The Nile is arguably the most famous river in the world. For millennia, the search for its source defeated emperors and explorers. Yet the search for its source also contained a religious quest - a search for the origin of its divine and life-giving waters. Terje Oestigaard reveals how the beliefs associated with the river have played a key role in the cultural development and make-up of the societies and civilizations associated with it. Drawing upon his personal experience and fieldwork in Africa, including details of rites and ceremonies now fast disappearing, the author brings out in rich detail the religious and spiritual meanings attached to the life-giving waters by those whose lives are so bound to the river. Part religious quest, part exploration narrative, the author shows how this mighty river is a powerful source for a greater understanding of human nature, society and religion.

PrefaceChapter 1: Sources of ReligionChapter 2: The Source of the Blue Nile and Lake Tana in EthiopiaChapter 3: From Lake Victoria to Murchison Falls in UgandaChapter 4: Sources in the Sky and RainmakingChapter 5: The River Civilization in the DesertChapter 6: Water and World Religions along the Nile Index