed and incorporated Brazilian practices, for instance, Catholicism. The

primary focus is on the creolization and how these transformations impacted on the lives and

culture of the Africans.

This problem has been addressed by other writers as well. In his article on the Khan

Academy journal, Peri Klemm posits that the contact of cultures resulting from colonization

resulted in many African cultures losing their originality. He says that art was the most affected

of all aspects of learning. In this regard, it is easy to understand how Sweet says that African

cultures were significantly transformed as a result of this contact. They initially resisted but

eventually yielded as they adapted into the new environment and social systems.

Methodology

The way African cultures were reformed in new territory and the resilience of Africans to

hold on to their beliefs forms the critical dimensions of the problem. He chronologically analyzes

the changes that Central African cultures underwent especially in the context of the new cultures

surrounding them. The examination of this problem is essential as it serves to inspire other

Africans on how they should safeguard their cultural rights. Using the historical literature and

evidence from inquisition trials, Sweet says that Africans were confident about the ability of

their cultural believes in helping them solve their daily problems even in the context of the new

world.
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He gives evidence like the kinship systems that were applied in solving the structural

problems and the Culundu ceremonies highlighted in chapter five (Sweet, 1441). In this chapter

also highlights that even the colonial masters respected and feared these powers. This aspect is

well documented throughout the book. He says that the religious arsenal was very effective in

helping the slaves fight against oppression. They used these rituals and practices in solving

conflicts and daily problems that they faced with much efficiently and coherence in their social

systems.

Empirical evidence

James Sweet supplies numerous pieces of evidence to support his course. He mentions

that an undiluted African religion, as well as unwavering spirituality, formed the base of their

resistance against colonial oppression. In chapters 4-5, he outlines the conspicuous features in

the African cosmology that was of great help to the slaves. Examples on these are the divination

rituals that were used in solving criminal activities. These rituals could make a ruling on a given

offender. Some ceremonies involved spirits, for instance, the Culundu.

These ceremonies were vital as they could help in finding a cure for various illnesses

within the community. The specialists performing these rites were in demand and could receive

substantial compensation for their incredible services (Klemm and Leah Niederstadt, 10). They

were armed with these weapons the slaves could attack their opponents on many occasions. This

ranges from rituals that were performed to heal diseases and those mean to inspire good fortune

in the community. They could use these in asking for victory against their masters.

Success of failure
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In this story, the author was very successful in bringing out how African cultures helped

the slaves prevail the colonization ordeal. His work provoked rave reviews, and many scholars

have tried to build on his work. This is a clear indication that his findings augured well with

many people especially Africans. They view this as a masterpiece of exploring how unwavering

the African culture is regardless of the situation or hardship.

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Works Cited

Césaire, Aimé. "Culture and colonization." Social Text 28.2 (103) (2010): 127-144.

Klemm, Peri M., and Leah Niederstadt. "Beyond wide-eyed angels: contemporary expressive

culture in Ethiopia." African arts 42.1 (2009): 6-13.

Sweet, James Hoke. Recreating Africa: culture, kinship, and religion in the African-Portuguese

world, 1441-1770. Univ of North Carolina Press, 2003.