He opines that African traditional religion contributed to the spread of Christian beliefs in Africa. 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. It deals with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, and so on. [34] Some recognize a dual god and goddess such as Mawu-Lisa. [1][7], Adherents of traditional religions in sub-Saharan Africa are distributed among 43 countries and are estimated to number over 100 million. In the African traditional religions, ancestors were never considered demonic or as part of evil spirits (2007;383). 2. Emefie Ikenga - Metuh, African Religions in Western Conceptual Schemes: The Problem of Interpretation (Studies in lgbo Religion) 2nd ed. They do not need to put them down in scripture or in texts or as tenets. endobj This list is limited to a few well-known traditions. There are also religions with a single Supreme being (Chukwu, Nyame, Olodumare, Ngai, Roog, etc.). Transcendence in African traditional religions Francis Rakotsoane1 Department of Theology and Religious Studies National University of Lesotho, Roma, Lesotho Introduction ‛Transcendence’ is derived from the Latin word transcendere, which means to ascend on or elevate oneself above (Mondin 1991:196). It emphasizes on how man manages his life concerning both industrial and agricultural production. A spirit ceremony is held by the Fon people of Benin, Nigeria, to contact the spirit world. People could notice that the new-born child, who was named after the one who died, Keywords: Sexual relationship; African Traditional culture; Cultural globalization; Sacredness; Taboos Introduction From 3 0 obj With African Traditional Religions you must be much more careful about speaking about belief systems in the same way, because Africans will actually tolerate quite a wide variety of beliefs as long as it supports the same rituals or certain rituals or ritualistic explanations of why this is being done or why this is being believed. He summarizes that traditional African religions are not only religions, but a worldview, a way of life. B. Foundational Religious Practices. %PDF-1.3 %���� These oldest religions of the world,have had their history and traditions handed down orally and preserved in the culture and religious artifacts of the African people. B. Ellis, [16] and S. S. Farrow. The S… OLUPONA: If we lose traditional African religions, we would also lose or continue to seriously undermine the African practice of rites of passage such as the much cherished age-grade initiations, which have for so long integrated and bought Africans together under a common understanding, or worldview. Religion in most African societies also supports moral order. 17–19, Parrinder, Geoffrey. While some religions adopted a pantheistic worldview, most follow a polytheistic system with various gods, spirits and other supernatural beings. endobj He also notes that most modern African folk religions were strongly influenced by non-African religions, mostly Christianity and Islam and thus may differ from the ancient forms. It deals with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society and so on .because religion is a way of life, it relates to culture and society as they affect the worldview of the African people. Atheistic tendencies in Africa are minimal. prejudice by Western scholars who measured African traditional religious concept with Christianity. Traditional healers are common in most areas, and their practices include a religious element to varying degrees. The Africans are known to be intensely religious people. The mole and man are to blame for the fall and the consequence of it [death]. African Religions and Philosophy is a systematic study of the attitudes of mind and belief that have evolved in the many societies of Africa. [] Ezeanya (1970:37) notes positively about the African God that “a more careful study of Igbo religion shows that, the Supreme Being is not as “unknown” as he is thought to be. Ray says, “It is true that that religion is neither an African word nor an indigenous concept.” Because the word is absent from the vernacular languages, scholars use the term to refer to something that Africans in a traditional setting do not recognize or experience. - The unity of God - Intermediaries between Man and God - The relationship between Man and God - Attributes of God; 4) Conclusions. Everyone is welcome in the society because Africans are born into the religion. We find it in the oral culture of proverbs, ritual formulas, prayers, creedal formulations, and … [31], When this trance-like state is witnessed and understood, adherents are privy to a way of contemplating the pure or symbolic embodiment of a particular mindset or frame of reference. Virtue in traditional African religion is often connected with carrying out obligations of the communal aspect of life. [17] Traditional African religions also have elements of fetishism, shamanism and veneration of relics. "Kings, Magic & Medicine". This paper attempts to reappraise his views on salvation from a theological point of view. African Traditional Religion has sometimes been described as ancestor religion by scholars as if this is what defines this religion. African traditional religions is a term referring to a variety of religions indigenous to the continent of Africa. I have opted to not include the concept of transcendence under similarities for I believe it to be an area where African theologians have fundamentally misrepresented African religion, by “‘baptising’ the data in order to project a traditional religion that is compatible with Christianity” (Bowers, 2002: 118). In this state, depending upon the region, drumming or instrumental rhythms played by respected musicians (each of which is unique to a given deity or ancestor), participants embody a deity or ancestor, energy or state of mind by performing distinct ritual movements or dances which further enhance their elevated consciousness. Most African societies believe in several “high gods” and a large amount of lower gods and spirits. All aspects of weather, thunder, lightning, rain, day, moon, sun, stars, and so on may become amenable to control through the cosmology of African people. We now turn from examining the foundations of religious beliefs to the foundations of religious practices. The essential role of Chi concept is seen in the Igbo While some traditions have a supreme being (next to other deities), others have not. Also sought for their wisdom as counselors in life the concept of man in african traditional religion for their knowledge of [... 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