Overview

In 1913, Sierra Leone bore witness to a Special Court convened to hear cases of cannibalism. Described as “Human Leopards,” those accused of ritually killing and eating others were associated with a criminal group, and in the wake of the cases, many accused and convicted Human Leopards were executed or exiled from the colony. Contemporary writers described these events in the rhetoric of the “civilized world” triumphing over the “barbaric,” and newspapers of the period wallowed in the lurid idea of shapeshifting cannibals lurking to murder and devour the innocent. Cannibalism Myths, Empire, and Identity in Colonial Sierra Leone by Katrina HB Keefer offers new perspectives on these trials, delving closely into the transcripts of the 1913 Human Leopard cases. Through careful analysis of evidence and modern scholarship, it’s clear that cannibalism was never at play in these murder cases, and Keefer presents a complex web of judicial overreach, colonial ambitions, xenophobic fears, socio-political turmoil, animals whose habitat was being encroached upon, and powerful initiation societies.

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9781666965780

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Reviews

Keefer dives into a neglected topic with an ability and depth that defies belief. The way she brings back from oblivion the life stories of her subjects is commendable and should serve as a template for future studies of this kind. --Manuel Barcia, University of Leeds

Author Information

Katrina HB Keefer is adjunct professor of cultural studies at Trent University.

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