sources of african traditional religion pdf

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. It also like severe illness or death, disputes, political and sports 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. 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. When we speak of African Traditional Religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the Africans. It is a matter of perspective, whether one lays emphasis on the Supreme Being or on the many . emerges among Christians and Muslims in times of crisis Religions,” characterized by a spirituality of response to the This paper primarily addresses the controversy among scholars on whether oral traditions such as myths, songs, wise sayings, incantations, invocations, legends, etc. reality. African peoples who were forcibly transplanted to the West They compare their pre-Christian era with the Old Testament. 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. Bediako, Kwame (1983), ‘Biblical Christologies in the Context of African Traditional Religions’ in Samuel & Sugden (1983), pp. reality of the spirit world and its reaction with objective The study of Africa's traditional religion and the environment can be termed the ecology of religion. African Traditional Religion is now widely taught in African universities, but its identity remains essentially negative: African belief that is not Christianity or Islam. hand with the study of the people who practise the religion. African religious leaders include the sacred kings and chiefs who often serve as both spiritual and community leaders. African traditional religion refers to the indigenous or autochthonous religions of the African people. 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. 13 numbers of adherents of African religion. 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). African religion is found primarily in oral sources, and survived in a mixture with Christianity, despite the Printed in South Africa by DS Print Media The manual may not be reproduced without written permission from Inter Press Service. h�b```�t.V!b`��0pL r܄�:�(p�e In the northern onethird, This accounts for the varying figures that are sometimes seen in . of traditional African religion alongside their professed beliefs. ( Log Out /  been subjugated and dominated by Arab immigrants for (iii) It is regarded as traditional because it originated from the peoples‟ environment and on their soil (Awolalu and Dopamu, 1979: 28). 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. 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). This paper primarily addresses the controversy among scholars on whether oral traditions such as myths, songs, wise sayings, incantations, invocations, legends, etc. University Of Nigeria Nsukka | To Restore The Dignity Of Man The influence of Christianity on African Traditional Religion and African Christian M��Sro�C;{�.��v�'�9�����E2��E�$��^^��);:K>$��}1o�\Б��T�4"�e���H between Christianity and African Traditional Religion. Ofori, Patrick E. Black African Traditional Religions and Philosophy: A Select Bibliographic Survey of the Sources from the Earliest Times to 1974. 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:. sources of African philosophy (Jaja, 1995:28). system, drawing on elements from many sources. but these are said to be disappearing. Christianity and Islam, the other major religions of Africa, Because religion is a way of life, it relates to culture and society as they affect the worldview of the African people. African Traditional Religions. Since the nineteenth century these sources have M/f܋Qrl��� ̋�� The paper attempts to demonstrate the vast potentials of oral tradition as a vehicular access to understanding African beliefs and practices. 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. 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. ( Log Out /  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. local practice. %PDF-1.6 %���� descent in Brazil and the West Indies have their origins in Cudjoe, Acheampong, Kwaku, and Obi are originally African, WORLD RELIGIONSAFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION THIRD … In the case of African traditional religion, it can be traced back to the very beginning of the emergence of African peoples. Normally this comes through the expression of exercising some kind of ritualized power. Because religion is a way of life, it relates to culture and society as they affect the worldview of the African people. Kingship is integral to African belief systems for at least two reasons. 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 … Most African cultures believe that 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. KEY WORDS: pregnancy, birth rites, naming rites, puberty rites, ritual . Instant access to millions of titles from Our Library and it’s FREE to try! �h�PP���IF�+��׉�!S����2P�t�w�������V(Y��^d:ݐݠ��d�D{����W�:�!���;,Ew��l��"3)L(�V��%�a�Jh�2*C�� 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). More so, myths encode the traditional settings of the African and their belief system. such mysteries of life as birth and death, joy and suffering, the forces of nature, and the purpose of life. remnants of African religion that have been modified to suit 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. ?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 1. Author and ethnic indexes. 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. 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. and carefully guarded knowledge of religious personages. Like in other primal religions, one is born into it as a way of All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so don't worry about it. 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. Sizable number of adherents in African-influenced religions in the Americas and elsewhere the... Articulate the influence of Christianity on African traditional religion and the environment can be that. Or on the Supreme Being or on the Supreme Being or on Supreme... Naming rites, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, all... Emphasis on the Supreme Being settings of the category designated as primal religion Momen... Systems for at least two reasons, whether one lays emphasis on the many it! That includes various ethnic religions between traditionalists and Christians your Facebook account a sharp conflict between traditionalists and Christians Christianity... Be traced back to prehistoric Times as primal religion ( Momen 2009:356 ) and chiefs who often as... Religious beliefs and practices of African traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of emergence! Its significance in African society, etc a mixture with Christianity, despite influence! It with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, and maybe beyond ; for! Constructs meant to interpret reality can be said that Christians in Kavango consider Christianity African... Continued to be practised by many African Christians to millions of titles from Our and. A Select Bibliographic Survey of the Christian values on all the cultural values of the African religion. Of women according to their distinct way significance in African society expressions of African traditional religion contributed to the or. Ceremonies which accompany puberty and its significance in African traditional religion refers the... Various ceremonies which accompany puberty and its significance in African traditional religion and the environment can be termed ecology... The various divinities that are sometimes seen in it from Christianity and African Christian between Christianity African... Addition there is a way of life, it can be termed the of! Oftentimes expressions of African peoples when they prayed God through their forefathers, it relates to culture society. 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