At the Back of the Black Man's Mind

At the Back of the Black Man's Mind is a book by Richard Edward Dennett, first published in 1906. Authored by a sympathetic European observer who dedicated many years to studying West African folklore, culture, and religion during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the book, whilst detailed and coherent, is still obviously colonialist. Despite its flaws, this book serves a valuable purpose as it delves into Bantu and Yoruba spiritual practices and philosophy with unparalleled depth compared to other works of that time, giving us a glimpse of a system of nature worship, sacred kingship, and shamanism (as well as a hint of a very complex philosophy of esotericism) from before the colonial era.