African Religion

The term God is not an African term

There is no singular way to gain access to God. Africans devised ways of making sense of God
based on their ethnic groups, geographies, multiple languages, different beliefs and traditions
African religions does not have historic movement so beliefs amongst the different communities
differ greatly
The debate about the totalizing concept of monotheism and polytheism is ongoing
African religion has no founder

Important Terms
1. African Religion
Inborn and aboriginal religion of Africans
Oral religion with no sacred books
Myths form part of the sacred stories that help to establish he models by which the society is
organized

2. African Diaspora Religion
The reshaping of the religious landscape in the New World
Diaspora: the spread and dispersal of people of African descent both forced and voluntary slave
trade, imperial and colonial displacement, and postcolonial migration
At dispersal to the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe and Asia, they each brought their personal beliefs,
histories and cultures
Some diaspora religion include African Indigenous religion, Afro-Christianityetc

Some African Diaspora Religious Example
Santeria is found in Cuba, Brazil
Vodou has elements of kongo and African religion and is found in Haiti, New Orleans
Candomble is similar to Santeria and in Brazil

3. African Christianity
Interpretation of Christianity by Africans based on their indigenous precepts, invest them with new
meanings, and then represent them in inventive ways to serve their own devotional and social needs






Myth and Cosmology
1. Myth of creation
Myth provides a legitimacy of local authority, settlement, social organization and moral world of the
people
Myth offers religious perspectives on the past and the present and provide an ethos to construct the
future
Myth of creation differs from place to place

2. Cosmology
Africans believe in the existence of the High God
African myth refers to a conceptual world presided over by a divinity that is responsible forth creation
of humans and he society
S/He is the creator and head of all things
Mythic narratives explains why s/he had to be a withdrawn God who is distant from the world

3. The divinities
The divinities, next in rank to God are functionaries and intermediaries between God and the universe
The divinities are brought to life by the Supreme Being. Although very important as far as the
organization of the universe is concerned, but they have no power of their own, except they are
permitted by God
They are the more personal forms that influence the daily life

Examples of divinities
Amongst the Yoruba and Nigeria, the divinities include Orisa Esu a trickster; Orunmila orisha of
wisdom and divination; Ogun orisha of iron and war
Obatala and Oduduwa were sent to create the world
The female divinity Oshun/Ochun
Goddess the goddess of river. She is the elegant deity of wealth, power and femininity and revered
as a great mother
Yamoja: goddess of sea
Oshun goddess of sea







Social History
1. Personal Identity
Ones lineage defines ones personal identity
Personal freedom and individuality are always balanced by family/community and further balanced by
natural and supernatural powers
The head, good character are needed to form personal identity

2. Death and Afterlife
Life in African religion is continuum; there is a continuing relationship of the dead with the living
Death rituals for ancestors all point to life beyond grave
Everyone aspires to be admitted into the rank of the ancestor and not a wondering spirit; my good life
determines my final resting place

When I leave my body there is new phase
Need to live present life pretty well
Gods judgment: admitted to be the world of ancestor or wandering spirit
Ancestor: symbol of peace and have power to punish and bless

3. Ancestor/Veneration
The soul returns to join the ancestors at death
Venerated ancestors may be reincarnated
They are symbols of peace and unity; have power to bless and protect or punish
Invoked to share in a communal meal at gathering, ritualetc
Ancestors are never worshiped but highly respected
Act as intermediaries between God, family and community

4. God and Spirit Beings
Belief in a High God is not only wide spread, Africans also believe everything has spirit (has various
categories)
These are appritional entities; believed to be capable of becoming anything objects or humans and
could melt into vapor
They could be consulted to determine succession to office

5. Good and Evil
The suffering caused by the ancestors and divinities are temporary punishment meant to draw ones
attention to certain actions or signal to be an initiated devotee
The suffering caused by evil forces are aimed to kill their victims and very socially destructive

Abiku: a child who wants to be born and born again so that it can torment the parents
Spirit guides what to do and what not to do

Religious life and authorities
These range from head of households who perform family rituals to diviners and priest/ess;
rainmakers and healers
They operate in different contexts and ways but basically serve a common purpose communicate
between humanity and the spirit world
1. Diviners
Acquire special skills to see and know things before hand, so people know what to expect in times of
crises or when an important decision has to be made
The Yoruba diviner is called Babalawo father of secrets
Diviners find out the causes of human problems and require solution through divination
They treat illnesses with a combination of ritual and herbal methods

2. Priest/priestess
The priest officiate at religious ceremonies and rituals
Play key role in promoting a strong and united community
renew the life of individual or the community; exorcise troubling spirits
Females are very relevant in African religion

3. Rituals
Religious ceremonies and rituals are very important for maintaining religious and cultural traditions.
formalized and symbolic rites done in the presence of the sacred
Rituals link the creative powers of the gods and ancestors with the present needs of the people
Enacted in ceremonial activities, they communicate values about society and gives content and
meaning to the peoples religious life.
Restore the bonds of social unity by undoing personal wrongs in order to renew physical and
emotional situation.
There is inner head that has destiny

Types of ritual ceremonies
Birth to know the destiny of a new baby
Puberty transition to adulthood
Marriage transform to husband and wife
Agrarian planting and harvesting
Life cycle rituals funeral rites to prepare the dead for transition into ancestorhood
Memorial rites for commemoration
Rituals of affliction to rebuff evil spirits.

4. Ritual sacrifice
Sacrifice is a means of restoring fellowship with God, divinities, ancestors and the environment. Two
Categories:
Positive Aim : actualizing in nature and amongst humans
Negative Aim: Atoning sacrifices/peace offering for warding off danger
Sacrifice may involve: offering of blood, food, oil, money, etc.

5. Worship sites
Worship takes place in a variety of sacred sites and at shrines. They include the following:
Personal huts/houses
Village shrines
Places /burial sites of deceased chiefs
Natural-phenomena shrines
The shrines made by human are distinguished from natural ones such as groves, hills, water, etc. Such
places are called elementary cathedrals.

Conversion in African religion
African Religion adherents do not proselytize (evangelize) like the foreign religions.
In the midst of prejudice from foreign religions
Islam, Christianity, etc. it steadily and continuously manifest vitality

Future of African religion
It continues to be revitalized through modernization, politicization, and individualization of
religious ideas/practices.
It is linked to royal authority, influencing political decisions and installations
Religious celebrations and rituals;
The influence of African religions is felt in time of crisis when many supposed Christians and
Muslims patronize indigenous priests. An example is the need for healing;
Its survival in the diaspora is a testimony;
The scholarly study of African religion