The West African area is important because this is where the majority of slaves departed for the New World. Hence large elements of West African, particularly Yoruba, religion (blended with Catholicism) can be found in religions such as Vodun (also known as Voodoo) (Haiti), Candomblè (Brazil) and Santeria (Carribean). For more information on New World African-derived religions, refer to the The Santeria page at Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance.

Drums and Shadows Georgia Writer's Project; Work Projects Administration, Mary Granger supervisor [1940, copyright not renewed]
Coastal Georgia folklore from the 1930s and connections to African spiritual practices.

The Kebra Nagast E.A. Wallis Budge, translator [1932].
This work is a legendary history of Ethiopia. It has been cited as rationale for the Rastafarian apotheoisis of Emperor Haile Selassie.

The Holy Piby by Robert Athlyi Rogers [1924-8]
This is a classic--and very rare--Afrocentric religious text from the early 20th century which has been acclaimed by many Rastafarians as a forerunner of their beliefs.

The Royal Parchment Scroll of Black Supremacy By Fitz Balintine Pettersburg [1926?]
Another rare proto-Rastafarian text from Jamaica.

The Promised Key By G.G. Maragh (Leonard Percival Howell) [1935?]
A heavily edited version of the previous document, Howell was one of the first preachers who explicitly preached doctrines similar to later Rastafarian beliefs, particularly that Haile Selassie was the Black Messiah.

The Wisdom of Rastafari
This is a short anthology of quotes from Haile Selassie compiled by a Rastafarian group.

Two short articles by Lafcadio Hearn about New Orleans Voodoo. Hearn, a New Orleans native, also wrote extensive works about Japan, available in the Shinto section.
Last of the Voudoos [1885]
New Orleans Superstitions [1886]

Here are two books relating to Haitian Voodoo (Vodun). They were written by an outsider to the religion who was ultimately unable to penetrate its inner mysteries; however both of these books has strengths as historical and ethnographic background on the topic: