2. The African Worldview An Accumulated Experience

3. African Views of the Universe n Africans accumulated ideas about the universe through observation n The universe was created by God n Humans are at the center of it n There are two parts to the universe: –invisible & visible or sky (heaven) & earth –some believe in 3 tiers: heavens, earth, and underworld

4. A Two Part Universe n Heaven –contains the stars, sun, moon, etc and includes such phenomena as lightening, thunder etc –home of God –home of other beings who serve God. –has its own population –symbolically “father” n Earth –full of humans and other created things –regarded by some as a living being –home of mountains, rivers etc which are highly regarded –symbolically “mother”

5. African Views n The universe is eternal –its size is not known –no one can reach the end –time is not bounded –rhythms in life will continue to occur –symbols such as the circle indicate the unendingness of time. Circles are used in art, utensils, buildings –The universe is dependent on God

6. African Views n Order and Power of the universe. There is: –order in the laws of nature –moral order among people –religious order in the universe –mystical order in the universe As shown in magic, medicine, witchcraft, sorcery. It is a power in the universe which comes from God. It is hidden and mysterious. It is available to spirits and certain human beings. Knowledge of this power is used to help people. When used to harm it is evil.

7. African Views n Humans are the center of the universe –God is outside and beyond the universe –Although God is very close to the universe humans are its center. –Humans see the universe from this perspective. –Objects in the universe are evaluated on the basis of their usefulness to humans. e.g. animals are divided into which ones can be eaten and which ones cannot.

8. African Views: Humans at Center n Objects such as trees etc and lightening are regarded as divinities and spirits n Humans desire to live in harmony with nature and “attribute (mystical) life to it, in order to establish a more direct relationship with the world around them.”

9. Religions of Africa Some of the World’s Oldest Civilizations

10. Religions of City-States n Egypt - Encampment at the NileEncampment at the Nile n The Basongye of Congo - Before the ColonialistsBefore the Colonialists n The Zulus - The Ancestors of ShakaThe Ancestors of Shaka n The Yorubas - West African WatershedWest African Watershed