Awolawu and Depamu (1979) African development. This article appeared in the Christian Century, August 27- September 3, 1980, pp. Eating pattern tied to 24% reduction in cardiovascular, cancer mortality in people diagnosed with the chronic condition, HMS/Brigham study shows most advertised medicines little better than other treatment options. Their history has a theological meaning. v6 -j>,>Or%I&!To !{vgrh7xxDs}d[!$8k1zX+@}~ Traditional African religious beliefs, such as belief in the protective power of sacrifices to ancestors, Traditional African religious practices, such as owning sacred objects. While Islam and Christianity tend to . When we identify the God of the Bible as the same God who is known through African religion (whatever its limitations), we must also take it that God has had a historical relationship with African peoples. In four countries (Chad, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria and Tanzania), the number of Christians and Muslims is more equally divided, with a ratio of less than two-to-one in either direction.2 The other countries surveyed are predominantly Christian with Muslim minorities of varying sizes. AP US History Period 1, APUSH Period 1 Flashcards | Quizlet Religion Online is designed to assist teachers, scholars and general seekers who are interested in exploring religious issues. He must have been active among African peoples as he was among the Jewish people. 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.. It includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. The first African captives entered England's North American colonies through Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. Some Africans believe that the ancestors are equal in power to deities, while others believe they are not. I simply and honestly answered him that "for us in Africa, God is not dead." Theological development in Africa must inevitably grow within this religious setting. Since Christianity came in contact with the traditional religion, there has always been a sharp conflict between traditionalists and Christians. Indigenous African practices tend to be strongest in the central states of Africa, but some form of their practices and beliefs can be found almost anywhere in Africa. 4 0 obj Y.91sC@o9sJL9@XMw`7\`1%nRjBS %U=a{N>. 0000003217 00000 n This statistical tilting of Christendom from the north to the south, after 2,000 years, holds tremendous prospects and challenges. Anthropologica Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World, Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, Next: Chapter 2: Commitment to Christianity and Islam, Chapter 2: Commitment to Christianity and Islam, Chapter 3: Traditional African Religious Beliefs and Practices, 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. The award allows Olupona a year of study and research in Germany; he is on leave this year (201516). Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. GAZETTE: How would you define indigenous African religions? Belief in the power of such objects is highest in Senegal (75%) and lowest in Rwanda (5%). While the recourse to traditional healers may be motivated in part by economic reasons and an absence of health care alternatives, it may also be rooted in religious beliefs about the efficacy of this approach. Abstract. 0000002026 00000 n So the church which exists on the African scene bears the marks of its peoples backgrounds. The Church in Africa, 1450-1950. I am tantalized by the fact that my vision cannot cope with that horizon. In respect and honor of my culture, I also dress in my traditional Nigerian attire when Im in my country. hb```b``g`a`.ef@ aV68+ +$.0t9$r8A2Or}6=<4. 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. OLUPONA: One of the basic reasons is that indigenous African spiritual beliefs are not bound by a written text, like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 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. 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. The statistical expansion of the Christian faith in Africa in this century is one of the considerations that led me back to the issue of its relation with African religion. 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? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. It was during the Belgian colonial period that the first Catholic and Protestant missionaries came to this region of Zaire. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. This is not an empty coincidence. I cannot claim that I have witnessed much progress in that quest at the organizational level, but perhaps I had expected too much. This is, obviously, a general statement, one which needs detailed elaboration. It sensitized my thinking in many areas, one of these being the quest for Christian unity. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. AR-Ndhdnn}H\{%jC!a,]c8F`1LE(3%"w+tj}](q w[,p8i$dd$GrMRD K4wLG4@h\WfPY African spirituality has always been able to adapt to change and allow itself to absorb the wisdom and views of other religions, much more than, for example, Christianity and Islam. As the map in the preface to this report shows, sub-Saharan Africa is much more religiously mixed than northern Africa, where the population is overwhelmingly Muslim. I should add that without claiming to be full members of indigenous traditions, there are many professed Christians and Muslims who participate in one form of indigenous religious rituals and practices or another. Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa are the only countries surveyed where a significant number of people (roughly one-in-ten) describe their religion as atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular. In all the other countries, the figure is closer to zero. Updates? Following a period of parish work in England, I went to teach at Makerere University, Uganda, where I remained for ten years until 1974. I have seen the quest more sharply. 1996 Canadian Anthropology Society I want to see his healing hand, to hear his word that exorcises evil spirits. "For us in Africa, God is not dead" -- and that applies whether or not there is a written record of his relations with and concern for people. Anthropologica is published for CASCA by University of Toronto Press. It will keep me chewing for a long time, and it will most certainly feed my theological development. For starters, the word religion is problematic for many Africans, because it suggests that religion is separate from the other aspects of ones culture, society, or environment. 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. Did he then reveal himself only in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel and other personalities of the Bible? A magisterial historical synthesis of the formative period of African Christianity written by one of its foremost scholars. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Religious pluralism serves peace | D+C - Development + Cooperation The word Vodou means spirit or deity in the Fon language of the African kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin). What factors are responsible for it? Request Permissions, Published By: Canadian Anthropology Society. That is anathema to the fundamentalist faith movements that have been gaining momentum in recent decades. Download chapter 3 in full (3-page PDF, <1MB), Photo credit: Sebastien Desarmaux/GODONG/Godong/Corbis, Part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA "The success of Christianity and Islam on the African continent in the last 100 years has been extraordinary, but it has been, unfortunately, at the expense of African indigenous religions," said Olupona. A subscription to Anthropologica is included in CASCA's annual membership fee. This bitter conflict has led to wanton destruction of lives and property, and this has become a source of great worry to the writers. Most people in sub-Saharan Africa now identify with either Christianity or Islam. There are other areas of exploration in which I continue to be engaged. These initiation rituals are already not as common in Africa as they were only 50 years ago, yet age-grade initiations have always helped young Africans feel connected to their community and their past. Consequently, traditional Africans have different ideas on what role the ancestors play in the lives of living descendants. Since Christianity and Islam spread across Africa, many people there have observed a mixture of religious practices. Corrections? 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 . In most of the 19 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Centers Forum on Religion & Public Life, 90% or more of the respondents say they belong to one of these faiths. Corrections? The spirituality of Africa - Harvard Gazette The statistical expansion of the Christian faith in Africa in this century is one of the considerations that led me back to the issue of its relation with African religion. But for many Africans, religion can never be separated from all these. The numerous traditional African religions have in common the notion of a creator god, who made the world and then withdrew, remaining remote from the concerns of human life. For instance, the Yoruba religion has historically been centered in southwestern Nigeria, the Zulu religion in southern Africa, and the Igbo religion in southeastern Nigeria. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Everywhere he went in southwestern Nigeria, he never opposed or spoke out against African culture including initiation rites, festivals, and traditional Yoruba dress as long as it didnt directly conflict with Christianity. My research into and teaching of African religion has led to another important area of development. The Pew Forums survey found 52% of the population is Muslim. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. 0000005005 00000 n Omissions? This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Maybe this is why I am not an Anglican priest. Indigenous African religions are pragmatic. But today that is not the case due to more exclusive-minded types of Christianity and Islam that see patronizing indigenous African beliefs and practices as violating the integrity of their Christian or Muslim principles, but I believe that one can maintain ones religious integrity and also embrace an African worldview. endobj APUSH Unit 1 Flashcards | Quizlet (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Some people tried to involve Africa in the debate. 0000001586 00000 n Olupona, professor of indigenous African religions at Harvard Divinity School and professor of African and African-American studies in Harvards Faculty of Arts and Sciences, recently sat down for an interview about his lifelong research on indigenous African religions. Chapter 3: Traditional African Religious Beliefs and Practices Again, it doesnt reflect the multiplicity of ways that traditional African spirituality has conceived of deities, gods, and spirit beings. 1"7$X9Xyyyb GNpL!9I&mxo0++44cA@5c. Animism is a common feature of African religions, and misfortune is often attributed to witchcraft and sorcery. 0000001019 00000 n It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. I have received much in a short period. This is not a biblical distinction. GAZETTE: What will Africa lose if it loses its African indigenous worldview? 0000000016 00000 n Anthony Chiorazzi, who has an M.Phil. Conflicts Between African Traditional Religion and Christianity in Some scholars choose to call it the African Traditional Religion, while others prefer to name it the African traditional Religions. Its consequences for theological and ecclesiological developments are yet to be faced. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. It may be, and needs to be, a qualified and critical Yes. What is African Traditional Religion? Since I myself had never heard any lectures on African religion, I set out to do research on the subject in order to teach the course adequately. According to all the major surveys, Christianity and Islam each represent approximately 40 percent of the African population. They depended on the labor of enslaved Africans who often constituted the majority of the population in these areas and developed their own forms of cultural and religious autonomy Examples: plantation agriculture, the Carolinas (rice), Barbados (sugar), tobacco Colonial government The fusion of cultures that was effected by the conquest of Alexander the Great (4th century bce ), his successors, and the Roman Empire tended to bring together a variety of religious and philosophical views that resulted in a strong tendency toward religious syncretism. This chapter includes information on: Download chapter 1 in full (6-page PDF, <1MB), 1 The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in the easternmost part of North East Africa, on the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Par contre, les croyances en la sorcellerie ont persist. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The theological horizon continues to expand. African diaspora religions - Wikipedia Its aims were to encourage formal and informal dissemination of knowledge through an annual conference and publications; promote relations with other academic and professional associations, aboriginal groups, and governments; and publicize ethnological research and activities to further understanding of ethnological practices. Robinson, came out. Sign up for daily emails to get the latest Harvardnews. I was like a snail shyly peeping out of its house after a heavy thunderstorm. This number has since grown rapidly, to the point that in 1980 there are estimated to be 200 million Christians (or about 45 per cent of the population). 300 ce). Diviners who go through a long educational and apprenticeship program hold the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of the African people. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. That experience gave me a face-to-face encounter with the ecumenical movement and left a lasting mark on me. But I feel that the issue of looking at African history in light of the biblical understanding of history is clearly called for. When this happens, then a passage such as Hebrews 1:1-3 rolls down like mighty waters, full of exciting possibilities of theological reflection. GAZETTE: It sounds like African indigenous religions are dynamic, inclusive, and flexible. Religion informs everything in traditional African society, including political art, marriage, health, diet, dress, economics, and death. There is no centralized hierarchy, no single leader, and no official spokesperson, but various groups sometimes attempt to create such official structures. degree at Harvard Divinity School. My doctoral studies in New Testament eschatology led me also to the field of Christology. African spirituality has always been able to adapt to change and allow itself to absorb the wisdom and views of other religions, much more than, for example, Christianity and Islam. 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. Additionally, I will not discourage, disparage, or try and convert those who practice their form of African indigenous religions. PDF Christianity and the African traditional religion(s): The postcolonial 0000002505 00000 n Overall, however, Christians outnumber Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa by about two-to-one. That finished the interview. trailer interaction between the Christian churches and West African religious culture. In 1988 the society changed its name to the Canadian Anthropology Society to clarify its identity and emphasize its role as an anthropology association. In four countries, for instance, half or more of the population believes that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm. An old African adage says: The sky is large enough for birds to fly around without one having to bump into the other.. Omissions? They will certainly be overwhelming, and I feel very excited about them. In Kenya I grew up in home, school and church milieus which held that the African religious and cultural background was demonic and anti-Christian. They are not mutually exclusive. They were names of one and the same God, the creator of the world, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. stream Vodou is a worldview encompassing philosophy, medicine, justice, and religion. Take em with a grain of salt. OLUPONA: Thats a mixed bag. In this overpowering environment, one simply accepted this stand and looked at the world from its perspectives. colonization_terms_apush.docx - ` Units 1 and 2 Vocabulary (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main 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. Africans consequently played a crucial role in establishing the doctrines and theology of the early church. Holding or maintaining to a uniform doctrine is not the essence of indigenous African religions. OLUPONA: We would lose a worldview that has collectively sustained, enriched, and given meaning to a continent and numerous other societies for centuries through its epistemology, metaphysics, history, and practices. 0000001519 00000 n Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God. The unseen world is populated by lwa (spirits), myst (mysteries), anvizib (the invisibles), zanj (angels), and the spirits of ancestors and the recently deceased. Ritual functionaries include priests, elders, rainmakers, diviners, and prophets. It doesnt have a fixed creed, like in some forms of Christianity or Islam. %PDF-1.3 Below is the article summary. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Corrections? (back to text), Photo credit: Sebastien Desarmaux/GODONG/Godong/Corbis, Part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA In contrast, witchcraft beliefs persist. 93 0 obj The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God to our continent. % Ethiopia's Christian population, at 6 million in 1900, will grow to a projected 100 million in 2050. Aujourd'hui, la plupart des Zariens sont soit catholiques, soit protestants; les Biras pour leur part sont principalement catholiques. Wendy Sherman, who was the lead U.S. negotiator in the nuclear deal with Iran, was welcomed by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School. Islam And Christianity Christianity came first to the continent of Africa in the 1st or early 2nd century AD. Par consquent, Mbali-Dieu est la rponse crative des Biras une rencontre religieuse syncrtique. I had it. He has researched and written about such diverse religious cultures as the Hare Krishnas, Zoroastrians, Shakers, and the Old Order Amish. 0 Some of these African diaspora religions include Cuban Regla de Ocha, Haitian Vodou, and Brazilian Candomble. GAZETTE: What is the state of indigenous African religions today? Humans are spirits who inhabit the visible world. Spirit possession plays an important role in Afro-Haitian religion, as it does in many other world religions. GAZETTE: Are ancestors considered deities in the traditional African cosmology? In Cameroon, Ethiopia, Liberia and Mozambique, Muslims account for between 15% and 30% of survey respondents. While Islam and Christianity tend to be overtly resistant to adopting traditional African religious ideas or practices, indigenous African religions have always accommodated other beliefs. That which had been seen as the enemy of the gospel turns out (to me) to be indeed a very welcoming friend. 0000002264 00000 n In the other case no such written record exists. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the World Council of Churches is a great witness of the Christian response to the prayer of our Lord that we may all be one. (See the glossary for more information on juju. Fewer say it is paramount to their faith to attend religious services (39%), avoid sex before marriage (30%) or oppose abortion . Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender. But to the disappointment of those theological exporters, this fish was not attracted by the bait. For example, sickness in the indigenous African worldview is not only an imbalance of the body, but also an imbalance in ones social life, which can be linked to a breakdown in ones kinship and family relations or even to ones relationship with ones ancestors. Religious pluralism serves peace. (a) The Structures of African Traditional Religions: Sometimes it is a difficult task among scholars to choose a unanimous name for the religious traditions and beliefs of the African people. I should also state that there are signs of the revival of African indigenous practices in many parts of Africa. C'est l'poque de la colonisation belge que les premiers missionnaires catholiques et protestants sont arrivs dans cette rgion du Zare. There are also secret societies, called Bizango or Sanpwl, that perform a religio-juridical function. African religions, Indigenous religions of the African continent. It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what AIR and . 0000005714 00000 n Christianity has scored a triumph over the traditional religious life of the Bira. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. That would be a serious loss not only for Africans, but also for academics, researchers, writers, and general seekers of wisdom the world over. Thus, Mbali-God is a creative response on the part of the Bira to the syncretic religious encounter. My findings were used in teaching, but eventually I put them together in a book, Concepts of God in Africa, published by the British publisher SPCK (1970). Authoring or editing more than half a dozen books on religion and African culture (including the recent African Religions: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press), Olupona has researched topics ranging from the indigenous religions of Africa to the religious practices of Africans who have settled in America.