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Traditional African Religious Beliefs. Role of Religion in Africa. African Religions. “African Traditional Religions” = indigenous religions Islam = introduced to sub-Saharan Africa in 11 th c. Christianity = introduced to West Africa in 15 th c.
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African Religions • “African Traditional Religions” = indigenous religions • Islam = introduced to sub-Saharan Africa in 11th c. • Christianity = introduced to West Africa in 15th c. • Folk Christian Groups = indigenous Christian movements since early 1900’s
Africa Religions • In Africa the three major religions are Traditional Beliefs, Christianity, and Islam. • Traditional beliefs may include worship of: • ancestors, • spirits, • gods, • animals, • land, • inanimate objects, • and/or natural phenomena.
Traditional Religions of Africa • Not able to speak with authority about a single religion, theology, or ritual system. • Few written records; oral tradition passed on by griots (singing, story tellers). • The religious beliefs and customs of one group are not universally shared by others. • Great variety of beliefs and practices in African tradition
Animism • Before the introduction of Islam and Christianity, Africa had a very developed system of religion. • It was called Animism, which cannot be minimized to a specific set of beliefs, but most ethnic groups believed in: • One supreme god • Several other gods • Belief in spirits of ancestors • Sacrifice (child or animal) to secure protection • Need to undergo a Rite of Passage which is a “coming of age” ceremony or ritual
ANIMISM • Traditional African people developed belief systems that helped them understand and organize information about their world. • Developed throughout many parts of the world throughout the course of history
Characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africans are often polytheistic and worship many gods
Characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa They practice Animism: a religion in which spirits exist in nature and play a role in daily life
Examples of Beliefs Animism • Many believed that unseen spirits of ancestors stayed near • To honor spirits, families marked certain places as sacred places, put specially carved statues there • Families gathered to share news, food with ancestors, hoping spirits would protect them • Many Africans also practiced form of religion called animism—belief that bodies of water, animals, trees, other natural objects have spirits • Animism reflected Africans’ close ties to natural world Traditional Religion and Culture Many early Africans shared similar religious beliefs and shared common features in the arts as well.
Traditional African Religion ANIMISM 1.Belief in one remote Supreme Being. 2.A world of spirits (good & bad) in all things. 3.Ancestor veneration. 4.Belief in magic, charms, and fetishes. 5.Diviner mediator between the tribe and God.
Religion • Animism the belief that spirits are present in natural objects • Many Africans believed the spirits of their departed ancestors were present on Earth • Ancestral spirits would be called upon for help in times of need/trouble What animals is portrayed by the apparel in the photo?
Animism • To some animists, objects do not actually possess spirits, but are valued because they have a potency to serve as a link between people and the omnipresent god • Animism can be a very complex belief system • Sub-Saharan Africa is the greatest surviving stronghold of animism • Along the north edge Islam is rapidly winning converts • Christian missionaries are very active throughout the area
Animism • Retained tribal ethnic religion of people around the world • Today, adherents number at least 100 million • Animists believe certain inanimate objects possess spirits or souls • Spirits live in rocks, rivers, mountain peaks, and heavenly bodies • Each tribe has its own characteristic form of animism • A Shaman — tribal religious figure usually serves as the intermediary between people and the spirits
Animists Populations • The largest population of Animists today is in Sub-Sahara Africa. • Animists still exist in Native American tribes in North and South America. • Aborigines in Australia are also considered Animists.
Animistic Gods • Animistic Gods are often immortalized by mythology explaining the creation of fire, wind, water, man, animals and other natural earthly things. • Each sect of animism varies, but there are similarities between gods, goddesses, and rituals. • There are holy men or women, visions, trancing , dancing, sacred items, sacred places for worship and the connection felt to the spirits of the ancestors.
The High God • Belief in a Supreme High God who created the world and then withdrew from active participation in it is common in polytheistic religions around the world • Belief shared by many African people • Most African religions are polytheistic in day-to-day practice • Beyond all minor gods, goddesses, spirits and ancestors, exists one High God, who created and in some sense still governs the universe.
High God Continued • Most believe that this God is too distant and has limited contact with daily operation of human life • Can be appealed to in times of great crisis • Yoruba tribe of West Africa – Olorun (High God) – He assigned creation to his eldest son Obatala, who failed to complete the task. Olorun passed it on to Odudua, but he failed too. Olorun oversaw creation himself by assigning smaller tasks to various orisha, lesser deities. Olorun then retired to the heavens and has little contact with people.
Nuer Tribe of Sudan: Exception with the High God • Kwoth Nhial (High God) continues to play an active role in the lives of humans • He rewards the just, punishes the wicked, and blesses those who uphold the moral values of the Nuer people • He loves and cares for His creation and is asked for blessing and assistance
High God • Most Africans believe the High God is too powerful to be appealed to for daily problems. • He really isn’t interested. • Lesser deities or orishas control day-to-day occurrences • Even Nuer have a host of lesser deities
The Lesser Spirits abilities of supreme being (creation), aspects of nature (water), historical humans (leaders), human activities (agriculture) celebrate through myth, song, prayer, sacrifice, possession, gendered, character, food, color, altars, images, priests, rituals, daily relationships
The Lesser Spirits • Earth, water, and sky contain spiritual life similar to human kind • Mountains, forest, rivers and streams, many plants and animals • Storms, lightening, thunder • Spirits can be beneficial or harmful • They are influenced by prayer, flattery, and sacrifice. • They have a direct influence on human life so Africans seek to understand them and seek their favor
World of the Spirits Dogon “Spirit House”
Lesser Spirits Continued • They can be male or female. • Earth is regarded as a mother goddess. • Ex. Ashanti prayer for the Earth Mother: • “Earth, while I am yet alive, • It is upon you that I put my trust • Earth who receives my body, • We are addressing you, • And you will understand.”
In Ghana there is a water spirit called Mami Water • The fishermen consider her so sacred they do not talk about her openly.
People believed they had to maintain a favorable (good) relationship with the spirits or else suffer their wrath (anger).
Water: A Sacred Element • Water sacred to many cultures. • When life depends on water in the form of rainfall, rivers, and streams, water takes on a life of its own. • Africans use water for rituals such as the washing of the newborn and the dead. • It must come from a source of sacred, living water. • It must not be heated or boiled, or treated with chemicals as that would kill the spirit in it.
Ouidah, Benin Mamy Wata, the goddess of the Sea.
Mountain God • Sacred Mount Lengai is in Kenya’s crater highlands, a region populated by Maasai pastoralists. • Their main god Lengai is benevolent as the black god of rain and evil as the red god of the sun.
Mountain God • Ol Doinyo Lengai, meaning “Mountain of God,” last erupted with a plume of ash in 1982 • Maasi pilgrimage here to pray for rain, cattle, and children.
Ancestor Worship • Most commonly recognized spiritual forces in Africa • Continue to live on in the spirit world and unlike the High God take an active interest in the well-being of those who live in the world. • Ancestors are consulted before the birth of a child, beginning of an agricultural season, prior to battle, or political conflicts. • In some tribes, no one may eat the first fruit of the harvest until it has been offered to the ancestors.
Ancestor Worship Continued • While in China and Japan ancestors are loved and respected, in Africa they are feared. • They can be capricious (do whatever they want, fickle) and unpredictable. • Ancestors can do whatever they want. • Despite many offerings, they can turn on you or the community. • May cause sickness, death, childlessness (a major curse) • Ancestors more than the gods are the enforcers of the moral codes of the tribe.
Ancestor Worship Continued • Gifts and sacrifices offered to them • Belief that ancestors own the land and its products • Portion of harvest must be offered to them • When animals are born, some must be slaughtered and offered to ancestors to ensure their blessings. • Modern Africans living in cities, return to their native villages to offer sacrifices
Religious Leaders in Traditional African Religions • Not a major need for religious leaders; many activities can be performed by individuals – offerings of food and drinks to ancestors • No complex theology or rituals like in Hinduism, Judaism, or Christianity • No requirement of a priesthood and temples are very rare • Some communities in West Africa do have temples and altars; people trained in African mythology, taboos, and rituals to prepare them
Religious Leaders • Shaman • Medicine man or woman • Conducts ceremonies
Religious Leaders • Diviners: • Served as interpreters • Job was to explain misfortune
Religious Leaders • Healers • Helped families become aware of problems, along with providing remedies
North American Shaman West African Griot
Animism Medicine Man
Diviners and Healers • Rooted in Tradition • Their purpose was to explain the cause of misfortune • Experts in herbal medicine • Today, doctors study the roots and herbs used in traditional African healing
Diviners: Communication with Ancestors • They can speak to you in dreams • They can send signs to you in nature that can be interpreted with the help of diviners, spiritual specialists • Signs are sometimes interpreted by looking at the organs of sacrificed animals • Diviners can also contact ancestors for help with knowing the future.
