It is the creation and maintenance, through the academic study of religion, of a new form of life. However, traditional religion shows resilience in its impact in such areas as africans historicalcultural roots, selfconsciousness and expectations mbiti 1999. Crises of life in african religion and christianity. The religious beliefs, practices and thehuman characteristics such as love, power, knowledge are transferred to anspeak. Traditional african religion still very relevant in africa. Death as a point of dialogue between african religion and christianity john s. The invention of african traditional religion sciencedirect. Characteristics of african religion 1769 words bartleby. Its study has to go handinhand with the study of the people who practise the religion. Traditional african religions are the traditions of the religious groups in africa. Muslims still exhibit some syncretic characteristics which show their affinity to. A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage and sexuality dr. Some scholars see this religion as purely monotheistic. African traditional religion was not regarded as a true religion by missionaries, hence it was called heathenism, a religion of the uncivilised.
In general, people in the cities confess to either christianity or islam. The meaning of god in an african traditional religion and the. African people relate to or worship god through praying, singing and dancing, making sacrificial offerings, dedications and invoking blessings. View african traditional religions research papers on academia. African traditional religion, mainly by the west and also by some africans themselves who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation have not bothered to know it. Characteristics of african traditional religions 898 words 4 pages. Shona mwari literally he who is, or ndebele umlimu, is believed to be active in the everyday lives of people. Tabona shoko analyses the traditional karanga views of the causes of illness and disease, mechanisms of diagnosis at their disposal and the methods they use to restore health, shoko discusses the views of a specific african independent church of the apostolic tradition. He notes that the presentation of salvation in the hands of overseas missionaries.
On the basis of its supposedly heathen character, it was not included in the religion education syllabus. Atr african traditional religion introduction three religions dominates african continent. After christianity and islam, they are the thirdbiggest religious group in africa. The traditional spiritual beliefs of the chewa people of zambia, for example, are humancentered and socially oriented. Traditional african religions generally believe in an afterlife, one or more spirit worlds, and ancestor worship is an important basic concept in mostly all african religions. The religious beliefs, practices and thehuman characteristics such as love, power, knowledge are transferred to anspeak of african traditional religion we mean the indigenous. Welcome to the summary lecture of african traditional religions. African religion cannot be separated from daily life. And we agree with professor idowu that the purpose of the study should be.
In ghana for example among the akans god is referred to as nyankopon which means greater among friends. Zuesse divination and deity in 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. It is a global framework of life, encompassing every human situation and governing the whole society. It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what air and its essential characteristics is. Mbitis conception of salvation in african christianity. In discussing african culture and values, we are not presupposing that all african societies have the same. A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage. There are four foundational religious beliefs in the traditional religions. African traditional religion in a globalizing world. African traditional religion in the context of christian and islamic. African traditional religion atr and cultural practices in most parts of african communities are environmentally friendly and sustainable, contributing so. The african attitude to god is perhaps understood least sawyer, 1970, p. This article surveys the context that influenced african christian scholars and illustrates why cultural nationalism features in.
When we speak of african traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs. Throughout most of africa there is belief of a supreme being, described by one or more names, either in terms of activities or place of abode. African religion is traditional for the following reasons. Traditional african societies also observe environmental ethics that help in regulating their interactions with the natural environment shastri et al. The best interpreter of african religion is the african with a disciplined mind and the requisite technical tools. The main characteristics of african traditional religion. This means that traditional african religion cannot be separated from daily life. It is a matter of perspective, whether one lays emphasis on the supreme being or on the many.
An african child growing in this environment will uphold african culture, norms. Pdf the concept of god, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious ontology has been so misunderstood by. Certain basic characteristics mark the african traditional religion out and make it unique. A look at african tradition religion religion essay. The term african traditional religion in this thesis refers to all the indigenous religions of ghana before contact with arabs and europeans. It is the bedrock of african cultural values and moral tradition. Africa is a massive continent with diverse religious traditions, to the extent that within the same tradition there have been variations. The meaning of god in an african traditional religion and. The writings of african scholars who are committed to christianity have been assessed negatively, particularly as regards the study of african traditional religions atrs. Religion enters into every aspect of the life of the africans and it cannot be studied in isolation. African christian scholars and the study of african. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator, belief in spirits, veneration of the dead, use of magic and traditional. Investigators, especially, foreign, should therefore learn to project african traditional religion as the africans themselves say it in their language, culture and all. The subject of african tradition religion has much been discussed and argued in relation and comparison with christianity.
These teachers sacrificed their time in teaching african traditional religion in their classes. Africa traditional religious system as basis of understanding. Johnson, understanding african traditional religion. A theological reflection on mbitis conception of salvation. African traditional religion and concepts of development. Let us start with the ritual in connection with the worship of god olodumare and gods orisa. Exploring the african traditional belief systems in natural. Africans have different names for god they worship. Box 4384400100, nairobi, kenya abstract it is the opinion consensuses of a few scholars that the institution of marriage has continued to. African world view, all life is religion farrington 1998. African traditional religions perspective article pdf available in religious studies and theology 311.
There is a specific cult of olodumare in y orubaland. They are folk religions, and combine different beliefs. Christianity in africa and in most parts of africa even in india was a precursor of colonisation. African traditional religions in some parts of africa, have had an elaborate pantheon of divinities. African traditional religion religion is a difficult subject to inquiry including attempts at definition and conception. There are many reasons why i ascribe to my traditional african religion or customs. It is an amalgam of moral ideas and practices that permeates all of life at personal and social levels ibid. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions. This revision of a standard text lj 775 provides an excellent overview of native religion in africa. Characteristics of african religion essay 1778 words.
African traditional religions research papers academia. It also offers a useful and uptodate list of books for more advanced reading, questions for. An overview 11 summary report from the working group on african religion preamble the study of african religion so far recognition, discussion and mention of the encounter between african religion and christianity some areas of theological discourse in african religion recommendations. The african traditional religion is an integral part of black africans everyday life. Others have argued against african tradition religions and others bring out some points for african tradition religion, while others decide to remain. In discussing african culture and values, we are not. The influence of christianity on african traditional religion and african christian. African traditional religion according to its main characteristics. 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. This paper examines the concept and philosophy of african traditional religion from the viewpoint of africans.
African traditional religion simple english wikipedia. The three main religious traditionsafrican traditional religion, christianity, and islamconstitute the triple religious heritage of the african continent. Do the tools used by todays scholars of religion, their ways of gathering information, and their. African traditional religions religion in zimbabwe. Elements of african traditional religion elia mligo is 20% off every day at. Prior to this contact, each tribe in ghana had its own distinct set of beliefs and practices, which could be referred to as the tribes religion. They counteracted various derogatory names given to air. The practicality of teaching african traditional religion in schools would not have been proved if it were not the efforts and willingness of mr robert stonier, mrs z johnson, mr d adonis and mr z ndamandama. Barclay summarizes the distinctive and characteristic nt usages of soteria and sozein as follows. It presents the worldview, philosophical nature and foundation of african traditional religion. It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of former generations. Some african religions adopted different views through the influence of islam or even hinduism. The study of african traditional religion the study of african traditional religion atr is very exciting, fascinating, but sadly uncared for and very much unregarded even by the africans, who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation or naivity have not bothered to know its worth or importance. Through modern changes, the traditional religion cannot remain intact but it is by no means extinct.
The main objective of this paper is to examine african culture and values. Christianity in africa and in most parts of africa even in india was a. When we speak of african traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the africans. A reflection on mbitis concept of salvation in african christianity mbitis conception of salvation in african christianity is that salvation is wholeness. In support, iwuoha points out that traditional african religion cuts across economic, sociology, politics, and arts. As in most of subsaharan africa, atr is the indigenous religion of sierra leone. Pdf on oct 1, 1999, ben knighton and others published the meaning of god in an african traditional religion and the meaninglessness of.
It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of. The paper attempts to demonstrate the vast potentials of oral tradition as a vehicular access to understanding african beliefs and practices. He needs to be saved both physically and spiritually. African traditional religion atr and cultural practices in most parts of african communities are environmentally friendly and sustainable, contributing so much. 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.
The purpose of this is to help to orient a person who would like to work in the context of africa. African traditional religion cannot easily be studied by nonafricans. Two passages are cited below in support of this inference. Christianity and the african traditional religions scielo. African traditional religion atr is one of the world religions with a great people and a great past. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. Religion without belief and community in africa mdpi.
Each name has serious significance and authority to the supreme being called god. African traditional religion simple english wikipedia, the. Pdf the meaning of god in an african traditional religion and the. African traditional spirituality as an african heritage must be taken seriously for a fuller understanding of african christian spirituality, particularly of the african pentecostal churches. In practice, most of the rituals and day to day religious. It also shows that the worship of god in african traditional religion is through sacrifices, offerings, singing, dancing and prayers. African traditional religion is one of the religions of the world. An african child growing in this environment will uphold african culture, norms and standards as the only acceptable way of life. This is a 3hour summary lecture on the basic components of african traditional religions. A lot has been said by many commentators and scholars of world religions. African world view, all life is religionfarrington 1998. Each facet of a black africans life is bound to his traditional religious way of life or culture. Characteristics of african religion a supreme being.
West african traditional religion may not be taken with christian religious studies and islamic studies general aims at the end of their study of the subject, the candidates are expected to have 1. It is the religion which resulted from the sustaining faith held by. Pdf god, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious ontology. This paper is a trawl of literature on african traditional religion1 atr and development. It then highlights the urgent need, in the face of a rapidly changing world, where values are shifting fast, to document for posterity a religion whose tenets have been. Aspects of african traditional religion john pobee university of ghana the method ofstudyingafrican traditional religion isfirst discussed and then the elements of the method guide an analysis of theakan religion in west africa according to their understanding of the supreme being, the ancestors, magic, witchcraft and various rites of passage. Exploring the african traditional belief systems in. A definition 1973, omosade awolalu in yoruba belief and sacrificial rites and john mbiti in the concept of god in africa 1970 are a few examples of postcolonial scholars of religion who have resisted and denounced colonial idea that africans do not know god. The religious beliefs, practices and the provision of social services of these immigrant religions have impacted on the religious and cultural life of the traditional communities. Some examples rituals and rites abound in yoruba traditional religion. Christianity and the african traditional religions. Mbiti, african religions and philosophy, heineman, 1969, p.
In general, people communicate with mwari through the vadzimu. Thereafter i will look at the main characteristics of african traditional religion. New religious movements nrm in west african traditional religion. It further studies the difficulties involved in this study and future of african traditional religion. Aug 07, 2014 there are many reasons why i ascribe to my traditional african religion or customs. The traditional spiritual beliefs of the chewa people of zambia. Traditional african religion is much more than westerners give it credit for. They have been nurtured with the local practices and culture, but still carry some similarities, like pantheism, in their structures. African traditional religions are sets of diverse beliefs that are followed by people in separate places. Egwu 2001 observes religion not only because of the problem of objectivity one encounters in defining but is emotion laden, even more so because of the difficulty of penetrating the inner essence of religion.
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