Aspects of african traditional religion

African Traditional Religion is now widely taught in African universities but its identity remains essentially negative. For example farming activities involved God spirits and ancestors.

For example farming activities involved God spirits and ancestors.

Aspects of african traditional 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. 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.

As the European empires in Africa began to break up after World War II both. Religion enters into every aspect of the life of the Africans and it cannot be studied in isolation. Its study has to go hand-in-hand with the study of the people who practise the religion.

When we speak of African Traditional Religion we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the Africans. It is the religion which resulted from the sustaining faith held by. As we have already observed in the African traditional religious thought spirits are believed to dwell or inhabit certain trees rocks or mountains caves rivers lakes forests animals human beings the skies the ground and other cites carved or moulded objects charms amulets.

African religions also share many ideas with world religions such as Judaism and Buddhism. Yet certain aspects of African faiths differ from those of most world religions. Most African religions acknowledge the existence of a supreme deity who created the world and then in most cases retired from dealing with earthly affairs.

This deity is usually male and often rules with a female earth. The African Traditional Religions Introduction. The religious beliefs practiced by African people differ from Christianity in many aspects.

First of all they emerged in specific and rather secluded communities and for a very long time they did not come into contact with other cultures or religions Crafford 1996 p 2. In African traditions religion was integrated in every aspect of life and daily activities. For example farming activities involved God spirits and ancestors.

People would pray to God spirits ancestors so as to ask for blessings in order to have a good harvest. The one aspect which is common in all the indigenous religions in Sub-Sahara Africa is that Africans have a religion and believe in Supreme God- the Creator the all Knowing the Ever present and all Powerful. They acknowledge the Divine Presence in their daily lives.

However each country may have different names and appellations for God. African Traditional Religion has been evolving. There is in it the element of continuity as well as discontinuity.

Since it is a religion practised by living persons today changes are to be expected. Thus strictly speaking religion in its pristine form is no longer in existence. Every aspect of it cannot be described as original.

The religious beliefs of Africans impacted all aspects of their everyday lives including their food work and family life. They believed in both good and bad spirits. Good spirits would protect them while bad spirits could make them ill or make them misbehave.

In the dry areas of Africa certain priests would specialize as rain-makers. Guidance concerning Aspects of Traditional African Culture. 41 Dance and Music13-15 42 Drinking of Alcohol15-17 43 Hunting18-19 44 Initiation Rites and Female Genital Mutilation19-21 45 Supernatural Forces Evil Spirits Witchcraft and Other Practices21-25 46 Traditional Healing and Traditional Healers25-29 47 Tribal Chiefs and Traditional Leaders29-31 48 The Status of.

Virtue in traditional African religion is often connected with carrying out obligations of the communal aspect of life. Examples include social behaviors such as the respect for parents and elders raising children appropriately providing hospitality and being honest trustworthy and courageous. Traditional African religion is based on oral traditions which means that the basic values and way of life are passed from elders to younger generation.

These traditions are not religious principles but a cultural identity that is passed on through stories myths and tales. These traditions have been passed from one generation to the next. Side by side with their high levels of commitment to Christianity and Islam many people in the countries surveyed retain beliefs and rituals that are characteristic of traditional African religions.

In four countries for instance half or more of the population believes that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm. Given the prominent place of religion in traditional African life and culture it was not a surprise that many early western-educated Africans should discuss and incorporate aspects of it in their publications. Most of them were strong nationalist writers and include people.

INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION. Welcome to the summary lecture of African Traditional Religions. This is a 3-hour summary lecture on the basic components of African Traditional Religions.

The purpose of this is to help to orient a person who would like to work in the context of Africa. But for many Africans religion can never be separated from all these. It is a way of life and it can never be separated from the public sphere.

Religion informs everything in traditional African society including political art marriage health diet dress economics and death. Igbo religion is traditional according to Mbiti 1970 in the sense that it is rooted in their culture. It is received by oral authority by one generation and transmitted by the same process to subsequent generations and thus has effect of being widely diffused among its.