African Voices from the Inquisition, Vol. 1: The Trial of Crispina Peres of Cacheu, Guinea-Bissau (1646-1668)

This book provides a unique insight into daily life in an Afro-Atlantic coastal trade settlement, documenting the Inquisition trial of Crispina Peres, an African woman accused of engaging in African rites and witchcraft.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This remarkable book offers a wealth of written material, providing unique insights into daily life in an Afro-Atlantic coastal trade settlement. It presents the complete translated and annotated text of the Inquisition trial of Crispina Peres, an African woman born in the Guinea-Bissau region with a Portuguese father and an African mother. The trial sheds light on the religious persecution of Africans by the Portuguese Inquisition on African soil. Set in a slave port in 17th-century West Africa, the trial revolves around the worldview of an African woman accused of engaging in African rites and witchcraft. It showcases her resourcefulness, resilience, and spirited defense of her innocence, offering valuable details about her life, household, work, health, and social and commercial networks in this understudied African region.

The book's translation and annotation provide valuable context and analysis, shedding light on the historical and cultural significance of the trial. It highlights the intersection of religion, race, and gender in the colonial era and the ways in which individuals and communities responded to the oppressive forces of the Inquisition. Crispina Peres's story is a testament to the strength and resilience of African women in the face of adversity, and her trial offers a valuable window into the lives of ordinary Africans in the early modern period.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in African history, colonialism, and religious persecution. It provides a rich and detailed account of a little-known chapter in history and offers valuable insights into the lives and experiences of African women in the early modern world.

Weight: 630g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197266762