Between resistance and expansion

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Whether it is the vitality of African popular culture, religious ideas, or artistic forms of expressions, invoking the notion of vitality has become a common among those who study Africana. Most often, the purpose of invoking this notion is to emphasize the unexpected and astonishing power and strength of certain cultural fields in Africa. But what is really meant by the notion of local vitality beyond its metaphorical usage, beyond the underrated and unforeseen? This volume brings together a number of essays exploring the answers to these questions from different perspectives and disciplines. Peter Probst is associate professor at the School of Arts & Sciences at Tufts University, Boston, United States. Gerd Spittler is professor emeritus of anthropology and African studies at the Bayreuth University, Germany.