Afro-Pentecostalism, reviewed by Wolfgang Vondey
The global appeal of this book will likely draw some initial concerns about the scope of the collection. The title and subtitle of the book claim the vast territory of Black Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity, yet the chapters are primarily occupied with classical Pentecostalism in North America. With few exceptions (most notably the essay by the late Ogbu Kalu), explicit reflections on Pentecostalism in Africa or the African roots of Afro-Pentecostalism are absent. Deliberations on Black Pentecostalism elsewhere (for example, Latin America, Britain, and the Caribbean) and its impact on African American Pentecostalism could further complement the picture, as noted in the concluding essay of the collection. After all, despite increasing attention to African American Pentecostalism, the make-up of Afro-religious history and culture not only among Pentecostals has not yet been fully explored. Yong and Alexander have provided us with a first-rate collection of stories and story-tellers that invite us to continue this conversation.
Reviewed by Wolfgang Vondey
Publisher’s page: nyupress.org/books/book-details.aspx?bookId=6415
Category: Church History, Fall 2012, Pneuma Review
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