The single most comprehensive work concerning the Afro-American folkloric tradition and rituals that were imported to America by enslaved Africans, mainly from the Congo, Angola, Togo, and Nigeria, etc. This is the only exposition of this subject matter to use first-hand information and accounts, gathered from a wide variety of sources. Hyatt, an Anglican priest, traveled the United States during the 1930’s and 40’s, transcribing interviews he conducted with nearly 1600 African Americans and others. Plus, supplementary interviews conducted later in Florida in 1970. He recorded the material electronically often without the full knowledge of the participants. These volumes are the final result of Hyatt’s massive undertaking; the first two volumes were issued in 1970 as a two volume set. However, after some time, Volumes III-V were subsequently released.