Dr. Katharina Wilkens

Since 2023

Tenured lecturer, Institute for the Study of Religions

University of Tübingen, Germany

2023

Research Fellowship

Käthe-Hamburger-Kolleg “Dis:Connectivity in Processes of Globalisation”, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich

2022

Guest professor, Institute for the Study of Religion

Universitäy of Leipzig, Germany

2021

Senior Research Fellow

Centre for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences “Multiple Secularities - Beyond the West, Beyond Modernities”, University of Leipzig, Germany

2020

Guest Professor for the Study of Religion with a focus on Africa

University of Bayreuth, Germany

2015-2018

Co-Speaker of the DFG-netzwork "AESToR.NET - Aesthetics of Religion"

since 2013

Guest lecturer at various universities

Münster, Zürich (Switzerland), Munich, Bayreuth, Salzburg (Austria)

2008-2018

Lecturer

Study of Religion, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany

2007

Doctorate (Dr. Phil.)

University of Bayreuth, on the topic Religious Healing in East Africa. A Case Study of the Marian Faith Healing Ministry

2003-2008

Assistant researcher and lecturer

Institute for Religious Studies, University of Heidelberg, Germany

2003

Magistra Artium (M. A.)

Undergraduate studies in the study of religion, anthropology and Islamic studies at the universities of Bayreuth, Germany, and Edinburgh, UK.

Research areas and teaching

Islam, Christianity and indigenous religions in Africa and the diaspora (especially East Africa and West Africa)
global and decolonial approaches to African history of religions and historiography, possession rituals and exorcism as therapeutic practice
ancestors and ancestor veneration as memorial cultures
non-Western travelogues as sources for global history
religion and secularity in Africa (African Socialism)
Catholicism and Marian veneration in the global South
aesthetics of religion/material religion
methods and theories of anthropology of religion
qualitative methods
current theorizations of religion

Co-speaker of the working groups “Africa” and “Aesthetics of Religion” of the German Association for the Study of Religion (DVRW), member of the working group “Religion and Medicine”

Publications

Monographs

With Koch, Anne, Petra Tillessen (2013): Religionskompetenz. Praxishandbuch im multikulturellen Feld der Gegenwart. Anhang: CD mit Übungen, Münster: Lit (Lehr- und Studienbücher zur Religionswissenschaft 2).

(2011): Holy Water and Evil Spirits. Religious Healing in East Africa, Berlin, Münster: Lit (Beiträge zur Afrikaforschung 47).

Edited volumes and special issues

With Marian Burchardt and Magnus Echtler (eds., 2024): Multiple Secularities in Africa, special issue of the Journal of Religion in Africa 54 (3).

With Anne Koch (eds., 2020): The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Cultural and Cognitive Aesthetics of Religion. London: Bloomsbury.

With Jens Kugele (eds., 2011): Relocating Religion(s). Museality as Critical Term for Aesthetics of Religion, special issue of the Journal of Religion in Europe 4 (1).

Articles

(forthcoming): „Der maurische Pilgerbericht von Aḥmad ibn Ṭuwayr al-Ğanna (1829-34): Eine baraka-scape in der kolonialen Kontaktzone“, in: Friedemann Stengel et al (eds.): Reisen und Religion im (langen) 18. Jahrhundert (Reihe Hallesche Forschungen), Halle/Saale: Verlag der Francke’schen Stiftungen.

(forthcoming): "Timescapes in African Travelogues", in: Matthias Egeler (ed.): Paper Pilgrims: Travel Writing and the Study of Religions (Numen Book Series), Leiden: Brill.

(forthcoming): “Disentangling an Old Debate. Reflections on the Religious-Secular Divide in the Study of African Ancestor Veneration”, in: Companion to the Study of Secularity, edited by the CASHSS “Multiple Secularities – Beyond the West, Beyond Modernities”, University of Leipzig.

(forthcoming 2025): “Vom Umgang mit religiöser und ethnischer Diversität in Afrika – oder warum es keine Minderheiten geben soll", in: Sarah Jadwiga Jahn und Sabrina Weiß (eds.): Religiöser Minderheiten – religiöse Mehrheiten: Zuschreibungspraktiken in pluralen Gesellschaften, Bielefeld: transcript.

(2024): “African Socialism and Secular State Formation", in: Marian Burchardt, Magnus Echtler and Katharina Wilkens (eds.): Multiple Secularities in Africa, special issue of the Journal of Religion in Africa 54 (3), 326–56.

With Sanga, Anna (2024): "Spirit possession and exorcism in Tanzania – reflections on participation, language and multiple personalities", in: Matthias Egeler (ed.) Field Research in the Study of Religions and Folkloristics: An Interdisciplinary Introduction, special issue of Marburg Journal of Religion, open access.

(2024):"Christian Devotional Practice in Contemporary Africa", in: Andrew Eugene Barnes and Toyin Falola (eds.): The Palgrave Handbook of Christianity in Africa from Apostolic Times to the Present, Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 535–48.

With Krüger, Oliver (2023): „Die Hardy-Stiftung (1905 bis 1962)“, in: Oliver Krüger und Ulrich Vollmer (eds.): Hardy 125, Sonderheft von ARGOS. Perspektiven in der Religionswissenschaft, open access.

With Goshadze, Mariam (2023): “Indigenous Religions in West Africa”, in: Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion.

(2022): “Studying African Spirit Possession Crossculturally”, in: Crosscultural Studies of Religion and Theology 1.

(2021): “‘When the Kalmyks saw me they thought I was their black devil’ — Inversing Centres and Peripheries in East African Travelogues”, in: Entangled Religions, open access.

(2021): “Transcendence and Imagination – Some Thoughts on Two Related Concepts in the Context of Spirit Possession”, in: Jenny Ponzo und Robert Yelle (eds.): Interpreting and Explaining Transcendence: Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Beyond, Berlin: et al.: De Gruyter (Religion and Reason), 197-213.

(2020): “Narrating Spirit Possession”, in: Dirk Johannsen, Anja Kirsch und Jens Kreinath (eds.): Narrative Cultures and the Aesthetics of Religion: Storytelling—Imagination—Reception, Leiden: Brill (Supplements to Method and Theory in the Study of Religion), 45-65.

(2020): “Text Acts”, in: Anne Koch und Katharina Wilkens (eds.): Handbook of Cultural and Cognitive Aesthetics of Religion, London: Bloomsbury, 155-164.

With Koch, Anne (2020): “Introduction”, Anne Koch und Katharina Wilkens (eds.): Handbook of Cultural and Cognitive Aesthetics of Religion, London: Bloomsbury, 1-9.

(2019): “Embodying the Qur’an”, in: James W. Watts (eds.): Books as Bodies and Sacred Beings, special issue of Postscripts 10 (1-2), 26-37.

(2019): „Text als Medizin. Ablöschen und Trinken koranischer Verse als therapeutische Praxis“, in: Carina Kühne-Wespi, Klaus Oschema und Joachim Friedrich Quack (eds.): Zerstörung von Geschriebenem. Historische und Transkulturelle Perspektiven, Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter (Materiale Textkulturen 22), 373-389.

(2018): „‚Instant miracles are rare, but it happened to me‘ – Faith Healing in Urban Tanzania“, in: Numen 65 (2-3), 207–231.

(2017): „Spiritualität und Heilung. Christliche und islamische Besessenheit in Tansania“, in: Leonie Dhiman und Hanna Rettig (eds.): Spiritualität und Religion. Perspektiven für die Soziale Arbeit, Weinheim: Beltz Juventa, 168-186.

(2017): „Masken, Opfer, Trance, Wallfahrt. Vom rituellen Umgang mit Ahnengeistern in Tansania“, in: Sabine Kast-Streib und Gernot Meier (eds.): Zwischen Diesseits und Jenseits. Begegnung mit verschiedenen Wirklichkeiten, Themenheft von Wege zum Menschen 69 (5), 458-468.

(2017): „Infusions and Fumigations: Literacy Ideologies and Therapeutic Aspects of the Qur’an“, in: Postscripts 8.2012(1-2), 115-136.

Re-issued (2018): “Infusions and Fumigations: Literacy Ideologies and Therapeutic Aspects of the Qur’an”, in: James W. Watts (ed.): Sensing Sacred Texts, Bristol: Equinox, 115-136.

(2015): „Inkorporierte Imagination: Geistertänze und Exorzismus in Ostafrika“, in: Annette Wilke und Lucia Traut (eds.), Religion – Imagination – Ästhetik. Vorstellungs- und Sinneswelten in Religion und Kultur, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht (Reihe CSRRW 7), 107-130.

(2013): „Drinking the Quran, Swallowing the Madonna. Embodied Aesthetics of Popular Healing Practices“, in: Afe Adogame, Magnus Echtler und Oliver Freiberger (eds.): Alternative Voices: A Plurality Approach for Religious Studies. Essays in Honor of Ulrich Berner, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht (Reihe CSRRW 4), 243-259.

Mit Kugele, Jens (2011): „Introduction“, in: Jens Kugele and Katharina Wilkens. (eds.): Relocating Religion(s). Museality as Critical Term for Aesthetics of Religion, special issue of the Journal of Religion in Europe 4(1), 7-13.

With Koch, Anne, Christian Meyer, Petra Tillessen und Annette Wilke (2011): „Museum in Context“, in: Jens Kugele und Katharina Wilkens (eds.): Relocating Religion(s). Museality as Critical Term for Aesthetics of Religion, special issue of the Journal of Religion in Europe 4(1), 71-101.

(2011): „Marianische Heilung und individuelle Aneignung in Tansania. Eine religionsästhetische Analyse“, in: Florian Jeserich (ed.): Spiritualität/Religiosität und Gesundheit, Themenheft der Zeitschrift für Nachwuchswissenschaftler/ German Journal for Young Researchers 3(1), urn:nbn:de:0253-2011-1-401.

(2009): „Mary and the Demons. Marian Devotion and Ritual Healing in Tanzania”, in: Journal of Religion in Africa 39(3), 295-318.

Book reviews

Judith Bachmann (2017): Hexerei in Nigeria zwischen Christentum, Islam und traditionellen Praktiken. Globale Verflechtungen und lokale Positionierungen bei den Yoruba (Bayreuther Studien zu Politik und Gesellschaft in Afrika 8), Baden-Baden: Nomos, for Crosscultural Studies of Religion and Theology 1.2023.

Jon P. Mitchell, Michael Bull and David Howes (Hg.) (2016): Ritual, Performance and the Senses, New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing, für Reading Religion 2020.

Joel Cabrita (2018): The People’s Zion: Southern Africa, the United States, and a Transatlantic Faith-Healing Movement. Cambridge, Mass.: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press für African Studies Review 63.2020,1, E29-E31.

Daria Pezzoli-Olgiati (Hg.) (2015): Religion in Cultural Imaginary. Explorations in Visual und Material Practices, Baden-Baden: Nomos (Religion – Wirtschaft – Politik 13) for Journal of Religion in Europe 9.2016, 97-98.

Ruy Llera Blanes (2014): A Prophetic Trajectory Ideologies of Place, Times and Belonging in an Angolan Religious Movement, New York, Oxford: Berghahn, for Journal of Religion in Europe 8.2015, 486-488.

van der Heyden, Ulrich und Andreas Feldtkeller (Hg.) (2012): Missionsgeschichte als Geschichte der Globalisierung von Wissen. Transkulturelle Wissensaneignung und ‑vermittlung durch christliche Missionare in Afrika und Asien im 17., 18. und 19. Jahrhundert, Stuttgart: Franz Steiner (Missionsgeschichtliches Archiv Bd. 19) for Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 22.2014, 1, 145-147.

Bräunlein, Peter J. (2012): Zur Aktualität von Victor W. Turner. Einleitung in sein Werk, Wiesbaden: Springer (Reihe Aktuelle und klassische Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaftler/innen) for Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 22.2014,2 (im Druck).

Hermkens, Anna-Karina, Willy Jansen und Catrien Notermans (Hg.) (2009): Moved by Mary, The Power of Pilgrimage in the Modern World. Farnham: Ashgate, for Culture and Religion, 14.2013,2, 248-250.

Conferences

25.-28/09/2023	Double panel “Religion and De-Colonization in Africa”, DVRW conference Bayreuth, convened together with Anne Beutter, University of Lucerne, and Ulrike Schröder, University of Rostock.
16.-17/09/2022	“Concepts from the Global South: New Directions for the Study of Religions in Africa?”, Workshop of the working group “Africa”, University of Rostock, convened together with Ulrike Schröder and Anne Beutter, University of Lucerne.
01.-03/06/2022	„Multiple Secularities in Africa and the Diaspora“, conference at the CASHSS Multiple Secularities, University of Leipzig, convened together with Magnus Echtler and Marian Burchardt.
10.-12/11/2017	„Methodology in Aesthetics of Religion / Author Workshop Handbook for Cultural and Cognitive Aesthetics of Religion”, AestorNet meeting, University of Munich, convened together with Anne Koch.
23.–29/08/2015	Double panel „The Dynamics of Material Text Practices and the Somatics of Sacred Scripture“, IAHR-conference, University of Erfurt, convened together with Isabel Laack, University of Heidelberg.
03/2010	„Relocating Religion(s). Museality as Critical Term for Aesthetics of Religion”, Author workshop of the working group “Aesthetics of Religion”, University of Marburg, convened together with Jens Kugele, Katja Triplett and Sebastian Schüler.
15.-16/03/2009	„Ortswechsel“: Religion als Exponat – “’Ortswechsel’”: Religion als Exponat – Zur Entwicklung religionsästhetischer Grundbegriffe am Beispiel ‘Musealität’”, workshop of the working group “Aesthetics of Religion”, University of Munich, convened together with Jens Kugele, Anne Koch, and Alexandra Grieser.
25.-27/05/2001	“Internationalen Symposium of Students in the Study of Religion”, University of Bayreuth, convened together with Ilinca Tanaseanu and others, and editor of the proceedings.

Outreach

Research blogs

(2023): „Religion, African Socialism and Pan-African Dis:connections in the Cold War Era”, Blog of the Käthe-Hamburger-Kollegs Dis:Connectivity in Processes of Globalisation, 25/07/2023.

Entries in museum catalogs

(2018): „Masken und Skulpturen in afrikanischen Religionen“, in: Kathrin Baumstark, Franz Wilhelm Kaiser, Magdalena M. Moeller und Christiane Remm (eds.): Karl-Schmidt-Rottluff – expressiv, magisch, fremd, Bucerius Kunst Forum, Hamburg 27. Januar – 21. Mai 2018, München: Hirmer, 44-53.

(2007): „Tanzende Geister. Rituelle Heilung bei den Muslimen in Tansania“, in: Ralf Schulte-Bahrenberg (ed): Tansania – Glaube, Kult und Geisterwelt. Collection Ralf Schulte-Bahrenberg. Beiträge über Kulte und jüngste Feldarbeit, Kultobjekte, Märchen und Sprichwörter, Steinheim: Edition Phaistos, 35.

(2007): „Rituelles Heilen in Tansania. Ein Beispiel aus der katholischen Kirche“, in: Ralf Schulte-Bahrenberg (ed): Tansania – Glaube, Kult und Geisterwelt. Collection Ralf Schulte-Bahrenberg. Beiträge über Kulte und jüngste Feldarbeit, Kultobjekte, Märchen und Sprichwörter, Steinheim: Edition Phaistos, 32-34.

Expertise

02/03/2021	Culturally significant differences in Christian practices with a focus on Africa, teacher training module for teachers of Catholic religions at special education schools, Archbishop’s Ordinariate Munich.
03-04/05/2019	Religious Competence – Simulation games as method in political education, Workshop “Religion in political education” of the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb) and the Eugen Biser Foundation, Berlin.
10/04/2018	Presentation on the history of Nigeria, incl. the history of religions, and its relevance for understanding local concepts of illness and healing, working group “Counseling and guiding people from African countries”, further training seminar series of the department Migration and Health, Division of Health and Environment, State Capital Administration Munich.
26/02/2018	Participant in round table discussion “Does the Devil really exist?” of the Catholic Academy in Bavaria, Munich, as part of the Faust Festival 2018.
23/09/2015	Presentation on the history of Africa, especially colonization and the history of religions, and its relevance for concepts of health and illness, working group “Counseling and guiding people from African countries”, further training seminar series of the department Migration and Health, Division of Health and Environment, State Capital Administration Munich.

Media

Expert interview BR2 RadioWissen – Kultur und Religion der Massai (author: Margarete Blümel), 12/10/2022 and 18/05/2023.