Some of the missionaries to the Gold Coast were not whites. This biography of David Asante throws light not only on the development of the Christian church but also on the evolution of of gender relations and society in mid 19th century colonial Ghana. Illustrated with b/w photographs. Text in German. Index, notes, maps, bib, viii, 258pp, Switzerland. SCHLETTWEIN PUBLISHING, 3908193125

An examination of Pentecostal/charismatic renewal in an African context providing useful insights into the nature of modern African Pentecostal spirituality. The author focuses on Ghanaian Pentecostalism in its modern form. BNS, 260pp, THE NETHERLANDS. EJ BRILL, 9004140891

Argues that the vast majority of Muslims in Africa generally do not 'objectify' concepts such as poverty and religion in discussion. Poverty is a situation for 'ordinary' poor people in rural or urban poor areas where people seek to make marginal gains in income to avoid ever-threatening destitution and social disintegration. Most of these 'ordinary' poor people, especially poor and illiterate women, do not really believe that things can change. This study focuses on the conditions of poverty and the debate among Muslims in Ghana, a West African country with a substantial but largely economically and politically marginalized Muslim population. 175pp, SWEDEN. NORDIC AFRICA INSTITUTE.

Charismatic Christianity is the most recent and fastest growing expression of Pentecostal religion in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana's capital, Accra, the charismatic churches dominate the religious scene. This book focuses on the gender discourses of Ghana's new churches, and considers charismatic perspectives on womanhood, manhood, marriage and family life. Offering a fresh perspective on the organisational structures of the charismatic churches, this study looks at the leadership roles of female pastors and pastors' wives, and draws attention to the links between female leaders and spiritual power. By highlighting the importance of spiritual power in interpreting gendered social change, the book sheds new light on the socio-cultural role of Ghana's new churches. Index, bib, 268pp, NETHERLANDS. EJ BRILL.

Focusing on Greater Accra, the author examines a wide range of the city's new churches, giving priority to mega churches. Gifford analyses discourse, theological vision, worship, rituals, music, media involvement and the use of the Bible. Index, 216pp, UK. HURST, 085065719X

An early theological study by an African scholar of the African response to the Christian faith. Republished, with a new foreword by J. Kwabena Asmoah-Gyadu of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Ghana, which revisits some of the author’s conclusions in light of recent developments in the indigenous and Christian religious movements in independent Africa. 179pp, GHANA. AFRICA CHRISTIAN PRESS.

Using descriptions of Kasena family life, the author sheds light on both the continuing and changing spiritual beliefs of a Christian people of Northern Ghana. The author uses history, geography, personal interviews, songs, prayers and sermons to assess the emerging Christian theology. Glossary, bib, app, tables, maps, index, b/w photos, xx, 394pp, GHANA. AFRICA CHRISTIAN PRESS,

A profile of the Presbyterian Church in Ghana looking at its contributions to education, agriculture and the development of Ghanaian languages and music over 175 years. Bib, b/w illus, 171pp, GHANA. AFRAM PUBLICATIONS LTD, 996470349X

Aims to provide an accessible introduction to the dynamics and structures of traditional African religion, and to see its resonances in African American religious life today. Each chapter ends with study questions and a bibliography. Maps, notes, refs, gloss, index, xvi, 198pp, USA. ORBIS BOOKS, 157075165X

1998 Paperback