Death and the Invisible Powers

(Bockie's) description of Kongo culture is vivid, beautifullyclear, and absolutely authentic, as only a native could make it.... I don't know ofanything of its kind that is both as good, ethnographically, and asreadable. -- Wyatt MacGaffeySimon Bockie haswritten an engaging, often personal account of the views and behaviors surroundingdeath in his own society, the Kongo of Lower Zaire, northern Angola, and theCongo. -- Cahiers d'Etudes africaines... excellentbook of Kongo religious life and thought... --ReligionIt is a book that is remarkably well written, bothfor its readability and for its explanatory value.... the book is a superb startingplace for understanding Kongo religion, and will work as an introduction to Africanreligion in general as well. -- International Journal of African HistoricalStudies... an excellent introduction for anyone seeking tounderstand Kongo traditional culture and thought. --OshunRich in anecdote and case histories, Death and the InvisiblePowers is a personal account of the spiritual life of the Kongo people. It describesthe ancient traditions that nourish a culture whose name symbolizes the heart ofCentral Africa.