Deep Knowledge: Ways of Knowing in Sufism and Ifa, Two West African Intellectual Traditions

This book explores the epistemologies of Tijani Sufism and Ifa, providing practitioners with a comprehensive worldview and a way of crafting a meaningful life. It compares them to academic theories of knowledge and invites scholars to inhabit these traditions as valid and viable perspectives on knowledge, metaphysics, psychology, and ritual practice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 26 October 2020
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

This captivating book delves into an in-depth and comparative exploration of two of West Africa's most popular and influential intellectual and spiritual traditions: Tijani Sufism and Ifa. Through a unique methodological approach that fosters a profound understanding of these traditions, Oludamini Ogunnaike argues that they harbor sophisticated epistemologies that offer practitioners a comprehensive worldview and a path toward crafting a meaningful existence.

Ogunnaike employs a range of theories, both from the traditions themselves and contemporary oral and textual sources, to examine how both Sufism and Ifa address the fundamental questions of knowledge acquisition, verification, and understanding. He delves into the intricacies of these traditions, exploring their perspectives on what knowledge is, how it is acquired, and how it can be validated.

In essence, the book seeks to answer the fundamental question: "What do you know?" It explores how individuals come to know, how they establish the credibility of their knowledge, and how they can confidently assert their understanding. By analyzing Ifa and Sufism separately and on their own terms, the book then compares them to each other and to certain features of academic theories of knowledge. This comparative analysis invites scholars to engage with these seemingly "foreign" intellectual traditions as valid and valuable perspectives on knowledge, metaphysics, psychology, and ritual practice.

Deep Knowledge is a groundbreaking and innovative work that makes a significant contribution to cross-cultural philosophy, African philosophy, religious studies, and Islamic studies. Its singular approach advances our understanding of the philosophical foundations underlying these two African traditions and lays the groundwork for future research. By engaging with the rich tapestry of ideas presented in this book, scholars will gain a deeper appreciation for the depth and richness of these traditions, fostering a broader and more inclusive understanding of the world.

Weight: 1102g
Dimension: 186 x 264 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271086903