endstream endobj startxref African traditional religion The faith in ancestors continued to be practised by many African Christians. For this reason, it is necessary to go through the theological perspectives and as well as the practical experiences regarding God of these people. Other sources are art and language; ceremonies and rituals; Normally this comes through the expression of exercising some kind of ritualized power. African traditional religions are the main sources of Her story, which is beginning to be retold more often as anthropological and historical research is conducted in Africa. When we speak of African Traditional Religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the Africans. African traditional system, what was captured in the modern day intellectual jingles as “sexuality”, can be found deep in the folktales and other oral traditions of the African societies. The third level in African Traditional Religion is the earthly tier, which is the functionaries who are responsible for maintaining the harmony, balance, and order in the African traditional system. the surface, among indigenous peoples, despite their having hand with the study of the people who practise the religion. 1 Where possible, the same headings have been used for Chapters Four and Five, so ... whether African Traditional Religion should be termed monotheistic or polytheistic. been subjugated and dominated by Arab immigrants for practiced in the early twenty-first century mostly in the The paper attempts to demonstrate the vast potentials of oral tradition as a vehicular access to understanding African beliefs and practices. Indies and the Americas by the slave trade. All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so don't worry about it. Instant access to millions of titles from Our Library and it’s FREE to try! 016.2996 OF6B Main Stacks Nearly 3,000 annotated references in topical and geographical sections. INTRODUCTION In every human society, values are pivot upon which future … %PDF-1.6 %���� while other elements resemble them. and survived in a mixture with Christianity, despite the 526 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<796D588E8230A549945D920888721DD8>]/Index[513 27]/Info 512 0 R/Length 73/Prev 447594/Root 514 0 R/Size 540/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream The traditional religion believes in punishing evil and condemning any immoral act immediately. In resolving these kinds of conflicts, the principles of equity and justice, which is entrenched in African customs and traditions, were upheld. It also It deals with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, and so on. When we speak of African Traditional Religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the Africans. 1. After careful study Besides, we shall . H�|RMo�0��W�4�@�J�7Pے`� E�a�v/NV���s�����cY��L����{��oo6��wyWW����2���8�;�(i���w/��kq�Z. African religion is traditional for the following reasons: (i) It is a religion that evolved from the personal experiences of the peoples of Africa. Like in other primal religions, one is born into it as a way of AFRICAN RELIGIONS Divination as a spiritual phenomenon has had very little written about it, perhaps due in part to the ready labeling of it as a form of magic and therefore irrational, utilitarian, egoistic, and insuffici- ently "religious." Great African civilizations such as Pharaonic Egypt, etc. The paper focuses on three areas: mythology, proverbs and prayers. half of the twentieth century, on film and on audiotapes and Normally this comes through the expression of exercising some kind of ritualized power. The question with regard to African traditional religions It was from this context that Mbiti took the lead with his monograph, An Introduction to African Religion. endstream endobj 517 0 obj <>stream 421p. influence of other cultures and environments. The Role of Women in African Traditional Religion INTRODUCTION A proverb from Ghana declares that: A woman is a flower in a garden; her husband is the fence around it'." ���lX�\/ڧ�Ԙ�����KwHaUQ+�0�A���44L��~�K�����Ρʌm}_3���>�2);[��v���c���()��� &Kp��x́@E��A� ��LΩm��m����'�\7����ؔ�nz�»��, ���$����1 �y�ٍ��pLfV/��m�#�ƻ�F�DE�ԗp��$"��D& �8�K�/X>�$mp���UK��! In the northern onethird, essential ingredient of Afro-American Christianity prior to African Traditional Religion as Providing a Sound Learning Foundation The majority of the respondents (90.6%) indicated that the re- ligious educator in Zimbabwe’s primary schools needs some basic comprehension of the values of African Traditional Religion. ( Log Out /  This is an explanatory and analytical research based on African traditional religions in terms of the life style and their inclusive faith in One God. African Traditional Religions. In addition there is a sizable number of adherents in African-influenced religions in the Americas and elsewhere in the world. songs, names of people and places, and the specialized h�b```�t.V!b`��0pL r܄�:�(p�e but these are said to be disappearing. Sources of West African Traditional Religion (a) Non-Oral Sources • Traditional Arts/Crafts (b) Oral Sources (i) Names and Attributes of God (ii) Theophorous Names (iii) Proverbs/Wise sayings (iv) Songs/Dirges (v) Myths / Legends and Drum Language 4. The Place of African Traditional Religion in Interreligious Encounters in Sierra Leone since the Advent of Islam and Christianity is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. constitute sources to understanding African traditional religion. like severe illness or death, disputes, political and sports WORLD RELIGIONSAFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION THIRD … African Traditional Religion is now widely taught in African universities, but its identity remains essentially negative: African belief that is not Christianity or Islam. (iii) It is regarded as traditional because it originated from the peoples‟ environment and on their soil (Awolalu and Dopamu, 1979: 28). This work is not an attempt to articulate the influence of the Christian values on all the cultural values of the African. of traditional African religion alongside their professed beliefs. dominated by Islam, African religion exists beneath M��Sro�C;{�.��v�'�9�����E2��E�$��^^��);:K>$��}1o�\Б��T�4"�e���H that emerged from Africa were attributed to the effort of people from outside Africa, specifically the people with Arab or European ancestry (James, 2009; Rodney, 1973) African traditional religion as an aspect of African civilisation also suffered from such inhuman racial treatment meted out to Africans people. This accounts for the varying figures that are sometimes seen in . WORLD RELIGIONS African Traditional Religion Baha’i Faith Buddhism Catholicism & Orthodox Christianity Confucianism Daoism Hinduism Islam Judaism Native American Religions Protestantism Shinto Sikhism Zoroastrianism 3. Cudjoe, Acheampong, Kwaku, and Obi are originally African, (1). 1 AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION 14 1.1 Nature, Fundamentals and Principles 14 1.1.1 The Origin of African Traditional Religion 16 1.1.2 Features of African Traditional Religion 18 1.1.3 Various Elements 19 1.1.4 The Place of Cult 20 1.1.5 Private worship 21 1.1.6 Public Worship 21 1.2 Documentation of African Traditional Religion 22 the Civil War was the creative residuum of the African The traditional African religions or traditional beliefs and practices of African people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions. Sources of West African Traditional Religion (a) Non-Oral Sources • Traditional Arts/Crafts (b) Oral Sources (i) Names and Attributes of God (ii) Theophorous Names (iii) Proverbs/Wise sayings (iv) Songs/Dirges (v) Myths / Legends and Drum Language 4. Importance has been given to understanding the idea of God according to their distinct way. 3 CULTURE, RELIGION AND GENDER. The following people presented papers … In addition there is a sizable number of adherents in African-influenced religions in the Americas and elsewhere in the world. videotapes. African Traditional Religion 1. The study of Africa's traditional religion and the environment can be termed the ecology of religion. According to Choon and Van der Merwe (2008:1299), this phenomenon and practice is an ‘attempt to preserve good relations with the departed kin.’ The practice and the involvement in ancestral rituals should be seen as religiously motivated. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. FOUNDED: 200,000–100,000 b.c.e. many centuries. Kingship is integral to African belief systems for at least two reasons. Africans. endstream endobj 518 0 obj <>stream ( Log Out /  For this reason, it is necessary to go through the theological perspectives and as well as the practical experiences regarding God of these people. Printed in South Africa by DS Print Media The manual may not be reproduced without written permission from Inter Press Service. Importance has been given to understanding the idea of God according to their distinct way. In the traditional African culture, art generally, as verbal and non-verbal are largely functional. 539 0 obj <>stream Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. According to Choon and Van der Merwe (2008:1299), this phenomenon and practice is an ‘attempt to preserve good relations with the departed kin.’ The practice and the involvement in ancestral rituals should be seen as religiously motivated. This bitter conflict has led to wanton destruction of lives and property, and this has become a source of great worry to the writers. 77 – 97 . Christianity is statistically dominant. remnants of African religion that have been modified to suit African Traditional Religion is not essentially idolatrous, but it has a tendency to become so if the cult and the symbols of the divinities are so emphasized as to exclude the Supreme Being. Great African civilizations such as Pharaonic Egypt, etc. h�ԗ_o�6�� Most African cultures believe that 1K&m�����Z’���},���*WUU���.���8����fd`/��F*��9)�zq��qL����q�)0W�-��m����:�P�˧�h͓_�Nu!�InV�rk'7uՎ�����R�#�Rj̬�&_���o�u�!w�7r_�������"�P��O��q�Z��`��K�Ο���Y�+;��Ed(Mn�|Uί�� �.�&t�%�b�M���M��e"��G���ɱ��������cY]U�2|ߔͦ�~�Xr [�x�sg�� For example, The position adopted here is. Rather, our task is to relate or evaluate the worth of Christianity or its value to only the dominant cultural values of the African. This paper attempts to reappraise his views on salvation from a theological point of view. Some names of people in Jamaica, like pX蠵�M%{Yw�kejӘBR�LX� �z�L:�2k����#����W.|����� lh r2�4�"��47���� ����m��}��0�00L�l`t�� �f�����fe`�a y��!��a`�2�� {5:. Due to the pluralistic nature of African-traditional religions, African spirituality has always been able to adapt to change and allow itself to absorb the wisdom and views of other religions. It settled there constitute sources to understanding African traditional religion. ?2۫� �9���� �J��}�Rs_D������HAK{wY˳��|x���8ۻT�E����.���y;�k��X�6�y1r��M,j#����q�{�G�����O�"�A��i�b�����#းYzp����u(?v ۇX�Oi(��ق�"Ζ�4[u��R ����wG�4-�N�a��@�w� �D�0MF�D Jx�Aˈ�)��( fB��Б�eF�"�YM��8����N 0 Introduction Local people have developed a variety of consistent resource conservation and management strategies in tropical Africa, Asia, and South America in the past (Appiah-Opoku, 2007). to Black Theology in South Africa. of the American scene, Gayraud Wilmore concludes that “an following definition of African Traditional Religion, put forward by Julius Mutugi Gathogo: ‘… it [is] an indigenous system of beliefs and practices that are integrated into culture and the worldviews of the African peoples. In this paper I wish to examine the place and the role of women according to African Religion. 016.2996 OF6B Main Stacks Nearly 3,000 annotated references in topical and geographical sections. Nendeln, Liechtenstein: Kraus-Thomson, 1975. the spirit possessions that abound among people of African 81 – 121. local practice. That is a beautiful picture of women in African society. of traditional African religion alongside their professed beliefs. Because religion is a way of life, it relates to culture and society as they affect the worldview of the African people. The various divinities that are represented are in fact technically representatives or servants of the Supreme Being. no written scriptures by the votaries of African traditional religion, does not in any way mean that the concept of the Supreme Being does not exist in their ontology. Since the nineteenth century these sources have hand with the study of the people who practise the religion. Because religion is a way of life, it relates to culture and society as they affect the worldview of the African people. Author and ethnic indexes. Sculptures, songs, dance, myths, incantations, etc are oftentimes expressions of African beliefs and practices. that emerged from Africa were attributed to the effort of people from outside Africa, specifically the people with Arab or European ancestry (James, 2009; Rodney, 1973) African traditional religion as an aspect of African civilisation also suffered from such inhuman racial treatment meted out to Africans people. 136 mediators needed to reach him3. Africa, the place of origin of all humankind, is divided into numerous political and cultural regions, reflecting its diverse range of histories, ethnicities, languages, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. University Of Nigeria Nsukka | To Restore The Dignity Of Man Some elements distinguish it from 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Material in this training manual is largely based on information from the Impact of Religion on Women™s Rights in Africa Workshop, held in Zimbabwe, 1 Œ 2 November 2000. RELIGION AS A PERCENTAGE OF WORLD POPULATION: 1.3 percent OVERVIEW. However, traditional religion shows resilience in its impact in such areas as Africans’ historical-cultural roots, self-consciousness and expectations (Mbiti 1999:257; see also Ejizu 2002:127-129). ( Log Out /  WORLD RELIGIONSAFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION THIRD EDITION 2. African religion is found primarily in oral sources, including stories, myths, proverbs, prayers, ritual incantations, songs, names of people and places, and the specialized and carefully guarded knowledge of religious personages. He opines that African traditional religion contributed to the spread of Christian beliefs in Africa. When we speak of African Traditional Religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the Africans. First, in the origin myths of several peoples, such as the Baganda of Uganda and the Edo of Nigeria, the first king or chief of the community was endowed with the sacred power of the Supreme Deity. increasingly been recorded in writing, and since the second Author and ethnic indexes. the forces of nature, and the purpose of life. Keyword: traditional African religion, natural resource conservation, sacred grove, evil forest, christianity, evil forest 1. back to prehistoric times. Download African Religions Philosophy PDF/ePub, Mobi eBooks by Click Download or Read Online button. Download African Religions Philosophy PDF/ePub, Mobi eBooks by Click Download or Read Online button. 1. African traditional religion refers to the indigenous or autochthonous religions of the African people. Instant access to millions of titles from Our Library and it’s FREE to try! African traditional religion and the traditional moral values in the context of sustainable national development. Like in other primal religions, one is born into it as a way of as ifthe issue raised by the two positions is irrelevant. Change ). different life situations, raising questions and reflecting on religious objects and places like shrines, altars, and ceremonial including stories, myths, proverbs, prayers, ritual incantations, Bediako, Kwame (1983), ‘Biblical Christologies in the Context of African Traditional Religions’ in Samuel & Sugden (1983), pp. 13 numbers of adherents of African religion. The aim ofthis paper is to examine the implications ofMosala'sstatement 00both African and Black Theologies, particularly in the light ofwhat I have chosen to call the South African classical debate on the subject. They are also artistic portrayals of traditional African religion. Ofori, Patrick E. Black African Traditional Religions and Philosophy: A Select Bibliographic Survey of the Sources from the Earliest Times to 1974. Religions,” characterized by a spirituality of response to the reality of the spirit world and its reaction with objective To understand the issue one must go back to the beginnings of anthropology in the 19th century and follow its evolution (see 19th-Century Background). It deals with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, and so on. Everyone is in fact a religious carrier. More so, myths encode the traditional settings of the African and their belief system. The third level in African Traditional Religion is the earthly tier, which is the functionaries who are responsible for maintaining the harmony, balance, and order in the African traditional system. The influence of Christianity on African Traditional Religion and African Christian competitions, examinations, and the search for employment. KEY WORDS: pregnancy, birth rites, naming rites, puberty rites, ritual . M/f܋Qrl��� ̋�� This paper primarily addresses the controversy among scholars on whether oral traditions such as myths, songs, wise sayings, incantations, invocations, legends, etc. endstream endobj 514 0 obj <>/Metadata 58 0 R/PageLayout/OneColumn/Pages 508 0 R/StructTreeRoot 89 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 515 0 obj <>/Font<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 516 0 obj <>stream The African traditional Christianity and Islam, the other major religions of Africa, The paper attempts to demonstrate the vast potentials of oral tradition as a vehicular access to understanding African beliefs and practices. This paper primarily addresses the controversy among scholars on whether oral traditions such as myths, songs, wise sayings, incantations, invocations, legends, etc. African traditional religion refers to the indigenous or autochthonous religions of the African people. sources of African philosophy (Jaja, 1995:28). They compare their pre-Christian era with the Old Testament. Voodoo in the Caribbean and macumba in Brazil are and carefully guarded knowledge of religious personages. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. naturally, in agreement with Mosala's position. Africa. The indigenous festivals, like other festivals in other religions, have their origins/sources passed down from generation to generation orally and expressed through myths and stories. African Traditional Religion is part of the category designated as primal religion (Momen 2009:356). African religious leaders include the sacred kings and chiefs who often serve as both spiritual and community leaders. In general, it can be said that Christians in Kavango consider Christianity and traditional African religion as a continuum, not as opposites. such mysteries of life as birth and death, joy and suffering, Furthermore, it recommended among others, that functional education should be emphasized, particularly for the youths who are vital for the growth and sustainable development of Nigerian society. �Ł+KY�qi�S�.�ꪛ���RwIa�&�/1t8A�SɫVc�Va1�F�n��j|�@���98c���}|��wiS�o�s����O��&e� G��v�ῶ�4�{]�P��΀S�� �/7�ń�'a0�Y��U�)Ah��G�c�$?�8I��ݑ8�x African Religion evolved gradually as people experienced made mention of the various ceremonies which accompany puberty and its significance in African traditional religion. system, drawing on elements from many sources. emerges among Christians and Muslims in times of crisis For many Africans and Ghanaians, in particular, it is religion more than anything else that shapes their worldview and participation in social life6. reality. African religions and philosophy by Mbiti, John S. Publication date 1970 Topics Philosophy, African Publisher Garden City, N.Y. : Anchor Books Collection inlibrary; printdisabled; internetarchivebooks; americana Digitizing sponsor Internet Archive Contributor Internet Archive Language English "A Doubleday Anchor book." Nendeln, Liechtenstein: Kraus-Thomson, 1975.