Dreaming in Color: Anti-Essentialism in Legio Maria Dream Narratives

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Periodical article

Title:	Dreaming in Color: Anti-Essentialism in Legio Maria Dream Narratives
Author:	Schwartz, Nancy
Year:	2005
Periodical:	Journal of Religion in Africa
Volume:	35
Issue:	2
Pages:	159-196
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Kenya
Subjects:	African theology African Independent Churches Luo Religion and Witchcraft Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1581534.pdf
Abstract:	The author examines dreaming and dream narratives in Legio Maria, sub-Saharan Africa's largest African instituted church with a Roman Catholic background. Most Legios valorize a Black Christ and Black Mary but do so while espousing anti-essentialist attitudes towards racialization of the sacred. The social, cultural and symbolic hybridity of the Joluo or Luo (Kenya), who still form the majority of the membership in this multiethnic, multinational church, has influenced Legios' religious outlook. Legios' views are contrasted with some white and black theologies that take more monochrome, particularistic positions on the colour of the Trinity, the Virgin Mary, Satan, saints, angels and demons. The author discusses how Legios' eclectic altar iconography and dreams interact and influence one another. She demonstrates that Legio Maria's theology of colour has resonances with the perspectives on postmodern humanism and postmodern blackness formulated by scholars like Michel Foucault, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Vincent Anderson and bell hooks. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]