african traditional religions

Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in a supreme creator, belief in spirits, veneration of the dead, use of magic and traditional African medicine. Having established that a more powerful Creator sits above us and sees everything that we do, there is also a recognition that the Creator is also our benefactor, planning and providing for us: ‘As you plan for somebody, so God plans for you’, Igbo Proverb, (Nigeria). The challenge is to study faith, proverbs, traditions and mythology across Africa to identify the fragments of religion passed down as oral traditions and mythology in the great cultures of the continent. So normally we refer to African Traditional Religions in the plural, and it’s simply summarized or written in notation form as “ATR” – African Traditional Religion. The possessed are referred to as “horsemen,” because they are … Les religions traditionnelles africaines sont l ensemble des …   Wikipédia en Français, Religions négro-africaines — Religions traditionnelles africaines  Cet article concerne les religions africaines traditionnelles. The Holy Qur’an mentions that all tribes (including those across Africa) have received revelation and prophets: ‘And for every people there is a Messenger. There are numerous indigenous faiths still found throughout Africa. [1] …   Wikipedia, AFRICAN RELIGIONS —    although some books speak about African religion it is clear that there are many religions in Africa. Like tribal religions from other parts of the world …   Wikipedia, Traditional African religion — Main article: Religion in Africa An early 20th century Igbo medicine man in Nigeria, West Africa. African religions also share many ideas with world religions such as Judaism and Buddhism. The Yoruba of Nigeria record that Obatala creates the physical body, but the greater Olodumare who sits in the heavens, blows the spirit into the body [5]. That is, African traditional religion or African traditional religions (Mbiti 1969, 1–2; Idowu 1973, 103; Booth 1977, 3; Ikenga-Metu 1987, 19; Alolo 2007; Ejizu n.d). Britannica 2020). In Africa, especially with traditional rural culture, the concept of respect for elders is very strong. In Benin, the ritual to achieve the devotion of the Vodun ancestors led to what is now the popularised Voodoo traditions of Haiti in the Caribbean [10]. These faiths are usually confined to local areas and tribes, and are passed down from one generation to the next, mostly through oral tradition. It deals with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, and so on. ‘If your parents take care of you up to the time you cut your teeth, you take care of them when they lose theirs’, Akan proverb (Ghana). Evaluation of the impact American or European policy has had on Native American or African Tribal Religion beliefs and practices. Traditional African religions are the traditions of the religious groups in Africa.After Christianity and Islam, they are the third-biggest religious group in Africa.These religions still stick to their traditions. But before those two religions arrived, there were several traditional religions practiced. However, there were many traditional religions practiced prior to the arrival of these two religions. African religions are very diverse. Today, Christianity and Islam are religions practiced by the majority of people living in Africa. Today, around 10 percent of the African population still practice some form of traditional religion. When Ludwig got to This belief, just as in the case of the previous one, has a theological basis – the plurality of divinities (polytheism). However there are characteristics of the peoples across Africa that show a mature understanding of their position versus nature, the hierarchy of society and respect for elders and forefathers, some of whom are likely to be prophets who would have had a direct communion with their High God or Creator. Trained in the new method of \"fieldwork\"—which entailed observing participants and speaking the language of the community—these anthropologists worked for their governments. For example, the song mentions that the Judge will see all stains whether visible or hidden; similar to the notion that God can see all of your actions and your intentions. 2. The main difference is that the revelations were never written down, and have therefore evolved through verbal transmission from generation to generation. The study of African religions is greatly neglected in religious… …   Concise dictionary of Religion, AFRICAN INDEPENDENT CHURCH —    since the late nineteenth century thousands of NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS have developed in Africa all of which claim to be CHRISTIAN yet they reject traditional MISSIONARY Churches and attempt to incorporate many TRADITIONAL African BELIEFS and… …   Concise dictionary of Religion, African American culture — in the United States refers to the cultural contributions of African ethnic groups to the culture of the United States, either as part of or distinct from American culture. It is often evident that adults, children and other family members have an established system, as do more senior figures in a village or community. 5. Over time, the concept of ‘home’ may be hazy, but knowledge that this is not the end means that people accept their position in society, accept trials and tribulations such as plagues and floods, and seem to be less inclined to hoarding worldly possessions. Because religion is a way of life, it relates to culture and society as they affect the worldview of the African people. About 10 per cent of the African population is still practicing some form of traditional religion today. Les religions traditionnelles africaines sont l ensemble des …   Wikipédia en Français, Religions tribales africaines — Religions traditionnelles africaines  Cet article concerne les religions africaines traditionnelles. Haitian Vodou is an African diasporic religion that developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries. There is also a common theme of the High God having created the world, and then withdrawn to allow humans to work and flourish, but also to suffer illness and misfortune. For the continent of Africa, were those people devoid of religion until the Abrahamic faiths came to the continent in the last two millennia, or were they also the beneficiaries of revelation which would have impacted their cultures and behaviours? There are hundreds of major tribes across Africa with their own languages and distinct cultures, but broadly they are grouped into the following families: The locations of the various tribes are shown in the following map: Across African tribes, there is a recurring theme of an ultimate superior Creator in the heavens, as illustrated through the following proverbs and prayers passed down: ‘Nzame (God) is on high, man is on the earth’, Fang Tradition (Gabon), ‘God, you are in the heavens, you are the only one’, Anuak Prayer (Sudan), ‘The earth is wide, but God is the elder’, Akan Proverb (Ghana). This Yoruba proverb from Nigeria illustrates the Golden Rule of treating others as you would want to be treated yourself: ‘One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.’, (Yoruba Proverb, Nigeria). There must have been many Messengers that we are not aware of, but whose legacy would be imprinted in the changes in behaviour and culture resulting from their teachings. The modern understanding has evolved through syncretism with Christian and Islamic influences, and often these beliefs are practised alongside Islam and Christianity in rural communities. Some examples of devotional masks and outfits are shown below (images courtesy of the author unless otherwise attributed): Examples of masks and ceremonial outfits from the Bassam area of Ivory Coast, Examples of masks and statuettes made by craftsmen on the Gambia-Senegal border. In Africa, the term ancestors does not cover all predecessors, but only those of high rank and achievement, who act as mediators to access divine guidance and favour. African people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the practice of Abrahamic religions. Although there is an infinite variety of traditional religions in Africa, beliefs such as WITCHCRAFT and the role of the ancestors seem to be common themes in many societies. In Africa you are automatically born into your African Traditional Religion, unlike Christianity and Islam where you have to be converted. Most traditional African religions have, for most of their existence, been orally/spiritually (rather than scripturally) transmitted or practiced. More than 100 million Africans still adhere to the traditional African religions. In that sense, perhaps these ancestors include the very Prophets of Africa that we are seeking. Abrahamic religions are widespread throughout Africa. About the Author: Fazal Ahmad is the Editor for the ‘World Religions’ section of The Review of Religions. Then among them were some whom Allah guided and among them were some who became deserving of ruin.’ [2], ‘And We sent some Messengers whom we have already mentioned to thee and some Messengers whom we have not mentioned to thee.’ [3]. In many ways East and Southern African Traditional Religions, which lack professional Priests, share common elements which make them quite distinct from West and North African religions, where professional Priests play an important role in traditional religious practices. The first academic studies of African traditional religions were written in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries by Muslim and European scholars. There is also a recognition that time on earth is limited, and that there is a greater purpose: ‘We are on a market trip on earth: whether we fill our baskets or not, once the time is up, we go home’. The traditional religions indigenous to Africa have, for most of their existence, been orally rather than scripturally transmitted. Since it is a religion practised by living persons today, changes are to be expected. In this song, there are similarities to the Day of Judgement of the Abrahamic faiths. It is clear that Africa has been a cradle of civilization for millennia, and that as mentioned in the Qur’an (10:48), the various tribes across Africa have not been devoid of prophecy and revelation. Pour une vision d ensemble des religions en Afrique, voir Religions en Afrique. to tag the traditional religion of Africans and believe […] African traditional religions are the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of African peoples including various traditional religions. Understanding the Creator is intrinsic in mankind, and not learned, as the following Ghanaian proverb highlights: ‘God needs no pointing out to a child’, Akan Proverb (Ghana). There are many behaviours that are expected of people. African Traditional Religion has been evolving; there is in it the element of continuity as well as discontinuity. The distinct identity of African American culture is rooted in the… …   Wikipedia, Religions africaines — Religions traditionnelles africaines  Cet article concerne les religions africaines traditionnelles. African traditional religion — African traditional religions, also referred to as African indigenous religions or African tribal religions, is a term referring to a variety of religions indigenous to the continent of Africa. Similarly, when visiting a village, there is normally a set of customs to first seek permission from the village chief and declaring your mission before being allowed to engage with other members of the village. [ 5 ] section of the impact American or African Tribal religion beliefs practices! 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