Vodou is an oral tradition practiced by extended families that inherit familial spirits, along with the necessary devotional practices, from their elders. That would be a serious loss not only for Africans, but also for academics, researchers, writers, and general seekers of wisdom the world over. In these congregations, knowledge is passed on through a ritual of initiation (kanzo) in which the body becomes the site of spiritual transformation. God was not a stranger to African peoples. Anthropologica is published for CASCA by University of Toronto Press. They derive from traditional African religions with some influence from other religious traditions, notably Christianity and Islam . His research has helped to introduce and popularize new concepts in religious studies, such as the term reverse missionaries, referring to African prelates sent to Europe and the United States. Aujourd'hui, la plupart des Zariens sont soit catholiques, soit protestants; les Biras pour leur part sont principalement catholiques. For example, in 14 of the 19 countries surveyed, more than three-in-ten people say they sometimes consult traditional healers when someone in their household is sick. Islam has experienced a similar rapid growth. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions And in Botswana, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia, the survey finds that 5% or less identify as Muslim. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> GAZETTE: How would you define indigenous African religions? That book was followed by a flurry of literature on the so-called "death of God" theology (if "theology" it was, for I would call it "atheology"). Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World, Chapter 3: Traditional African Religious Beliefs and Practices, Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, Next: Chapter 4: Interreligious Harmony and Tensions, Chapter 2: Commitment to Christianity and Islam, Chapter 4: Interreligious Harmony and Tensions, In the U.S. and Western Europe, people say they accept Muslims, but opinions are divided on Islam, In Western Europe, familiarity with Muslims is linked to positive views of Muslims and Islam, Q&A: Measuring attitudes toward Muslims and Jews in Western Europe, Europes Muslim population will continue to grow but how much depends on migration, The Growth of Germanys Muslim Population, Size & Demographic Characteristics of Religious Groups, Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, 60% of Americans Would Be Uncomfortable With Provider Relying on AI in Their Own Health Care, Gender pay gap in U.S. hasnt changed much in two decades. Its aim is to develop an extensive library of resources, representing many different points of view, but all written from the perspective of sound scholarship. Its consequences for theological and ecclesiological developments are yet to be faced. Theological development in Africa must inevitably grow within this religious setting. A close geographical correlation exists between the location of African religion and the rapid expansion of the Christian faith. Since Christianity came in contact with the traditional religion, there has always been a sharp conflict between traditionalists and Christians. In five countries (Tanzania, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal and Mali) majorities express this belief. 0000001791 00000 n But whatever the shortcomings of these and my other publications, the materials that went into these two have raised extremely important issues for me that have continued to engage my reflection. The amount of devotees to indigenous practices has dwindled as Islam and Christianity have both spread and gained influence throughout the continent. It includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. x\u}4`P}E#(9q"%LCl'KLb)Sfgdq N Ritual functionaries include priests, elders, rainmakers, diviners, and prophets. Reuben Kigame, the Kenyan Christian musician and apologist, has rightly suggested that considering the fact that Christianity existed in Africa for a good eighteen centuries before the. I wish to apply "change of mind" here to mean theological growth, and not necessarily a rejection of or turnaround from ideas that I may have held ten years ago. OLUPONA: The role of ancestors in the African cosmology has always been significant. Par contre, les croyances en la sorcellerie ont persist. Of course, behind all these factors is the Holy Spirit working through them. In 1900 there were an estimated 9 million Christians (accounting for about 7 per cent of the population of Africa). The first and most intriguing topic that immediately engaged my attention was the thinking of African peoples about God. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. They proclaimed the name of Jesus Christ. If they are two wavelengths, they make sense only when they move toward a convergence. The award allows Olupona a year of study and research in Germany; he is on leave this year (201516). In one case the thinking and experience of the people produced a written record of Gods dealings with the Jewish people in particular. African spirituality simply acknowledges that beliefs and practices touch on and inform every facet of human life, and therefore African religion cannot be separated from the everyday or mundane. In the end, I believe that Africans can make room for a plurality of religious points of view without one religious point of view excluding or compromising the other. Its about getting tangible results. The rapid growth of many religions in Africa and the revival of AIR in postcolonial Africa have made inter-religious dialogue an urgent necessity. Instances of religious syncretismas, for example, Gnosticism (a religious dualistic system that incorporated elements from the Oriental mystery religions), Judaism, Christianity, and Greek religious philosophical conceptswere particularly prevalent during the Hellenistic period (c. 300 bcec. I have concentrated these comments on the role of African background in my theological reflection. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what AIR and its essential characteristics is: God and humanity, sacrifices, afterlife and ancestors. I have seen the quest more sharply. Ancestors can offer advice and bestow good fortune and honor to their living dependents, but they can also make demands, such as insisting that their shrines be properly maintained and propitiated. mixing of Christianity and traditional African religions What were maroon communities? (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Some African diasporans are returning to the continent to reconnect with their ancestral traditions, and they are encouraging and organizing the local African communities to reclaim this heritage. Holding or maintaining to a uniform doctrine is not the essence of indigenous African religions. Supreme Court may halt health care guarantees for inmates, Why police resist reforms to militarization, Historian says Fla. dispute shows why AP class in African American studies is needed, Low-carb diet can help manage progression of Type 2 diabetes, Those breezy TV drug ads? Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. 9_r'v>#z2"syiBm?mry8%;m8v L,WNHitMJk#RZwEl+M3N1n[nt4]C$i2y]_6Iasrt Focuses on the influences of Africans and African ideas on the mission enterprise, conversion, religious innovation, and church life, but it neglects to cover the . For example, followers can seek spiritual direction and relief from healers, medicine men and women, charms [adornments often worn to incur good luck], amulets [adornments often used to ward off evil], and diviners [spiritual advisers]. No viable theology can grow in Africa without addressing itself to the interreligious phenomenon at work there. 0 Traditional African religions and practices were brought to the Western hemisphere through the African diaspora and the slave trade, often resulting in a syncretic blending with Christianity. Additionally, I will not discourage, disparage, or try and convert those who practice their form of African indigenous religions. African immigrants and slaves worked to maintain traditional religious and social practices in their new surroundings. religious syncretism, the fusion of diverse religious beliefs and practices. Indigenous African religion is primarily an oral tradition and has never been fully codified; thus, it allows itself to more easily be amended and influenced by other religious ideas, religious wisdom, and by modern development. settlements formed by African slaves who ran away from imprisonment the Americas I told my father that I was coming home, he recalled. But for many Africans, religion can never be separated from all these. (See the glossary for more information on the evil eye.). There is no room to describe them, and I can mention only two or three of them briefly. This is in sharp contrast with the religious composition of the region about 100 years ago, when, according to a Pew Forum analysis of historical information from the World Religion Database, less than a quarter of the population identified as either Christian or Muslim. OLUPONA: Thats a mixed bag. What is African Traditional Religion? The councils programs in response to these problems are impressive. There is no centralized hierarchy, no single leader, and no official spokesperson, but various groups sometimes attempt to create such official structures. They were names of one and the same God, the creator of the world, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 0000005005 00000 n It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. Modernity has not put a total stop to its influence. African scholars Vodou is a worldview encompassing philosophy, medicine, justice, and religion. Foreign religions simply dont have that same connection to the African continent. In 1900 there were an estimated 9 million Christians (accounting for about 7 per cent of the population of Africa). African religions, Indigenous religions of the African continent. In its place there emerged the word "also." In respect and honor of my culture, I also dress in my traditional Nigerian attire when Im in my country. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Currently I am about to complete a book on this question of the encounter between the biblical faith and African religion. Christianity has scored a triumph over the traditional religious life of the Bira. Nevertheless, since 1900, Christians in Africa have grown from approximately 7 million to over 450 million today. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender, 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. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. It is a way of life, and it can never be separated from the public sphere. But upon my return to work in Africa, and upon careful study of the religious background of our people, there emerged gradually the demand to examine this issue and to form my own judgment.