1. Traditional African Religious Beliefs

2. Role of Religion in Africa

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. Animism

8. 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

9. Characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africans are often polytheistic and worship many gods

10. Characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa
They practice Animism: a religion in which spirits exist in nature and play a role in daily life

11. Traditional Religion and Culture
Many early Africans shared similar religious beliefs and shared common features in the arts as well.
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
Examples of Beliefs
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
Animism

12. African Animism

13. 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.

14. What animals is portrayed by the apparel in the photo?
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?

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

19. Beliefs in Supreme Beings, Spirits, and Divinities

20. High God and Lesser Spirits

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. World of the Spirits
Dogon “Spirit House”

29. 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.”

30. In Ghana there is a water spirit called Mami Water
The fishermen
consider her
so sacred
they do not
talk about her
openly.

31. People believed they had to maintain a favorable (good) relationship with the spirits or else suffer their wrath (anger).

32. 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.

33. Ouidah, Benin
Mamy Wata, the goddess of the Sea.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. Ancestor Worship

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. 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

40. Religious Leaders under Animism

41. 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

42. Religious Leaders
Shaman
Medicine man or woman
Conducts ceremonies

43. Religious Leaders Diviners: Served as interpreters
Job was to explain misfortune

44. Religious Leaders Healers
Helped families become aware of problems, along with providing remedies

45. North American Shaman
West African Griot

46. Animism
Medicine Man

47. Role of Rituals and Diviners

48. Diviners and Healers

49. 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

50. 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.

51. Diviners
Causes: natural & supernatural; human-human, human-divine, & human-natural relationships are messed up
Divination: ritual process, humans obtain inaccessible, obscure info. about a client’s place in religious cosmos
Priests handle neutral objects
Priests interpret meaning of results
(i.e. Yoruba Ifa diviners & Orunmila & Odu,
16 palm nuts, x8 times, 256 chapters)

52. African Diviner (Shaman)

53. Tallensi Tribe: Example of Pleasing Ancestors
Tallensi man named Pu-eng-yii left his family and settled with a rival group to earn more money.
Auto accident, serious leg injury
Diviner told him that ancestors were angry; told him that his ancestors had intended to kill him but failed to follow through on the plan.
Solution: He had to make restitution (monetary compensation) for leaving his family, severe ties with newly adopted family, and return home.

54. Sacrifices

55. Sacrifices to Please Spirits and Ancestors
Pouring our a bit of their drinks or tossing away bits of their food (similar to when you drop a hot dog at a BBQ – an offering to the backyard gods).
Simple act that pleases spirits and ancestors
Sacrifice of animals for more serious occasions – dogs, birds, sheep, goats and cattle

56. Animal Sacrifice and Other Sacrifice to Appease Gods
Blood poured out on ground or altar
Before a battle or election campaign or when there’s a serious drought or in times of illness
Prior to engaging in a dangerous hunt
Ogun – Yoruba god of iron. In modern day, he is a god of machinery.
People who drive automobiles in dangerous streets decorate their cars with his symbols

57. Partaking in the Sacrifice: Communion with Spirits
After animal is sacrificed, a portion is cut and roasted or boiled and offered to the deity.
A portion is consumed by those in the sacrifice.
This unites them with the spirits.
A long tradition with world religions to build spiritual bond
Consider Christianity and Holy Communion

58. Rituals and Rites of Passage

59. Rituals take place outdoors in nature
Places of Worship
Rituals take place outdoors in nature

60. Ritual Organized group activity
Relationships among humans, super-humans & nature give meaning to ritual
Rites of passage: define social, religious, physical identity (birth, puberty, marriage, death)

61. Rituals and Rites of Passage
Important parts of life marked with rituals
Rites of passage regulated by religious functionaries
Birth of child – time for great rejoicing; great blessing from the world of the spirits
Twins – not a blessing, dangerous and evil.
Sometimes, regarded that women had two men and each were the fathers
Occasionally, one or both are killed

62. Rituals and Rites of Passage continued
In many African societies, including the Ashanti, children are not named for the first week of life.
Because of high infant mortality, African tribes believe that it may be a trickster god who wants to trick people into loving it only to leave them
After they make it through a week, then much love is lavished on the child

63. Rituals and Rites of Passage
After naming the child, there is a ceremony of gently throwing the child in the air and introducing it to the moon, which is deity (The Gu of the Benin)
The Basuto of South Africa say: “There is your father’s sister.”
Circumcision is sometimes done after child birth
Most of the time, it is reserved for puberty

64. Circumcision
Circumcision is a religious requirement for Jews and Muslims and is significant to many Christians
For Africans, circumcision is reserved for when young men reach puberty
Severity can vary from a minor cuts that have no major threat to genital mutilation which can be life threatening
Usually no anesthetic

65. Circumcision
The man who performs the ceremony may wear a mask representing the ancestors.
Represents passage into adulthood
Initiate is expected not to flinch or cry out in pain
Female circumcision is practiced in some African societies although there is growing opposition around the world
As with male circumcision, no major medical reason for doing it but supposed to control their erotic desire

66. Rituals and Rites of Passage
Adulthood – responsibilities and privileges
Leaving the family home
Marriage is very important; so is bearing children; a childless couple will go to great lengths to discover why they are childless with the help of a diviner
Death – rituals to make the deceased comfortable; fear that their ghosts will return to haunt the living; widows fear that husbands will return to cause their wombs to die

67. Marriage Rituals
Virginity is highly prized especially among young women
Some tribes sew part of the female genitalia when the girls are small for the future husband
Frequently, husband may not have sexual relations with wife while she is pregnant and nursing, which altogether may be two years.
Polygamy is practiced by elites of many traditional African tribes. Several wives and separate houses

68. Rituals for the Dead Africa’s warm climate ---dead buried quickly
Sometimes embalming and mummification; occasionally offered to hyenas
Burial with objects that will make their time in spirit world more enjoyable
In some African societies, illness, misfortune, death don’t just happen. Often the result of witchcraft or foul play
In past, dead were allowed to identify their killers. If their hands, dropped as they passed someone in the community or if they fell near someone as they were being carried, that person would have to defend his/her innocence.

69. Death and World of Spirits
Most tribes do not have a system of eschatology or concepts of judgment and retribution after death.
Dead simply move into the world of the spirits and continue to be interested in the world of the living.
LoDagaa people of Ghana – exception
Crossing a river with a ferryman (similar to Greek idea of River Styx and Hades), easy if you were good, difficult and up to three years if you were bad, making up for your evil

70. Islam and Christianity in Africa

71. Other Religions in Africa
ISLAM  25% * Nigeria  largest sub-Saharan Muslim countries.
CHRISTIANITY  20%

72. Religion The Introduction and Spread of Christianity
Indigenous religions tend to be animistic
The Introduction and Spread of Christianity
Entered northeast Africa around 300 A.D.
Coptic Christians - Ethiopia & Eritrea; other Christians in Sudan
Dutch brought Calvinism to South Africa in 1600s
The Introduction and Spread of Islam
Introduced about 1,000 years ago
Today, orthodox Islam prevails in most of the Sahel
Interaction Between Religious Traditions
Religious conflict most acute in northeastern Africa
Sudan: conflict between Muslims in north and Non-Muslims in the south
Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff

73. Christianity in Africa

74. The route of African Christianity
Egypt and Libya in the beginning
Apollos of Alexandria
Others from Cartage
Eunuch of Ethiopia, Meroitic Official, a.k.a. Kandaka, a Regent to the throne of Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia
Preservation of Scriptures in Africa, the Sinaiticus Texts particularly
Bishops such as Clement and Cyril, men of Alexandria in Egypt.
The Nubians of Sudan and the Coptic of Ethiopians are part of Africa Christians heritage. 4

75. Aksum became a kingdom based on Christianity
Aksum churches
Aksum became a kingdom based on Christianity

76. Christianity in West Africa
Although Christianity was first introduced to Africa in Egypt in the 1st century, West Africa was not really exposed to Christianity until Europe colonized Africa
Traditionally, Europeans believed that Africans did not have a religious belief system (even though they practiced Animism) so many European churches sent missionaries to Africa to spread Christianity

77. Christianity in West Africa
Some European countries used Christianity and the need for sending missionaries as justification, or another reason, for taking over land in West Africa
Today, Christianity is the most practiced religion in Africa

78. Church in Nigeria

79. Christianity
2 billion adherents make it most practiced in the world.
Originated in Bethlehem (8-4 BC) and Jerusalem (AD 30) with Jesus Christ.
Spread by missionaries and the Roman Empire (Constantine A.D. 313).
It is the most practiced religion in Africa today.

80. Syncretism in West Africa
Similar to the introduction of Islam in West Africa, people tried to fuse Christianity with Animism.
The mixing and fusion of two or more religions is called syncretism

81. Islam in Africa

82. Islam in West Africa - Containment
Islam was introduced to West Africa through trading systems with Eastern and Northern Africa
North African people would trade horses, camels, fruits and salt for West African gold and food.
West African leaders forced Muslim merchants to stay outside of the cities so that their religion would not spread.

83. EAST AFRICA
Arab merchants brought their religion with them to East Africa
Islam was introduced to the East African trade cities

84. Islamic Mosque in Ghana

85. Cultural diffusion between West Africans and the Muslims resulted
WEST AFRICA AND ISLAM
The gold-salt trade spread to the Northeast and attracted Muslim merchants
Cultural diffusion between West Africans and the Muslims resulted

86. Islam in West Africa
Along with adopting new practices and ethical values, West Africans kept some of their old religious practices.
Muslim leaders allowed them to continue religious traditions as long as they did not contradict (conflict with) the Five Pillars Faith.
W. Africans continued to show respect for the spirits of dead ancestors. They kept their belief in spirits who could help those or made sacrifices to them.
They used amulets, or charms, that they believed helped people or protected them from harm.

87. The Spread of Islam in West Africa
Traders Bring Islam to Ghana
Between 639 and 708 C.E., Arab Muslims conquered North Africa
They wanted to bring W. Africa into the Islamic world.
Initially the king of Ghana did not convert, nor did the majority of the people.
But the king did allow Muslims to build settlements within his empire
theradiantlight.blogspot.com

88. Islam in Mali
The tolerance shown by Muslims toward traditional religious practices helped Islam to spread.
Early leaders of Mali accepted Islam, but they didn’t follow all of its teachings.
In 1312, a new leader, Mansa Musa, took over in Mali. He became the first West African ruler to practice Islam devoutly.
digitalhistory.uh.edu

89. Islam in Mali
Under the rule of Mansa Musa, Mali became a major crossroad of the Islamic world.
Musa made a hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca
His caravan was described as “a lavish display of power, wealth, and unprecedented by its size and pageantry.”
Included in his caravan was:
500 slaves, each carrying a 6 lb. staff of gold
Caravan of 200 camels carrying
30,000 lbs. of gold
Food, clothing, and supplies
Because of this impressive display, Mali gained acceptance as an important empire

90. MANSA MUSA’S INFLUENCE
Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and went on a hajj to Mecca in 1324
Mansa Musa passed out gold nuggets to the people he met along the way of his long trip

91. When Mansa Musa returned from Mecca, he was filled with religious fervor

92. Djenne Mosque
He built many mosques throughout the Mali Empire, including one at Timbuktu

93. Islam in Songhai
In the 1460s Sunni Ali became the new ruler of Songhai.
He built a powerful army that enabled Songhai to break away from Mali and eventually conquer it.
Early Songhai rulers didn’t seriously practice Islam
Under the leadership of Askia Mohammed Toure, a devout Muslim, rigid controls were set to ensure Islam was being practiced properly.

94. EAST AFRICA
The mix of African and Arab cultures led to the development of a new language: Swahili
East African towns had mosques (Muslim places of worship) and were ruled by Muslim sultans
However, many Africans chose to keep their traditional Animistic beliefs

95. Changes in Africa due to Islam

96. Change #1: Succession
An important change in government was in how people chose their next leader, or “line of succession”
Traditionally succession to the throne had been matrilineal – the right to rule was traced through the woman’s side of the family
After the arrival of Islam, succession became patrilineal – the right to rule went from father to son.

97. Change #2: Structure of Gov’t
Muslims believed in a highly centralized government, which was different than traditional African society
After conversion to Islam, West African kings sought more control of local rulers
Rulers adopted titles used in Muslim lands, such as “emir” and “sultan”

98. Change #3: Adoption of Shari’ah Law
Customary laws of Africa usually:
were enforced by chiefs or kings
didn’t give physical punishments
Weren’t written down
Guilty person paid injured party with gifts or services
Family or clan of guilty person could also be punished

99. Shari’ah Law: Laws were written
Muslims believed that shari’ah came from God
Administered by judges called qadis
Cases were heard in a court
Witnesses called
Ruled on basis of the law and the evidence presented

100. Change # 4: Emphasis on Education
Muslims highly value learning & encouraged people to become educated.
Timbuktu
Became famous for its community of Islamic Scholars
Contained several universities
Schools were set up to educate children in the Qur’an
Schools run by an imam (scholar)
Basic subjects included studying the Qur’an, Islamic studies, law, and literature

101. Change #5: Arabic: A New Language
In West Africa, Arabic became the language of religion, learning, commerce (business), and government.
Arabic became the language of TRADE and GOVERNMENT
West Africans continued to use their native languages in everyday speech.
Scholars used Arabic to begin to write about the history and culture of West Africa.
Arabic allowed rulers to keep records and to write to rulers in other countries.
Using the common Arabic language, West African traders who spoke different languages to communicate more easily.

102. What was written about? They recorded the history of the Songhai.
Described how people used animals, plants, and minerals to cure diseases.
Discussed ethical behavior for business and government.
Told how to use the stars to determine the seasons.
They recorded the history of the Songhai.
They wrote about Islamic Law

103. Change #6: Architecture Mosques in West Africa
Traditionally, West Africans built small shrines to the forces of nature. As they converted to Islam, they began to build mosques (Muslim house of worship).
The mosques that were built blended Islamic architectural styles with their own traditional religious art.
For example, the minaret (tower) of one mosque was designed to look like the symbol of a Songhai ancestor.
Mosques in West Africa used the materials that were available in the local area.

104. Islamic
Invasions

105. Change# 7: Decorative Arts
West Africans adopted the use of calligraphy and geometric patterns in their decorative arts.
Arabic calligraphy was used to decorate costumes, fans, and even weapons.
West Africans adopted the dress of Arabic robes… using decorative textiles and clothing and everyday objects like stools, ceramic containers.
goafrica.about.com

106. Extent of Islam (Fig. 6.25)
Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff