Out of the three chapters given in the assigned weekly reading, Chapter 2 of African American Religious History was the one that resonated with me the most. When I began reading about the Obi-men of Jamaica, it reminded me of the West African witch doctors that my grandmother used to tell me about. As a child, I was so mesmerized by her stories because it was much different from the conventional stories I heard in elementary school. Until I encountered the text, I had no idea that these West African doctors brought their rituals with them to Jamaica during the Columbian Exchange. Jamaica is often overlooked in terms of its deeply rooted culture, but I’m glad that Sernett included this excerpt in his book.
The Obi Men
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