Characteristics of African religion A Supreme being: 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. Religion enters into every aspect of the life of the Africans and it cannot be studied in isolation. English is the main language used in the education and judiciary systems. GOD IS REAL does not represent any religion, but shows you that God is the most beautiful reality there is. Moreover, without denying that homophobia does exist in Zimbabwe, even GALZ members readily agree that in day to day life gay-bashing is rarely as violent or pervasive as it is in many Western countries. To cite just a few examples, in the Congo, the supreme God is variously called Akongo, Arebati, Djakomba, Katshonde, Kmvoum, Leza, and Nzambi. The ancestral spirits will intercede who will carry it forward to God, because we also believe in God.". The following are Ndebele names as they are used ,spoken and written by people of the Ndebele tribe in Zimbabwe.As someone who grew up among the Ndebele and took Ndebele lessons from kindergarten to high school,I wrote all the names from my head because I know friends and people with such names,and I can recognize any Ndebele name.>> Scroll Down To The List of Names God is supreme and great over all visible and invisible beings or things that we believe to exist. African traditional religions have a strong foothold in contemporary Zimbabwe as an integral part of the everyday lives of many Zimbabweans. In Karanga indigenous religion in Zimbabwe: health and well-being, Prof. 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. What are the 7 names of God? It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what AIR and its essential characteristics is: God and humanity, sacrifices, afterlife and ancestors. When we speak of African Traditional Religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the Africans. This list may not reflect recent changes (). The vadzimu are believed to constitute an invisible community within the community of the living, always around their descendants, caring for them and participating in their joys and sorrows (Moyo, 1988: 199). Thanks for taking the time to comment, unknown.I encourage you to add to this information about Shona names and add to this list of names. Guardian spirits are family oriented while territorial spirits are clan/community oriented. 98 – 118. He gave us the Bible as His guideline to learn about His plan for mankind and to reveal who He is. Where ancestors are subject to appeasement by human beings, it is believed that God is appeased as well. 'The Afri-can attitude to God is perhaps understood least' (Sawyer, 1970, p. ix). They each may have objects special to their beliefs. African people relate to or worship God through praying, singing and dancing, making sacrificial offerings, dedications and invoking blessings. The meaning of God in an African Traditional Religion and the meaninglessness of well-meaning mission: The experience of Christian enculturation in Karamoja, Uganda Show all authors. Zimbabwe is named after Great Zimbabwe, the twelfth- to fifteenth-century stone-built capital of the Rozwi Shona dynasty. In 1795, the London Missionary Society was founded to promote the spread of Protestantism into Africa and Asia. The names of the supreme God are many and differ with the many language groups of Africa. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Indigenous Religions: A Companion. Zimbabwean names consist of a first or given name followed by a family name or surname. Karanga Indigenous Religion in Zimbabwe: Health and Well-Being (Vitality of Indigenous Religions) Since Christians in Zimbabwe have given the name Mwari to the biblical God, the fuller view of Mwari has important ramifications for Christian theology and ministry. There are various names of God, many of which enumerate the various qualities of a Supreme Being.The English word "God" (and its equivalent in other languages) is used by multiple religions as a noun or name to refer to different deities, or specifically to the Supreme Being, as denoted in English by the capitalized and uncapitalized terms "God" and "god". Communication between the living and the dead is taken care of by the spirit mediums who are vital parts of Shona culture and religion. Africans have different names for God they worship. His motive was to strip the native of his power and lay him prostrate for exploitation. The traditional Shona believe in the spiritual world; everything in nature originates from One God whom they call “Mwari” (In God Our Lives Belong), “Musikavanhu” (God the Creator of Humanity), or “Samasimba” (God Almighty). In 1992, the country's population was 10.4 million. Kofi-Tsekpo (2004:i–ii) notes that the phrase ‘traditional medicine’ has become a catchword among the peoples in … RELIGION: Indigenous beliefs; Christianity; Islam ... and gave modern Zimbabwe its name. Is Hinduism indigenous religion? There are various names of God, many of which enumerate the various qualities of a Supreme Being.The English word "God" (and its equivalent in other languages) is used by multiple religions as a noun or name to refer to different deities, or specifically to the Supreme Being, as denoted in English by the capitalized and uncapitalized terms "God" and "god". Christianity is the state religion in Zambia according to the 1996 constitution, and the vast majority of Zambians (85.5%) are Christians of various denominations, but many other religious traditions are present. There is no symbol that represents all indigenous religions. "Nyanko" in Akan means "friend" and "pon" means "mighty or great." For instance, the Sioux hold the hoop, or circle, as a sacred symbol of unity. Religion, in this view, constitutes an element within culture, as religion is seen as a way of life. religion, a thing of the past or a dead religion. Central Presbyterian Church, Salisbury, SourceDespite practicing the Christian faith, the majority o… Above all, African beliefs and customs are the main aspects that create the humanity of a person. Moyo, A. The complex interplay of land both as an economic resource and as a basis of the political superstructure cemented, tied and broke bonds among nations, ethnic groups, religions, genders and classes in the pre-colonial and independent periods. religion, and in each case a weighty meaning of 'God', even if His existence remained firmly bracketed, could be expounded - depending on the culture. By Edmore Mufeme, Universtiy of Zimbabwe. Google Scholar Samuel, Vinay & Chris Sugden (eds.) People of mixed race are sometimes called "colored persons." The meaning of 'God' is highly culture-specific In short, the meaning of 'God' is highly culture-specific. Its study has to go hand-in-hand with the study of the people who practise the religion. All that they know is that the God of the Meru traditional Religion is knowable. In Karanga indigenous religion in Zimbabwe: health and well-being, Prof. 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. Military branches of the government are the Zimbabwe National Army, the Air Force of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (including the Police Support Unit and the Paramilitary Police). Masiiwa R. Gunda, “Christianity, Traditional Religion, and Healing in Zimbabwe.” Swedish Missiological Themes 95, no. The rapid growth of many religions in Africa and the revival of AIR in postcolonial Africa have made inter-religious dialogue an urgent necessity. Characteristics of African religion A Supreme being: 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. It must be noted, however, that it is not the ancestors themselves, the vadzimu, who are worshipped, but rather God through them. Through modern changes, the traditional religion cannot remain intact but it is by no means extinct. Who is the founder of Buddhism? God however does not fit in any box of a religion, but He is the creator of all mankind and He wants to bring all of us into an intimate relationship with Him. Pancocojams showcases the music, dances, language practices, & customs of African Americans and of other people of Black descent throughout the world. The Muslim community consists primarily of South Asian immigrants (Indian and Pakistani), a small number of indigenous Zimbabweans, and a very small number of North African and Middle Eastern immigrants. Its study has to go hand-in-hand with the study of the people who practise the religion. 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