The role of african traditional religion, culture and worldview in the context of postwar healing among the dinka community of southern sudan alex kamwaria department of philosophy and religious studies kenyatta university p. This also means that when teaching unhu, teachers lives must demonstrate what they say. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising world international journal of humanities social sciences and education ijhsse page 88 philosophy would be nothing more than asking and offering rational explanations of the universe. African traditional religion, mainly by the west and also by some africans themselves who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation have not bothered to know it. Why teach or study african traditional religion in modern. Traditional songs, poems and dances have also been integrated with traditional worship styles of western origin. The role of african traditional religion, culture and worldview in. American evangelical christianity as well as the arab cultural package of islam. African religious and cultural values of ghanaians, which emphasize family unity, community participation, love and sense of family belonging. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising world. Religious studies and indigenous knowledge in secondary. Welcome to the summary lecture of african traditional religions. This article, therefore, aims at presenting african traditional religions voice in this important discourse by using the traditional akan people of ghana as a case study. Gender refers to the different roles that are assigned to males and females.
The one aspect, which is common in all the indigenous religions in. In order to understand the people of africa fully, an indepth study of the religious beliefs of its people must be carried out. This is followed by a definition of african traditional religion. For many africans and ghanaians, in particular, it is religion more than anything else that shapes their worldview and participation in social life6.
The theology of inculturation and the african church. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. Faso more than 33 percent follow african religion, although it is not the religion of the majority. This is a 3hour summary lecture on the basic components of african traditional religions. If focuses on ghana but could pobably apply to most african countries.
It is therefore important to attempt to describe african influences in theology and worship, as has been done for celtic spirituality. Proverbs in africa are wise philosophical expressions, generally short and sometimes very funny, yet the messages they carry are deep. Religion 20 1990 contains some articles on the study of african religions that are worth reading. Revival of ancient traditions impact of christianity on ancient traditions and african indigenous religion.
African traditional religion and concepts of development. World civilizations and history of human development african civilizations. The place of african traditional religion in interreligious encounters in sierra leone since the advent of islam and christianity is my own work and that all the sources that i have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. The alleged cultural superiority of europe led many missionaries not only to bring the christian faith, but also western culture, at the. A definition 1973, omosade awolalu in yoruba belief and sacrificial rites and john mbiti in the concept of god in africa 1970 are a few examples of postcolonial scholars of religion who have resisted and denounced colonial idea that africans do not know god. Pdf the teaching of african traditional religion in. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of. The teaching of african traditional religion in primary schools in zimbabwe.
Even after 1900 when christian and muslim expansion reached its peak, traditional african religion still maintained relevance. One particular subject that many african philosophers have written about is that on the subject of. The reason for studying african religion in postcolonial. That theology must be open to the aspiration of the people of africa if it is to help christianity to become incarnate. April 26, 2017 africa african atr culture philosophy religion. African traditional spirituality as an african heritage must be taken seriously for a fuller understanding of african christian spirituality, particularly of the african pentecostal churches. Box 43844 00100 nairobi kenya michael katola department of philosophy and religious studies kenyatta university. The role of african traditional religion, culture and. Tabona shoko analyses the traditional karanga views of the causes of illness and disease, mechanisms of diagnosis at their disposal and the methods they use to restore health, shoko discusses the views of a specific african independent church of the apostolic tradition. It presents the worldview, philosophical nature and foundation of african traditional religion. Apr 26, 2017 africans, therefore, were widely considered as people with inferior forms of religion and logic. The african continent to understand african religion, it helps to look at africa itself. Atr african traditional religion introduction three religions dominates african continent. It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of former generations.
Any african christian who raised it risked victimization. Email citation this volume contains thirteen essays by both african and euroamerican anthropologists considering aspects of anthropology in the past, presentand speculating on its future on the continent of africa. In discussing african culture and values, we are not. A major characteristic of primal religions is the fact that they originated and developed in. African traditional religion in a globalizing world arc journals.
Some have seen africans as not having the capacity to reason on the. African traditional religion is part of the category designated as primal religion momen 2009. God, divinities and spirits in african traditional. Jun 23, 2019 in order to understand people, it is very crucial you understand the building block of their behavioral patterns. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and cultural values on.
Learn about our beginnings, ongoing connections, and mission today. Over the years, african traditional institutions have thrived on religion. Religions of africa 1985 that one of the most fascinating aspects of our. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator, belief in spirits, veneration of the dead, use of magic and traditional.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of african. The main objective of this paper is to examine african culture and values. First, it begins by a study of the meaning of religion, which itself is enigmatic and elusive. Seventhly, there was considerable hostility to african traditional religion. From the precolonial to the modern day toyin falola and tyler fleming encyclopedia of life support systems eolss people have lived in africa for more than three million years. In order to be authentically african, christianity has to meet the needs of africans in their.
This testifies to the enduring power of indigenous religion and its ability to domesticate christianity and islam in modern africa. Studying as a foreign student in the us and the uk could not have been possible without the generous financial support from the scholarship office of the global. A case study of nkusukumekumfienyan traditional area of the central region. The bible and christian theology have to address this dominant influence and impact upon the traditional african life. The purpose of this is to help to orient a person who would like to work in the context of africa. Its significance to current educational practices with special reference to zimbabwe. What are the main reasons of studying african philosophy. Traditional african concepts of reality and destiny are deeply rooted in the spirit world. In discussing african culture and values, we are not presupposing that all african societies have the same. In your view, does oral tradition have a future in the midst of modernity and social change. This paper seeks to examine how africans conceive of the supreme being, divinities and spirits.
The alleged cultural superiority of europe led many missionaries not only to bring the christian faith, but also western culture, at the expense of local cultures and religious traditions. Well then come to the conclusion that african traditional religion is an indispensable value every african child must study with the. It is the religion which resulted from the sustaining faith held by the forebears of the present africans, and which is being practised today in various forms and. Introduction to african traditional religion free online. Interreligious relations, especially, among african traditional religion atr worshippers, muslims and christians are becoming sources of social tension and violence. In african traditional religion, morals, values, beliefs and culture among other things play a critical role in society. Religion, centre for west african studies, centre for the study of global ethics. The recommendation of teaching of african traditional religion was an. God, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious. The traditional spiritual beliefs of the chewa people of zambia.
The crosscultural nature for understanding its philosophy is of particular importance because of the radicalone might say even traumatic interface that africa has had with european culture and with western modernity. Traditional african religion still very relevant in africa. Based on their study in nigerian schools, lawal et al. I as a subject had multi purposes for the colonialists and these included evangelization, colonization, and eradication of african beliefs among many other things. The traditional spiritual beliefs of the chewa people of zambia, for example, are humancentered and socially oriented.
Oral sources and the study of african traditional religion george i. Hackett as a guesteditor has been responsible for those pages. The study of african traditional religion atr is very exciting, fascinating, but sadly uncared for and very much unregarded even by the africans, who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation or naivity have not bothered to know its worth or importance. In order to understand the people of africa fully, an indepth study. In socrates, philosophy is acquiring knowledge through. They counteracted various derogatory names given to air. The study of african traditional religion the study of african traditional religion atr is very exciting, fascinating, but sadly uncared for and very much unregarded even by the africans, who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation or naivity have not bothered to know its worth or importance. This volume contains thirteen essays by both african and euroamerican anthropologists considering aspects of anthropology in the past, presentand speculating.
African traditional religions religion in zimbabwe. The concept of god, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious ontology has been so misunderstood by many scholars to the point of seeing africans as people who did not know the supreme being nor worship him. African people from vestiges of traditional life and religion to christianity. Religion enters into every aspect of the life of the africans and it cannot be studied in isolation. From the precolonial to the modern day toyin falola and tyler fleming encyclopedia of life support systems eolss people have lived in africa for more than three million years, and thus it possesses a rich and varied history. This is the complete text of what is african traditional religion. Oral tradition offers the advantages of inducing open communication and verifiable firsthand knowledge of events from a historical reference point. Myth is a derivation of the greek word muthos, implying, in a very.
Traditional african religion is much more than westerners give it credit for. Why teach or study african traditional religion in modern africa. We all come from the background of inheriting and adopting of age long concepts which are transferred to us by our parents, community. The invention of african traditional religion, a thorough analysis of the categories used for lumping together religious traditions and one of the best critiques of the. Africans, therefore, were widely considered as people with inferior forms of religion and logic. Sex refers to a persons biological characteristics. Very much misunderstood, the religion has been called all kinds of derogatory names, from animism to paganism. The lausanne movement connects influencers and ideas for global mission, with a vision of the gospel for every person, an evangelical church for every people, christlike leaders for every church, and kingdom impact in every sphere of society. African traditional religion is a thriving scholarly business, but a serious disconnect exists between contributions that celebrate a generalized african traditional religion and those that describe particular religions and aspects of religion on the basis of ethnographic and archival research. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions. Since african traditional religion, promotes integral development that goes beyond mere economic globalization, this paper defends the thesis that atr plays a very important role in the sustainable development of africa despite conflicts, at times violent, arising from religious intolerance. African traditional religion african studies oxford.
Well then come to the conclusion that african traditional religion is an indispensable value. African traditional religion in a globalizing world. It further studies the difficulties involved in this study and future of african traditional religion. Christianity and the african traditional religions. When we speak of african traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the africans. African traditional religion has also been the source of inspiration ofre which africa is known, and included in theses are art, music, social institutions, politically systems and the ancient civilization. African traditional religions articles about traditional religions in zimbabwe in shona and ndebele religion, god, or the supreme being, is seen as the creator and sustainer of the universe in much the same manner as within christianity.
What are the main reasons of studying african philosophy and. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. Why is religion important to society and its people. Oral sources and the study of african traditional religion ijhssi. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. These figures represent people who primarily follow african traditional religion. The study was carried out in the southern sudan between november 2009 and march 2010 in some of the areas occupied by the dinka community. This paper examines the concept and philosophy of african traditional religion from the viewpoint of africans. Chrispen matsika, university of massachusetts amherst. Social and cultural anthropology and the study of africa. Philosophy and religion international relations african religions study and teaching postcolonialism religious aspects.
The reason for studying african religion in postcolonial africa. The subject of contextual theology in africa is of current interest as it flows into the contextual theology of africa in the wider world through its links with, and affect on the growth of, pentecostalism within and beyond its borders, due to globalisation. What is the influence and impact of this dominant religious belief in spirit beings upon the whole of traditional african life. Its study has to go handin hand with the study of the people who practise the religion. The upholding of societal norms and values is a sacred affair especially that in african society religion is a way of life. Here then, well appreciate african traditional religion as a necessary linkage between the ancestors and their progenies. The study of african traditional religion atr is very exciting, fascinating, but sadly uncared for and very much unregarded even by the africans, who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation or naivity have not bothered to. The purpose of this study was to critically examine three different approaches to educational provision in zimbabwe during the precolonial, colonial and postcolonial periods. This paper primarily addresses the controversy among scholars on whether oral traditions such as myths, songs, wise sayings, incantations, invocations, legends, etc. In order to understand people, it is very crucial you understand the building block of their behavioral patterns. It also shows that the worship of god in african traditional religion is through sacrifices, offerings, singing, dancing and prayers.
Mar, 2010 a religion is sometimes described as universal if its membership is no t restricted to a singkle ethnicity in which case judaism after the christianizing of the roman empir e would be excluded and the cult of mwali in southern africa included, andor it may also be so described if it has an allencompassing cosmology in which case much of christianity and hinduism as actually. Societal religions vary throughout the world, with some worshiping one god and others worshiping many. African traditional religion refers to the indigenous or autochthonous. One thing all these religions have in common is the ability to bring people together. Religion serves as the structure around which all other activities, such as cultural, economic, political and social organizations are built. The chapter also examines americans views on religion and salvation, religion and modernity, and religion and morality. Steve kquofi andpeace amate from the university of science and technology in kumasi, ghana, carried out a study.
That theology must be open to the aspiration of the people of africa if it is to help christianity to become incarnate in the life of the peoples of the african continent. Religious studies and indigenous knowledge in secondary schools in zimbabwe. The advantages of african traditional education include passing on of essential values from the community as well as defining the roles of both boys and girls distinctly. The relevance of african indigenous religions in the 21st century.
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