It was also estimated in 2002 that christians form 45% of africas population, with muslims forming 40. About 3% do not identify with any religion, and a similar percentage are followers of folk or traditional religions including african traditional religions. It helped me come to understand how people can take an idea and run with it when it comes to their view of religion. During the introduction of christianity at the onset of colonialism and more notably in the apartheid era, there was a mass execution of the traditional african religion. Traditional african religion is very popular and arrived here with our north and west african ancestors.
African traditions in the study of religion in africa. Religion and faith in africa is an important contribution to the understanding of world religions and thus can contribute to the ongoing academic discourse about how we categorize religion and spirituality throughout the world. Zulu mythology south africa san religion south africa traditional healers of south africa. The conflict in sudan is often more complex than just north versus south, arab versus african or muslim versus christian. Unlike western mythology, african myths are not recounted as a single narrative story, nor is there any established corpus of myth. However, a new version of the book concepts of god in africa which relates the scene described above says christianity was actually helped by some aspects of traditional religion. Orobator argues that calling worshippers of african religion animist is a misjudgment, a misconception, and a misinterpretation of facts perpetrated by pretenders and outsiders who do not understand african religion. The study of african spirituality in its own right is a recent phenomenon. Slave africans brought their beliefs with them when they were brought to brazil during slave trade and this is reason why candomble is popular in brazil. Ancient african traditional religions before christianity and.
Religions of africa outlines and clarifies the historical development of indigenous african belief systems, discusses the impact of colonization, christianity, islam, and liberation movements on the continents religious evolution, and examines the interaction between timehonored customs and new. African indigenous religions, islam, and christianity. These religions are often adapted to african cultural contexts and indigenous belief systems. In the popular mind, to discuss religion in the context of international affairs automatically raises the specter of religious based conflict. Traditional african religions generally believe in an afterlife, one or more spirit worlds, and ancestor worship is an important basic concept in mostly all african religions. It is estimated that around thirtytwo per cent of the worlds population is christians around 2 billion people, half of whom are adherents of. Both approaches assumed that african religious beliefs. Jul 11, 2020 about 10 per cent of the african population is still practicing some form of traditional religion today. The three main religious traditions african traditional religion, christianity, and islamconstitute the triple religious heritage of the african continent. Vontress, the various religious traditions of africa are united by a basic animism.
The book is structured under three main sections emerging trends in the teaching of african religions. In african oral cultures, myths embody philosophical reflections, express values, and identify moral standards. Currently i am about to complete a book on this question of the encounter between the biblical faith and african religion. An example given in the book is that among the yoruba tribe of nigeria, the word for god is olodumare, or the almighty.
As of 2010, there were 822,720,000 people of all ages living in subsaharan africa. These statements await further exploration by african theologians. The rapid growth of many religions in africa and the revival of air in postcolonial africa have made inter religious dialogue an urgent necessity. Conflicts between african traditional religion and. The encounter of christian faith and african religion. Hence one may ague for african indigenous religion to be used instead of african tradional religion. Aug 22, 2000 the foundational religious practices in the traditional religions are. O ne scholar who has written extensively on african traditional religion is john mbiti, a kenyan whom many consider the dean of living african theologians. Throughout the chapters one can clearly detect the authors functional approach to religion. The world book encyclopedia has estimated that in 2002 christians formed 40% of the continents population, with. There are common beliefs in africa although the continent is a large with many different cultures and traditional religions, many religions share similar beliefs and practices. Africa is a massive continent with diverse religious traditions, to the extent that within the same tradition there have been variations.
The major faiths practiced in south africa are christianity, islam, hinduism, traditional african religions and judaism. Students should answer questions 1, 2, and 3 each week, then choose at least five other questions that are most. Whenever scarce resources are unequally divided amongst different cultural, religious or political groups within a country, civil war is inevitable. African traditional religions research papers academia. Therefore, as mbiti has pointed out so well, the african religion affects the entire african way of life mbiti 1991.
This little book is a general description and appraisal of indige nous beliefs and. The religion is a mixture of yoruba, fon and bantu beliefs which originated from different regions is africa. It is embraced by africans within and outside the continent despite the various ethnic religious practices and beliefs. May 07, 2012 the missionaries succeeded in spreading christianity in africa at a time when tribal religions were ignored or denigrated. Jun 03, 2017 parrinder 1975, in his book west african religion, discusses the beings under four headings. Africa traditional religious system as basis of understanding. You can be signed in via any or all of the methods shown below at the same time. Comparative religions atr african traditional religion introduction three religions dominates african continent. Western scholars, such as sir james frazier, had had a fascination with african religions, either from the scientific point of view, as a phenomenon to be studied, or from a missionary point of view. About 10 per cent of the african population is still practicing some form of traditional religion today. African religion world religions facts on file lugira, aloysius. Christianity and religion in africa chapter 5 religion. The beliefs and practices of the traditional religions in africa can enrich christian theology and spirituality.
It has also incorporated some aspects of catholic faith over time. Buy african traditional religious books on jumia nigeria. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of. Africans have many different kinds of beliefs due to the fact that there are many ethnic groups and. Akan religion ghana, ivory coast dahomean religion benin, togo efik mythology nigeria, cameroon edo religion benin kingdom, nigeria. This report attempts to define religion, culture, and explores the major religions, african traditional religion atr, christianity and islam and their influence and impact on african culture. Encyclopedia of african religion sage publications inc. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions.
African traditional religion atr is one of the world religions with a great people and a great past. Religion according to karl marx is the opium of the masses. It evolved through many centuries, before the westerner come to africa. Most african traditional religions have functionaries who communicate with god and the methods and approaches to studying african traditional religion. Gender refers to the different roles that are assigned to males and females. Religion gives answers to a lot of things and problems people face in the world. Christianity and the african traditional religions. African religions are as diverse as the continent is varied. African traditional religions in contemporary society. The three main religious traditionsafrican traditional religion, christianity, and islamconstitute the triple religious heritage of the african continent. African traditional religion in the context of christian.
God and humanity, sacrifices, afterlife and ancestors. Instead, myths are embedded and transmitted in ritual practice. African traditional religion in the context of christian and. African traditional religion south african history online. The journal of religion in africa, founded in 1967 by andrew walls, is interested in all religious traditions and all their forms, in every part of africa, and it is open to every methodology. This book highlights and discusses the common elements which introduce african traditional religion as one unified religion and not a collection of religions. The two abrahamic religions are widespread across africa, though mostly concentrated in different areas. This book provides the views of some of the most distinguished academics in the context of african history, anthropology, archaeology, politics, comparative religion, health and healing, languages and literatures, and the. This is the first major collection for over a decade on the subject of african religion. More than sixinten people in the region are christians 63%, and threeinten are muslims 30%. It analyzes and interprets several significant aspects of african religions and explores their possible contributions to national development and the modernization process. This essay is based on various researches done by prominent scholars, historical background of africa, news and books relevant to african studies. Religions in contemporary africa, cowritten by an african expert on islam, an american expert on in digenous religions, and a european expert on christianity, offers a novel approach to the topic.
The book series studies of religion in africa covers the historical, empirical. There is also fairly widespread populations of seventhday adventists and. European and other foreign settlers brought most of these religions. Its contributors include scholars working in history, anthropology, sociology, political science, missiology, literature and related disciplines. Different fathers played a role in the development of this religion. This wellthoughtout book examines religion and faith and draws its arguments from two key terms. Its contributors include scholars working in history, anthropology, sociology, political. This book was a great help as far as understanding the basics of other religions. Apr 25, 2017 after the eradication of apartheid system, religion, freedom, and protection in the country facilitated the growth of different religions.
A study of tromba possession among the betsimisaraka in eastern madagascar. This is bound to become the definitive scholarly resource on african religions. It is estimated that around thirtytwo per cent of the worlds population is christians around 2 billion people, half of whom are adherents of the roman catholic faith. The holy books of world religions sacred texts in world.
He further argues that the classification of animist is actually. The continuing revival of traditional african religion presents an unavoidable challenge to african christianity. Pdf african traditional religion in contemporary africa. The number of countries with christian majorities is expected to decline from 159 to 151, as christians are projected to drop below 50% of the population in australia, benin, bosniaherzegovina, france, the netherlands, new zealand, the republic of macedonia and. The supreme god, the sky gods, the mother earth, and other divinities. In the first part, the main religions of africa are elaborated on. Several syncretistic and messianic sects have formed throughout much of the continent, including the nazareth baptist church in south africa and the aladura churches in nigeria.
Religion in africa the majority of africans are adherents of the abrahamic religions. This volume of fourteen chapters examines the nature, structure, and significance of african traditional religion s as dynamic, changing traditions. Ancient african traditional religions before christianity. African traditional religion by geoffrey parrinder jstor. African traditional religion is a thriving scholarly business, but a serious disconnect exists between contributions that celebrate a generalized african traditional religion and those that describe particular religions and aspects of religion on the basis of ethnographic and archival research. For example, the saints and angels of christian theology are often conflated with the good spirits present in many indigenous african religions, and bad spirits with demons or the christian devil. This is because air is one religion with different versions from one country to another in the african continent, just as christianity has different denominations and versions with a variety of practices all over the world. Links between christianity and african traditional religion. Igbo traditional worldview reveals that the journey that man makes in a lifetime and after his death is cyclical.
Today, the continents various populations and individuals are mostly adherents of christianity, islam, and to a lesser extent several traditional african religions. Abrahamic religions are widespread throughout africa. Christianity is now one of the most widely practiced religions in africa along with islam and is the largest religion in subsaharan africa. Religion in africa is multifaceted and has been a major influence on art, culture and philosophy. Therefore we speak of african traditional religion thinking of those common things. It is part of a continuous stocktaking solidly grounded in archival and field research in africa and the african diaspora. Religions of africa outlines and clarifies the historical development of indigenous african belief systems, discusses the impact of colonization, christianity, islam, and liberation movements on the continents religious. They have both spread and replaced indigenous african religions, but are often adapted to african cultural contexts and belief systems. An important preoccupation of mbitis work has been to show that knowledge of god and the worship of god have been staples of african life from the earliest times on the continent. Concise, expert, and fully accessible, this is an excellent introduction to the complex, diverse religious traditions of africa practiced by peoples with vastly different cultures and languages. The essence of african traditional religion church life.
List of world religions and founders, religious books, place. African traditional religion african studies oxford. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural and passed down from one generation to another through folk tales, songs and festivals, include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator or force, belief in spirits, veneration of the dead, use of magic and traditional african. The many other dimensions and impacts of religion tend to be downplayed or even neglected entirely. Besides the challenges religious pluralism poses to the indigenous religion, africa, like never before is being opened up for investment and the intrusion of the mass media and the internet. They vary by geographical spread, number of adherents, language, hierarchy and, of course, beliefs. Several countries are projected to have a different religious majority in 2050 than they did in 2010.
The world book encyclopedia has estimated that in 2002 christians formed 40% of the continents population, with muslims forming 45%. However, not all of them are equally important for all thinkers. I recommend it as a useful book for theological colleges and universities worldwide. Mbiti mentions five key areas that are included in this. In six chapters, the three religions are described from historical and contemporary outlooks. This book provides the views of some of the most distinguished academics in the context of african history, anthropology, archaeology, politics, comparative religion, health and. At the same time, it was the african independent churches aics that introduced african traditional religious practices in african christian religious communities kalu 2010b. They have replaced indigenous african religions, but are often adapted to african cultural contexts and belief systems. Sex refers to a persons biological characteristics. Recently there has been a large shift towards the angle of christianity, therefore ignoring the norms, cultures, and practices of african traditional religions but the. The role of the african traditional religion in the promotion. Some african religions adopted different views through the influence of islam or even hinduism.
It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what air and its essential characteristics is. African traditional religion is one of the religions of the world. See more ideas about african, religion, african mythology. There are well over 4,000 different religions in the world today. African religions, religious beliefs and practices of the peoples of africa. Christianity is reputed to be the largest of the worlds religions and is found, in one form or another, throughout the world. Bibles in africa arrived in english or french and scholars and theologians translated them into local african languages, using local words for god.
416 547 168 932 686 1270 188 740 633 184 774 1042 191 936 73 1268 843 1012 875 1147 40 319 189 675 857 1240 135 974 515 1220 1199 508 1357 96 325