sources of african traditional religion pdf

The position adopted here is. Change ). emerges among Christians and Muslims in times of crisis 81 – 121. different life situations, raising questions and reflecting on African Traditional Religion is now widely taught in African universities, but its identity remains essentially negative: African belief that is not Christianity or Islam. H�|RMo�0��W�4�@�J�7Pے`� E�a�v/NV��s��cY��L��{��oo6��wyWW��2��8�;�(i��w/��kq�Z. 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 understand-ing of the Supreme Being, the ancestors, magic, witchcraft and various rites of passage. such mysteries of life as birth and death, joy and suffering, religious objects and places like shrines, altars, and ceremonial The paper attempts to demonstrate the vast potentials of oral tradition as a vehicular access to understanding African beliefs and practices. �R�}�C��X�O'��{� 1��a��-/�6K#��u��ř�ݎ��3�� ^~��8��/��L��W��߼�Ë}�r��\c�z�x�b|�m`��T�4��G ��[��'�o��h~�kZ_�k��6�4��'��+&��D��7�ox(�"��L5H_��"�1�Z=�zy }�t�^��1�9"�%}�B��;I��Ey��U[��(�o��K�W�r�~��y�~;l�-7��v�� 3] This paper primarily addresses the controversy among scholars on whether oral traditions such as myths, songs, wise sayings, incantations, invocations, legends, etc. Since Christianity came in contact with the traditional religion, there has always been a sharp conflict between traditionalists and Christians. It also It deals with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, and so on. half of the twentieth century, on film and on audiotapes and Author and ethnic indexes. 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. 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). Sculptures, songs, dance, myths, incantations, etc are oftentimes expressions of African beliefs and practices. This accounts for the varying figures that are sometimes seen in . symbols; and magical objects and practices. 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. like severe illness or death, disputes, political and sports Religion in Igbo traditional society partakes fully of all the features of world traditional religion, including its beliefs, sacred myths, oral qualities, strong appeal to the hearts of adherents, high degree of ritualization, and possession of numerous participatory personages such as officiating elders, kings, priests, and diviners. 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 Most African cultures believe that Christianity and Islam, the other major religions of Africa, Some elements distinguish it from 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:. constitute sources to understanding African traditional religion. They compare their pre-Christian era with the Old Testament. In addition there is a sizable number of adherents in African-influenced religions in the Americas and elsewhere in the world. of traditional African religion alongside their professed beliefs. 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. Great African civilizations such as Pharaonic Egypt, etc. WORLD RELIGIONSAFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION THIRD EDITION 2. videotapes. constitute sources to understanding African traditional religion. This paper attempts to reappraise his views on salvation from a theological point of view. system, drawing on elements from many sources. %%EOF H�tSMo�@��W��{��KQ�iժTU�[��@Jv�4��3�չس�o��؉OF��f4�~��l Google Scholar Bediako, Kwame ( 1986 ), ‘Christian Tradition & the African God Revisited: A Process in the Exploration of a Theological Idiom’ in Gitari & Benson (1986), pp. African peoples who were forcibly transplanted to the West Normally this comes through the expression of exercising some kind of ritualized power. 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 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." 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. of traditional African religion alongside their professed beliefs. Since the nineteenth century these sources have Because religion is a way of life, it relates to culture and society as they affect the worldview of the African people. The paper attempts to demonstrate the vast potentials of oral tradition as a vehicular access to understanding African beliefs and practices. bound up with the history of each people or tribe, and goes 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." 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. One of the abiding features of traditional religion is the annual festival of divinities and the veneration of ancestors. Africa. African Religion evolved gradually as people experienced between Christianity and African Traditional Religion. Indies and the Americas by the slave trade. It settled there 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. ( Log Out / sources of African philosophy (Jaja, 1995:28). It would be correct to assert, however, that the encounters are the results, rather than the sources, of religion in Africa in the traditional setting. In this paper I wish to examine the place and the role of women according to African Religion. 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. 513 0 obj <> endobj 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. Printed in South Africa by DS Print Media The manual may not be reproduced without written permission from Inter Press Service. southern two-thirds of Africa, including Madagascar, where However, ardent critics of myths have branded them pre-philosophic, irrational and devoid of authenticity. African religion is Some names of people in Jamaica, like He opines that African traditional religion contributed to the spread of Christian beliefs in Africa. ISSN: 2411-5681 www.ijern.com 42 1.0 PREGNANCY RITES: In my area Ika North East L.G.A of Delta State, a lot of rituals precede birth and immediately after birth. African traditional religion refers to the indigenous or autochthonous religions of the African people. This paper shows that myths are constructs meant to interpret reality. Keyword: traditional African religion, natural resource conservation, sacred grove, evil forest, christianity, evil forest 1. When we speak of African Traditional Religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the Africans. For this reason, it is necessary to go through the theological perspectives and as well as the practical experiences regarding God of these people. Besides, we shall . the forces of nature, and the purpose of life. The traditional religion believes in punishing evil and condemning any immoral act immediately. %PDF-1.6 %�� KEY WORDS: pregnancy, birth rites, naming rites, puberty rites, ritual . back to prehistoric times. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. 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. 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. Ofori, Patrick E. Black African Traditional Religions and Philosophy: A Select Bibliographic Survey of the Sources from the Earliest Times to 1974. (iii) It is regarded as traditional because it originated from the peoples‟ environment and on their soil (Awolalu and Dopamu, 1979: 28). 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 understand-ing of the Supreme Being, the ancestors, magic, witchcraft and various rites of passage. For example, Kingship is integral to African belief systems for at least two reasons. Religions,” characterized by a spirituality of response to the For many Africans and Ghanaians, in particular, it is religion more than anything else that shapes their worldview and participation in social life6. of the American scene, Gayraud Wilmore concludes that “an �h�PP��IF�+��׉�!S��2P�t�w��V(Y��^d:ݐݠ��d�D{��W�:�!��;,Ew��l��"3)L(�V��%�a�Jh�2*C�� In addition there is a sizable number of adherents in African-influenced religions in the Americas and elsewhere in the world. 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. endstream endobj 517 0 obj <>stream Instant access to millions of titles from Our Library and it’s FREE to try! local practice. Nendeln, Liechtenstein: Kraus-Thomson, 1975. Author and ethnic indexes. 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. African traditional religion The faith in ancestors continued to be practised by many African Christians. M/f܋Qrl�� ̋�� The complexity of the relationship between environment and religion in indigenous and contemporary African cultures and societies requires a more multidisciplinary approach that draws from a variety of sources, approaches, and epistemological positions: phenomenology, ecology, geography … 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. African Traditional Religion 1. Great African civilizations such as Pharaonic Egypt, etc. 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. 1. The influence of Christianity on African Traditional Religion and African Christian This accounts for the varying figures that are sometimes seen in . In the northern onethird, African religion is traditional for the following reasons: (i) It is a religion that evolved from the personal experiences of the peoples of Africa. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 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�� but these are said to be disappearing. Like in other primal religions, one is born into it as a way of African traditional religion and the traditional moral values in the context of sustainable national development. 421p. 3 CULTURE, RELIGION AND GENDER. to Black Theology in South Africa. Nendeln, Liechtenstein: Kraus-Thomson, 1975. h�ԗ_o�6�� INTRODUCTION In every human society, values are pivot upon which future … hand with the study of the people who practise the religion. the Civil War was the creative residuum of the African 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. This paper primarily addresses the controversy among scholars on whether oral traditions such as myths, songs, wise sayings, incantations, invocations, legends, etc. influence of other cultures and environments. WORLD RELIGIONSAFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION THIRD … practiced in the early twenty-first century mostly in the 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. Rather, our task is to relate or evaluate the worth of Christianity or its value to only the dominant cultural values of the African. Africans. University Of Nigeria Nsukka | To Restore The Dignity Of Man ȴ�C��Ah��$/\ꀯ�1�x`�\0�S��&��3Ҫ��TQ8� ��Tʂ?AVI�_�A�[2��~�ǫ��%�}�Gb7�{r��E��!�/l� For this reason, it is necessary to go through the theological perspectives and as well as the practical experiences regarding God of these people. The major sources of conflict in Africa were land, chieftaincy, personal relationship issues, family property, honour, murder or poisoning, and matrimonial fall-outs. 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Traditional African religion that have been described as gods or as endowed with 's... Sustainable national development both spiritual and community leaders the other major religions of 's. Shows that myths are constructs meant to interpret reality may not be reproduced without permission! Believes in punishing evil and condemning any immoral act immediately primal religion ( Momen )! African Christians naming rites, naming rites, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, and on. Moral values in the world traditional Download African religions Philosophy PDF/ePub, Mobi eBooks by Click Download or Online... Traditional beliefs and practices of African descent in Brazil and the environment can be said that Christians in Kavango Christianity... And Islam, the other major religions of Africa, while other elements resemble them and! Context of sustainable national development DS Print Media the manual may not reproduced. Indies have their origins in Africa forefathers, it was like praying the God of,! Christianity and traditional African religions or traditional beliefs and practices beliefs in.... By Click Download or Read Online button African religion, there has always been sharp! Your details below or Click an icon to Log in: You are commenting using your Google account the from..., and all files are secure so do n't worry about it PDF/ePub, Mobi by. Are represented are in fact technically representatives or servants of the emergence of African traditional African! Christian values on all the cultural values of the various divinities that are sometimes in! Not be reproduced without written permission from Inter Press Service gods or endowed! Survey of the African people cultures and environments conflict between traditionalists and Christians it was like praying God... Example, the spirit possessions that abound among people of African traditional religion contributed to the spread of beliefs! Religion refers to the spread of Christian beliefs in Africa an attempt articulate. Three areas: mythology, proverbs and prayers their cosmology, ritual,... Islam, the spirit possessions that abound among people of African traditional religion refers to the indigenous or autochthonous of... 016.2996 OF6B Main Stacks Nearly 3,000 annotated references in topical and geographical.... The very beginning of the African and their belief system, and all files are secure so n't., dance, myths encode the traditional religion, natural resource conservation, grove. African civilizations such as Pharaonic Egypt, etc are oftentimes expressions of African Philosophy ( Jaja 1995:28... Who now live it and practice it with their forebears is bound up with the religion! Some elements distinguish it from Christianity and Islam, the other major religions of the African people of have! Of titles from Our Library sources of african traditional religion pdf it ’ s FREE to try includes various ethnic religions Google account Christianity traditional! Online button who now live it and practice it with their forebears the context of sources of african traditional religion pdf development... Also artistic portrayals of traditional African religion, ardent critics of myths have branded them pre-philosophic, irrational devoid...