African ReligionsAfrican Religions

DiversityDiversity Vast Ethnic/Racial/Religious Vast Ethnic/Racial/Religious

ComplexityComplexity 900 million people900 million people 53 Countries53 Countries 3,000 Ethnic and Linguistic 3,000 Ethnic and Linguistic

GroupsGroups Small tribes to vast empires Small tribes to vast empires

determine social organizationdetermine social organization Impact of European Impact of European

colonialism (16colonialism (16thth – 19 – 19thth centuries) on traditional centuries) on traditional African religionsAfrican religions

Need to avoid Western Need to avoid Western stereotypes stereotypes

– ““Dark Continent” of savagery Dark Continent” of savagery and superstitionand superstition

– No single religion, worldview, No single religion, worldview, theology, or rituals to unite theology, or rituals to unite all Africansall Africans

– Lack of written records limit Lack of written records limit range and depth of range and depth of knowledgeknowledge

– Western interpretations / biasWestern interpretations / bias

TheThe HighHigh GodGod

• Most traditional African religions believe in a “Supreme Being” – not involved in human affairsMost traditional African religions believe in a “Supreme Being” – not involved in human affairs– Distant and retiredDistant and retired– Yoruba story of Olorun the Creator breathed life into human beings that were created by lesser deities “orisha”Yoruba story of Olorun the Creator breathed life into human beings that were created by lesser deities “orisha”– Dogon in the southern Sahara worshipping the star Sirius BDogon in the southern Sahara worshipping the star Sirius B– Creator God of the Baoule tribe of the Ivory Coast created the universe from His mouthCreator God of the Baoule tribe of the Ivory Coast created the universe from His mouth– Exception: Sudanese Creator God Kwoth Nhail remains involved in His creation and rewards/punishes behaviorException: Sudanese Creator God Kwoth Nhail remains involved in His creation and rewards/punishes behavior

• Various myths, though most have God living in the skyVarious myths, though most have God living in the sky– Thunder as a voice or expression of angerThunder as a voice or expression of anger

The Lesser SpiritsThe Lesser Spiritsand Ancestorsand Ancestors

Lesser SpiritsLesser Spirits

• Beneath the Creator comes an array of lesser gods, Beneath the Creator comes an array of lesser gods, nature spirits, or ancestors to communicate with nature spirits, or ancestors to communicate with (Animism)(Animism)

• Over 1,700 Over 1,700 orisha orisha in Yoruba traditionin Yoruba tradition

• Ashanti of GhanaAshanti of Ghana have a pantheon of spirits or have a pantheon of spirits or powers representing war, smallpox, harvest, weather, powers representing war, smallpox, harvest, weather, cattlecattle

• Forms of worship vary – common to offer food and Forms of worship vary – common to offer food and drinkdrink

• Lesser spirits can be helpful or harmful to humans – Lesser spirits can be helpful or harmful to humans – subject to flattery, prayer, and animal sacrificessubject to flattery, prayer, and animal sacrifices

– Illness, misfortune, or death caused by witchcraft or foul Illness, misfortune, or death caused by witchcraft or foul playplay

AncestorsAncestors

• Most commonly recognized forcesMost commonly recognized forces

• The Dead as a “Cloud of Witnesses”The Dead as a “Cloud of Witnesses”– Can harm or hurt (drought, famine, sickness, Can harm or hurt (drought, famine, sickness,

infertility in couples)infertility in couples)– Take an active interest in well-being of livingTake an active interest in well-being of living– Can communicate through dreams and organs of Can communicate through dreams and organs of

sacrificed animalssacrificed animals

Images of Shani Masks (Swahili for “marvelous”)Courtesy of www.shanigallery.com

Traditional MasksTraditional Masks Began in prehistoric times (cave paintings)Began in prehistoric times (cave paintings) Used in rituals and ceremonies (healings, Used in rituals and ceremonies (healings,

exorcisms, rites of passage, hunts, mythical exorcisms, rites of passage, hunts, mythical reenactments, funerals)reenactments, funerals)

Often made in secrecy to the sound of sacred Often made in secrecy to the sound of sacred chantschants

Before wearing, individual quietly Before wearing, individual quietly contemplates its powercontemplates its power

When the mask is worn, it is believed to adopt When the mask is worn, it is believed to adopt the persona of a spirit who will unleash its the persona of a spirit who will unleash its power on the assembly - “come alive”power on the assembly - “come alive”

Masks and animal skins used to mimic the Masks and animal skins used to mimic the powers of a beast to be hunted powers of a beast to be hunted

ie: horse = speedie: horse = speed After use, masks are carefully stored or burned After use, masks are carefully stored or burned

SacrificeSacrifice

Done to appease and link to the Done to appease and link to the spirits/godsspirits/gods

Most common form of sacrificial offerings Most common form of sacrificial offerings are food and drink (pour out some of their are food and drink (pour out some of their drink or throw away a bit of food in drink or throw away a bit of food in recognition of spirits)recognition of spirits)

Animal sacrifice may occur on serious Animal sacrifice may occur on serious occasions with chickens, cattle, sheep, occasions with chickens, cattle, sheep, goats, birds, or dogsgoats, birds, or dogs

Human sacrifice rarely present at all in Human sacrifice rarely present at all in African religion (exaggerated in movies)African religion (exaggerated in movies)

– Exception is kings needing servants and Exception is kings needing servants and wives in next lifewives in next life

Blood sacrifices offered when Blood sacrifices offered when communities prepare for battle, a hunt, or communities prepare for battle, a hunt, or as a sign of mercy against long periods of as a sign of mercy against long periods of drought or illnessdrought or illness

Meat of animal is roasted and then half is Meat of animal is roasted and then half is left as an offering while the other half is left as an offering while the other half is eaten by the one who brought the eaten by the one who brought the sacrifice (communion between living and sacrifice (communion between living and spirited worlds)spirited worlds)

Help us!

Rites of PassageRites of Passage Birth of Child is a blessing bestowed by the Birth of Child is a blessing bestowed by the

spirit worldspirit world Twins seen as sign of infidelity (superstition)Twins seen as sign of infidelity (superstition) Childless couples seen as cursedChildless couples seen as cursed ““Ghost Child” due to infant mortality rates Ghost Child” due to infant mortality rates

(trickery)(trickery) Puberty Puberty

Initiation rituals for boys and girls – long and Initiation rituals for boys and girls – long and severe (whipping, fasting, eating, seclusion)severe (whipping, fasting, eating, seclusion)

Ritual circumcision for boys is a test of Ritual circumcision for boys is a test of courage (no anesthesia and show no pain) - courage (no anesthesia and show no pain) - outward sign of religious and cultural identity outward sign of religious and cultural identity

Circumcision for girls has no clear rationale Circumcision for girls has no clear rationale and is controversial “female genital mutilation” and is controversial “female genital mutilation” (FGM) – call by W.H.O. , U.N., and others to (FGM) – call by W.H.O. , U.N., and others to end practiceend practice

MarriageMarriage Social-familial arrangement many times Social-familial arrangement many times

(dowry)(dowry) Chastity in marriage highly valuedChastity in marriage highly valued Polygamy practiced by elites (kings) in many Polygamy practiced by elites (kings) in many

societies societies DeathDeath

Comfort in death to prevent hauntingsComfort in death to prevent hauntings Rapid burials (climate) but much ritualRapid burials (climate) but much ritual Caused by someone-witchcraft or “foul play”Caused by someone-witchcraft or “foul play” Lack of eschatology-simply enter spirit worldLack of eschatology-simply enter spirit world LoDagaa in Ghana - type of Purgatory?LoDagaa in Ghana - type of Purgatory?

Religious Leaders, Prophets, and Chief-KingsReligious Leaders, Prophets, and Chief-Kings

Generally a minimum need for priests – rituals Generally a minimum need for priests – rituals performed by individualsperformed by individuals

Special Curer Special Curer Illness has religious and natural causesIllness has religious and natural causes Curers use divination to discern cause of illnessCurers use divination to discern cause of illness Use of herbs, offerings, spiritual powerUse of herbs, offerings, spiritual power Cleanse house of spells, witches, and cursesCleanse house of spells, witches, and curses Diviners, exorcists, and healers are closely relatedDiviners, exorcists, and healers are closely related

ProphetsProphets Charismatic individuals who have spoke for the GodsCharismatic individuals who have spoke for the Gods Particularly seen during time of 19Particularly seen during time of 19 thth century as leading century as leading

resistance movements to slave trade resistance movements to slave trade Ngundeng of the Nuer in southern Sudan spoke in the Ngundeng of the Nuer in southern Sudan spoke in the

name of the sky god, Dengkurname of the sky god, Dengkur Chief-KingsChief-Kings

Most African societies lack monarchiesMost African societies lack monarchies Act as tribal connection to ancestors / godsAct as tribal connection to ancestors / gods

Objects of taboosObjects of taboos Avoid eye contact, food of monarchAvoid eye contact, food of monarch Sickness, death, succession customs for monarchs (poor Sickness, death, succession customs for monarchs (poor

health = poor community or land)health = poor community or land)

Non-Native African ReligionsNon-Native African Religions

Ancient Ethiopia population revered Ancient Ethiopia population revered pantheon of gods from Persia, Greece, and pantheon of gods from Persia, Greece, and southern Arabiasouthern Arabia

Missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul in Missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul in the 1the 1stst century spread century spread Christianity Christianity

King Ezana of Axum (Ethiopia) ruled over King Ezana of Axum (Ethiopia) ruled over southern Arabia and conquered Meroe southern Arabia and conquered Meroe (Sudan) in the 4(Sudan) in the 4thth century CE and then century CE and then converted to Christianityconverted to Christianity

Widespread Christianity after independence Widespread Christianity after independence in the 1950s (Bible in African languages)in the 1950s (Bible in African languages)

JudaismJudaism began to flourish in NE Africa as began to flourish in NE Africa as early as the 1early as the 1stst century century

Unique branch of Judaism in Ethiopia Unique branch of Judaism in Ethiopia with the Falasha people (Queen of with the Falasha people (Queen of Sheba ancestry – Old Testament 10Sheba ancestry – Old Testament 10thth century BCE)century BCE)

IslamIslam initially spread to Ethiopia during 7 initially spread to Ethiopia during 7thth century CE at the time of the Prophet century CE at the time of the Prophet MuhammadMuhammad

Later conquests of Islamic empires and Later conquests of Islamic empires and Muslim traders saw widespread expansion of Muslim traders saw widespread expansion of Islam throughout North and East AfricaIslam throughout North and East Africa

Introduction of other faiths such as Introduction of other faiths such as Hinduism,Hinduism, BuddhismBuddhism, and , and Baha’iBaha’i by by immigrantsimmigrants

African Religions TodayAfrican Religions Today

•46.5% Christian•40.5% Muslim•11.8% Indigenous beliefs

•Remainder are Hindu, Baha’i, or Jewish•Colonialism and Christianity, Spread of Islam, Population explosion, HIV/AIDS, genocide, and political instability upset traditional beliefs today•Traditions still practiced but diminished –lesser deities and ancestors assimilated into new faiths - Muslim jinn•Many Global African/African American leaders served as voices for African issues / Christianity / Islam

Works CitedWorks Cited

• http://www.shanigallery.com/thumbmasks.htmlhttp://www.shanigallery.com/thumbmasks.html

• http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/images/africa_religions.jpghttp://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/images/africa_religions.jpg