"The point of departure of this book is a phenomenon which is often referred to as the 'return of the religious', a recent but apparently ubiquitous phenomenon which does not fit the modernist axiom of secularisation, neither in the 'developed' nor the 'developing' worlds. In Africa, the last two decades have witnessed a remarkable and steady increase in the spread and reinforcement of occult and paranormal phenomena. The reports on these developments are not restricted to specific countries or areas; they cover the whole continent and surface in the most diverse images, media, stories and rumours. The credence accorded to them has become an important factor that shapes social relationships in everyday life, economic and political actions, medical decisions and religious adherence."--Publisher's description.