About the author
Elias Kifon Bongmba is a scholar of African religion and philosophy, professor at Rice University, whose work brings continental philosophy into dialogue with African religious and cultural traditions. His book African Witchcraft and Otherness: A Philosophical and Theological Critique of Intersubjective Relations (State University of New York Press, 2001) examines tfu, the concept of witchcraft among the Wimbum people of Cameroon, using the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas to analyze how witchcraft accusations function as a way of constructing the other within a community. The book combines ethnographic material on Wimbum belief and practice with a sustained philosophical and theological argument, situating African witchcraft discourse within broader debates on intersubjectivity and ethics. It is aimed at readers in African studies, religious studies, and philosophy who want a scholarly treatment of witchcraft as a category of social and philosophical analysis rather than a practical or popular account of magical practice.
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💬 What our editors say about Elias Kifon Bongmba's books
“This is a dense academic work that demands patience and philosophical literacy. It will not suit casual readers seeking accessible narratives or those uninterested in continental philosophy. The text is specifically tailored for…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on African Witchcraft and Otherness: A Philosophical and Theological Critique of Intersubjective Relations
“This monograph demands serious academic engagement from its audience. While Bongmba’s application of Levinasian ethics to African witchcraft is intellectually stimulating, it is not suited for casual readers or those seeking…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on African Witchcraft and Otherness: A Philosophical and Theological Critique of Intersubjective Relations
