From Shamanism to Sufism: Women, Islam and Culture in Central Asia

by Razia Sultanova

Women have traditionally played a vital part in Islam throughout Central Asia -- the vast area from the Caspian Sea to Siberia. With this ground-breaking and original study, Razia Sultanova examines the experiences of Muslim women in the region and the ways in which religion has shaped their daily lives and continues to do so today. From Shamanism to Sufism explores the fundamental interplay between religious belief and the cultural heritage of music and dance and is the first book to focus particularly on the role of women.  Ritual and music are at the heart of Central Asian and Islamic culture, not only at weddings and funerals but in all aspects of everyday life. Through her in-depth analysis of these facets of cultural life within Central Asian society, From Shamanism to Sufism offers important insights into the lives of the societies in the region. The role of women has often been neglected in studies of religious culture and this book fills an enormous gap, restoring women to their rightful historical and cultural context. It will be essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in the History or Religion of Central Asia or in Global Islam.

Genres: Islam, Religion, History, Gender

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Lumturi · Rating 3 out of 5]

All over the place. It's an ethnography mixed with massive amounts of secondary content. She doesn't clearly introduce herself or her background. She is making three different arguments at once (Shamanism and Sufism are related, this is expressed through music, and women are active agents in both traditions). None are really fleshed out. The title does not reflect the contents of the book.

Huge chunks of poetry or interviews with little analysis. She doesn't clearly state how she did her ethnography, like how many women she interviewed, their backgrounds, how many participants she had, etc. It's interesting content presented in a very chaotic and haphazard manner.