"Ngoma, a Southern African ritual of healing, dance, rhythm and rhyme, is at the heart of social effort to change the fortunes of individuals and communities so that well-being is restored." "Ngoma is investigated in its many and culturally diverse, manifestations. Contributions range from Tanzania to Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. They cover themes as varied as gender and initiation, kingship and spirit-possession, mediumship and the rise of the Pentecostal churches. They explore how such manifestations of ngoma are perceived, how they function in relation to the needs and requirements of individuals and communities and how they maintain their key functions in the face of modernity."--Jacket.