Consequently, despite all of Christianity and Islams claims to dominance and their propagandist machinery in demonizing indigenous religion, African religion still provides significant meaning to African existence in many ways. Indigenous Bapedi music and oral tradition have been dismissed as myth, superstition and primitive stories. Female circumcision is a hotly contested practice condemned by many global organizations and lumped together under the category of female genital mutilation. Few have much clarity or knowledge on what is actually involved. It should be noted that any attempt to generalize about the nature of "African religions" risks wrongly implying that there is homogeneity among all African cultures. The most difficult task I face in characterizing African indigenous spiritual traditions is accounting for their diversity and complexity. Most importantly, the rite itself should not be condemned together with circumcision or female genital mutilation. Apart from a few instances in West Africa, where women actually ruled as kings, the designation queen was not often used in isolation from the position itself (which was defined in male terms). Ifa rejects the religious extremism of certain forms of radical Islam making life unbearable in todays world. Thus, many practitioners of African religion, particularly in the shrines of goddesses, are women, indicating the parity with which African religion treats gender and gender-related issues. To each his own. African Traditional Religion: A Definition (1973), Omosade Awolalu in Yoruba Belief and Sacrificial Rites and John Mbiti in The Concept of God in Africa (1970) are a few examples of postcolonial scholars of religion who have resisted and denounced colonial idea that Africans do not know God. South Africa, Tunisia, and Kenya rank among the top countries with the best health care system in Africa. Benin Is Getting Back 26 Of Its Looted Artifacts from The Colonial Era. the earlier idea was that African Traditional Religion was incompatible with monotheism. It arose through a process of syncretism between several traditional religions of West and Central Africa and Roman Catholicism.There is no central authority in control of the religion and much diversity exists among practitioners, who are known as Vodouists, Vodouisants, or Serviteurs. Unlike other world religions that have written scriptures, oral sources form the core of indigenous African religions. The much-cited dictum by the doyen of African religious studies, the recently deceased John Mbiti, that Africans are notoriously religious still holds true (though I prefer to use the word deeply).1 While, officially, statistics suggest that African Christians and Muslims constitute about 80 percent of the total population, and African indigenous religion constitutes about 20 percent, these statistics do not reflect the truth of the African situation. While those who identify as practitioners of traditional African religions are often in the minority, many who identify as Muslims or Christians are involved in traditional religions to one degree or another. The much-cited dictum by the doyen of African religious studies, the recently deceased John Mbiti, that "Africans are notoriously religious" still holds true (though I prefer to use the word "deeply"). Myth #2. African religion supplies knowledge to live by and also a transfer of tradition, worldview, ethical orientation (principles of what is right or wrong), an ontologya way of life. Giving opportunity to stereotypes like Africa are poor and Africa is corrupt. For one thing, a sizable number of African myths deal with events considered to have actually happened as narrated by the people themselves or as reformulated into symbolic expressions of historical events. During the colonial era, most of these traditional believes became a target of the colonial religion. However, African traditional religion is resilient which explains its continued existence after so many years. Most are watered-down versions of what was truly a thriving civilization. The area of study is Buganda in Uganda. Loosely, it encompasses all African beliefs and practices that are considered religious but neither Christian nor Islamic. They include assumptions, misconceptions, traditional or religious beliefs and beliefs about the . A proper ongoing study of Ifa in West Africa would enable us to understand how one groupthe Yoruba of West Africaencounters transcendence and the sacred in practicing their tradition in ways radically different from Western constructions of religion. Given our current impending ecological crisis, indigenous African religions have a great deal to offer both African countries and the world at large. On the other hand, countries like South Africa, Morocco, and Tunisia sometimes experience snowfalls. 8. 11. Second, spirit beings occupy the next tier in the cosmology and constitute a pantheon of deities who often assist the supreme God in performing different functions. The idea that Africa is unsafe while statistics say otherwise shows how much misconception there is about Africa. Each has a life force but no concrete physical form. However, since Africans are known for their excellent craftsmanship, these artifacts do tell the story of the ancient African empires. This lack of knowledge as well as understanding of essentials has led to burgeoning of myths on African . Here Is What You Have To Know. They believe in My credentials as a Harvard professor made little impression on him. Slowly, they projected ATR as barbaric and dehumanizing. Lilith Dorsey. A frica has 54 countries and more than a billion people. Du Bois argued . One approach is to outline, in a systematic way, the essential features of these traditions without paying much attention to whether or not the traditions fit into the pattern of religions already mapped out by Western theologians and historians, who use Western religious traditions as the standard by which to measure religions in other parts of the world. The misconception about African religion Man generally is given to misconception especially in the midst of conflicting ideas or contending issues. What, for example, is the notion of history and the sacred in Akan thought? Each of the more than 50 modern . Fact: Slaves were always subject to torture, sexual exploitation, and arbitrary . Each transition has a function within the society. Before colonization, marriages were strictly traditional and depends on the customs, traditions, and believes of, Africa is a beautiful continent. Absolute as Supreme, infinite and everlasting mind. In this postcolonial period, it has come to be established that there is what we may call . b. certain clan outsiders. Africa is not homogenous. Mary Slessor is accredited to ending this savage act in ancient Calabar, Nigeria. . Whatever it is, the assumption that Africa is lacking innovation is laughable. On the other hand, the Yoruba people encountered Europeans in dialogue rather than monologue. Not the one we saw, very clear and good article easy to understand. This misconception has, in some scholars, matured into prejudice and resilient skepticism about the African's ability to grasp the concept of God. One of these errors is description of African Religion as African traditional religion' which connote a derogatory epithets: paganism, idolatry, primitive religion, animism, fetishism polytheism, etc (Omoregbe, 1993). But, the continent of Africa is far from poor. 3. In the primordial era, various forms of ethnic indigenous religions spread across the African continent, providing cohesive foundations of nations, peoples, and religious worldviews. Just as Muslim traders and sojourners introduced new world religions to North and West Africa, Western traders and missionaries introduced new world religions to the continent. The stories of violence, kidnapping, religious and political war in Africa are so common. Haitian Vodou is an African diasporic religion that developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries. Here are some 10 myths about Africa and Africans that are either an exaggeration of the fact or based on misguided information. Another crucial aspect to consider in the comparative study of African religions is the reality of the transfer of these religions across the Atlantic through the Middle Passage and transnational migration and cultural exchange. Please note: With exception of those who take history classes, the majority of young Africans will fail to elaborately tell the story of their origin. Scholarship has since proved, however, that the tenacity of indigenous religion is evident in all spheres of African life. Understanding the contours of traditions as they are today consists of picturing both what they are and what they can be against the backdrop of what they once were. 2. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The African tradition of female circumcision is the ritual of the rite of passage from girlhood into the realm of womanhood. There is a general misconception that the entire people of North Africa speak Arabic. Among its one billion inhabitants, more than 1,000 languages are spoken, and there is a massive variety of ethnic religions. Your email address will not be published. In digging up facts I found that, while many Africans say that homosexuality is un-African, African culture is no stranger to homosexual behaviours and acts. Paperback. Ceremonies of naming, rites of passage, death, and other calendrical rites embody, enact, and reinforce the sacred values communicated in myths. Narratives about the creation of the universe (cosmogony) and the nature and structure of the world (cosmology) provide a useful entry to understanding African religious life and worldviews. Indigenous African religions are not based on conversion like Islam and Christianity. Little wonder John Mbiti, a famous African theologian said, Wherever the African is, there is his religion. They often dictate when the community honors a particular divinity or observes particular taboos. Myth: Slavery in the non-Western world was a mild, benign, and non-economic institution. Get it as soon as Wednesday, Oct 26. This article analyses the legal processes of recognising customary and religious (Muslim) marriages in South Africa's constitutional democracy. The diviner, therefore, is also a counselor, psychologist, medicine man or woman, and the spiritual guardian of villages and towns. d. politics, everyday life. Required fields are marked *, Hello my question is how can I find a list of African countries that offers citizenship. What is fascinating about this odu (Ifa text) is that it supports a key and cardinal principle of Ifa traditionthat we seek counsel first, before we perform divination (Imoram la nda ki a to da Ifa). Whether one agrees or disagrees with the practice, it is important to note that not all female initiations involve circumcision, and that the rituals associated with initiation are crucial to ensuring that an individuals social position is affirmed by both family and community. As many might know, one type of ritualinitiations for adolescent African girlscauses great consternation among Westerners, because these often involve rites like female circumcision or other bodied practices. Countries like Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso that are close to the Sahara desert have the Sahel climate. Ritual practices are central to the performance of African religion. those misconceptions and misrepresentations of the facts pre sented by Eurocent . The oral nature of these traditions allows for a great deal of adaptability and variation within and between indigenous African religions. Each of these has its peculiar characteristics. Through modern change these traditional religions cannot remain intact, but they are by no means extinct. African traditional medicine (ATM) has been used by African populations for the treatment of diseases long before the advent of orthodox medicine and continues to carry a part of the burden of health for the majority of the population. Please confirm you want to block this member. However, the so-called white wedding is Western culture. They still hold onto their traditional beliefs, culture, and practices, but consider western values superior to theirs. A common stereotype about Africa is that the continent is poverty-stricken, full of corruption, and always at war. When Christianity and Western civilization came and interacted with African culture and religion, misconception of beliefs, values, and terms developed. Even in areas of Zimbabwe with easy access to Western-type delivery care, the majority of women are cared for and delivered by traditional birth attendants who are members of their extended family. Courtesy Of Stevenson, Amsterdam/Cape Town/Johannesburg. Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens: The Divine Feminine in the African Religious Traditions. However, western culture has blurred to an extent the lines between African tribes. Again, this isnt true. There are abundant natural resources scattered across the 54 countries of Africa. To the outside world, however, far too much of . The problem of Africa isnt wealth but the unequal distribution of wealth. These stages characterized European perceptions of human evolution. Ironically, this pivotal source of knowledge and spiritual edificethat modern-day Yoruba reject as constituting paganismis the cornerstone of global Orisa traditions in Brazil, Cuba, and the Caribbean. Gradually, many Africans began to buy the narrative. South Africa, as a member state of the World Health Organisation, has been set on the path of institutionalising African traditional medicine. In summary, it is not every part of Africa that is hot. The expression is also used almost as a technical term for a particular reading of such beliefs and practices, one that purports . Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The cosmological structure, however, is much more defined and precise. In most African cultures, history and beliefs have been explained and passed on through oral traditions and storytelling. There are few religions as globally misunderstood as African traditional religions. John Mbiti, chap. Oct. 24, 2019. . Traditional African religions are less of faith traditions and more of lived traditions. Investors are moving to take advantage of the African market. Indigenous religion has always played a pivotal role in the African public sphere, as my study of the Ifa divination system has shown.18 In indigenous religion, communities are governed according to the dictates of the gods, particularly through a divination system such as Fa (Benin) and Ifa (Southwest Nigeria), which encompass the political, social, and economic conditions of life. Due to the centrality of ancestral tradition to the African lifeworld, death itself is a significant transition from the current life to the afterlife and marks a continuity in life for those living and those to come. Africans combine a belief in the existence of a omnipresent and omnipotent supreme god, with multitudes of subordinate deities. on. When addressing religion in Africa, scholars often speak of a triple heritage, that is the triple legacy of indigenous religion, Islam, and Christianity that are often found side by side in many African societies. An Ifa song warns those embarking on the pilgrimage to be pure and those who possess witchcraft not to embark on the pilgrimage. Let's begun by saying that ATR, refer to the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of Africans. Truly opening my eyes on traditions, cultures and rituals that I did not know existed. The traditional religions of Africa are human in the deepest sense, because they focus on people and their everyday problems. Mudimbe's . The range of African indigenous beliefs and practices has been referred to as African traditional religions in an effort to encompass the breadth and depth of the religious traditions on the continent.2 The diversity of the traditions themselves is tremendous, making it next to impossible for all of them to be captured in a single presentation. Because religion is a way of life, it relates to culture and society as they affect the worldview of the African people. Introduction. According to the Global peace index, Malaysia, Botswana, and Ghana are among the top 50 most peaceful countries, beating the United Kingdom and the United States that were ranked 45 and 128 respectively. Manage Settings These traditions have been passed from one generation to the next. The term "African Traditional Religion" is used in two complementary senses. As scholars of the comparative study of religions in Africa, we must begin to rethink the study of African religion in the twenty-first century in order to avoid the continuous mis-assessment of the resilience of indigenous traditions. About | Commentary Guidelines | Harvard University Privacy | Accessibility | Digital Accessibility | Trademark Notice | Reporting Copyright Infringements This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. .title-desc-wrapper .post-title {display: none !important} In this essay, I attempt to refocus the centrality of indigenous religion, not only in defining African cosmology and an African worldview, but also in defining the African personality in the twenty-first century. The scope of the study is 1877-when Christianity was first introduced in Uganda to 1962 when Uganda got her independence; the period when Christian missionaries lost influence together with the colonial rulers. The reason is partly that they want a time when, Your email address will not be published. The more modern incarnation of this ancient African religionVoodooemerged as a unique blend of Catholic and African magical and religious rites. It was just the belief of a few groups of people known as Efik people, the predominant tribe in Calabar. Static.COOKIE_BANNER_CAPABLE = true; The majority of Africans are hardworking and honest people. Indigenous religions are definitive of the African identity, as African religion and cultures provide the language, the ethos, the knowledge, and the ontology that enable the proper formation of African personhood, communal identity, and values that constitute kernels of African ethnic assemblages. Religions of the African diaspora are of particular note and importance to the comparative study of African religions because of their resilience and the characteristic formations leading to their performance and expression. More so, myths encode the traditional settings of the African and their belief system. All rights reserved. A classic example is how the Ifa divination text of the Yoruba provides deep commentary on the practice of Islam by the Yoruba people, such as the hajj tradition. Africa is the second-largest continent in the world. Similarly, there are others like Henry Louis Gates who has appropriated images of the Yoruba deity of Esu in his own work. 3. have recognized the important ways in which "African" and "religion" are western constructs involving both misconceptions and changing perceptions, especially concerning religion (Ray:2000). African Traditional Religion is the traditional religion of the African people before the coming of Islam and Christianity. The first encounters are fascinating. On the other hand, we now know from research and archival sources that, by their very nature, sources and records of missionaries, colonial administrators, and indigenous elites, which were preserved by colonial administrations, were equally susceptible to distortion and perforation, having been written from the angle of an invented modernity that the colonizer considered superior to the worldviews of local peoples. Myth: Slavery is a product of Western civilization. It is a well-known fact that religion continues to play a central and vital role in the lives of African people.