The fetish folk of West Africa

"The Fetish Folk of West Africa" by Robert H. Milligan is a book focusing on the traditions, worldview, and cultural realities linked to fetishism within various West African tribes in the early 1900s. Driven by a desire to explain the depth of African people and their stories, Milligan's work uses drawings and complex anthropological ideas to highlight the relationship between spiritual beliefs, community practices, and the effects of colonialism and missionary work. Milligan invites readers into his view, sharing his motivation to record West African cultures and beliefs while contrasting them with Western ideas, and describing the challenges and unique ways of life in Africa, especially when it comes to fetishism, providing a base for understanding the intricate connection between superstition, spirituality, and social dynamics within the tribes, asserting that honoring these facets is crucial for recognizing the genuine essence of African identity.