Revealing Prophets — (1995)

Prophecy In Eastern African History

Edited by David M. Anderson and Douglas H. Johnson

“Innovative in their analytical use of oral data but traditional in their rigour. The original insight which perceived the need for a reassessment of the role is gloriously vindicated. One could build a really lively course, which raised theoretical and historiographical and interpretative problems.”

P. W. T. Baxter, formerly University of Manchester

This book examines the richly textured histories of prophets and prophecies within East Africa. It gives an analytical account of the significantly different forms prophecy has taken over the past century across the country.

Each of the chapters takes a new look at the active dialogue between prophets and the communities whom they addressed. This dialogue continues today as the politicians and activists throughout the region still look to prophetic traditions, garnering interpretations of the past in order to provide the validation of prophetic wisdom and heroes for the present.