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. He later earned both an M.A. At first, Christianity made few inroads into the African slave population, which had its own religious traditions. Their culture, history, world views and spiritual aspirations cannot be taken away from them. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax Dr. Mbiti is on the staff of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Switzerland. 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. For example, followers can seek spiritual direction and relief from healers, medicine men and women, charms [adornments often worn to incur good luck], amulets [adornments often used to ward off evil], and diviners [spiritual advisers]. It may be, and needs to be, a qualified and critical Yes. Omissions? They were names of one and the same God, the creator of the world, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It sensitized my thinking in many areas, one of these being the quest for Christian unity. Syncretistic movements in the Orient, such as Manichaeism (a dualistic religion founded by the 3rd-century-ce Iranian prophet Mani, who combined elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism) and Sikhism (a religion founded by the 15th16th-century Indian reformer Guru Nnak, who combined elements of Islam and Hinduism), also met with resistance from the prevailing religions of their respective areas. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Vodou ritual activity (e.g., prayer, song, dance, and gesture) is aimed at refining and restoring balance and energy in relationships between people and between people and the spirits of the unseen world. It doesnt have a fixed creed, like in some forms of Christianity or Islam. In the other case no such written record exists. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. X0#J++?U;_3_gmx9[F\"{,Um1yu 9
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&U0EHC$p4=$'=DlX6M_7,--" I find the traditional Western distinction between "special revelation" and "general revelation" to be inadequate and unfreeing. Overall, however, Christians outnumber Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa by about two-to-one. Some individuals have criticized these books -- and no book is perfect. mixing of Christianity and traditional African religions What were maroon communities? Christianity in Africa dates to the very inception of the church. In three of the countries surveyed (Djibouti, Mali and Senegal), Muslims clearly outnumber Christians. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax Fewer say it is paramount to their faith to attend religious services (39%), avoid sex before marriage (30%) or oppose abortion . Orthodox Christianity, although influenced by other religions, generally looked negatively upon these syncretistic movements. (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. The theological horizon continues to expand. As for the belief in God, it appears that the Bira have utilized Christianity to make their traditional God Mbali less remote and more caring, a change which has also made the Christian God more compassionate and forgiving . Later, my theological studies in America and England did not challenge this position, since that was not a living issue for my professors and fellow students. With it, one began to explore afresh the realm of Gods revelation and other treasures of our faith. But I feel that the issue of looking at African history in light of the biblical understanding of history is clearly called for. Aujourd'hui, la plupart des Zariens sont soit catholiques, soit protestants; les Biras pour leur part sont principalement catholiques. 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. (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 The unseen world is populated by lwa (spirits), myst (mysteries), anvizib (the invisibles), zanj (angels), and the spirits of ancestors and the recently deceased. One African theologian, Gabriel Setiloane, has even argued that the concept of God which the missionaries presented to the Sotho-Tswana peoples was a devaluation of the traditional currency of Modimo (God) among the Sotho-Tswana. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. They will certainly be overwhelming, and I feel very excited about them. 0000008365 00000 n
In respect and honor of my culture, I also dress in my traditional Nigerian attire when Im in my country. 75 0 obj For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions In Cameroon, Ethiopia, Liberia and Mozambique, Muslims account for between 15% and 30% of survey respondents. This is not to say that indigenous African spirituality represents a form of theocracy or religious totalitarianism not at all. In contrast, witchcraft beliefs persist. In this case, so-called "salvation history" must widen its outreach in order to embrace the horizons of other peoples histories. 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). National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Vodou's role in Haitian mental health, Learn Religions - An Introduction to the Basic Beliefs of the Vodou (Voodoo) Religion, Ancient Origins - The Origins of Voodoo, the Misunderstood Religion, LiveScience - Voodoo: Facts About Misunderstood Religion, Vodou - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Vodou - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Then was he not there in other times and in such places as Mount Fuji and Mount Kenya, as well as Mount Sinai? For example, an African amulet might have inside of it a written verse from either the Koran or Christian Bible. 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. 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. Anthropologica One read Honest to God and a variety of other works in an effort to understand the hot debate then raging in Europe and America. And if these shrines are not properly cared for by the designated descendant, then misfortune in the form of illness might befall the caretaker. (1981) and Ph.D. (1983) in the history of religions from Boston University. (See the glossary for more information on juju. This bitter conflict has led to wanton destruction of lives and property, and this has become a source of great worry to the writers. Vodou is a worldview encompassing philosophy, medicine, justice, and religion. He has researched and written about such diverse religious cultures as the Hare Krishnas, Zoroastrians, Shakers, and the Old Order Amish. Yet consider that in 1900 most Africans in sub-Saharan Africa practiced a form of indigenous African religions. A conference of mainly African theologians, held in Ghana in December 1977, said in its final communiqu: "The God of history speaks to all peoples in particular ways. Black Americans who identify with a religion are most likely to say belief in God is essential to what their faith means to them (84%), while large majorities say the same about opposing racism (76%) and sexism (71%). Since Christianity and Islam spread across Africa, many people there have observed a mixture of religious practices. God is not insensitive to the history of peoples other than Israel. OLUPONA: My father, a faithful Anglican priest, was a good example. There is some regional difference in ritual practice across Haiti, and branches of the religion include Rada, Daome, Ibo, Nago, Dereal, Manding, Petwo, and Kongo. Regardless of the variation, it is still true that Nigeria has both the largest number of Muslims and the largest number of Christians in the region. GAZETTE: How have ancestors played a role in traditional societies? The introduced religions of Islam (in northern Africa) and Christianity (in southern Africa) are now the continents major religions, but traditional religions still play an important role, especially in the interior of sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, the religions developed in the Americas impact Africa in that devotees of the African diaspora have significant influence on practices in Africa. Anthropologica, journal of the Canadian Anthropology Society (CASCA) was created from the merger of the Society's former journal, Culture, with Canada's oldest anthropology journal, Anthropologica. Its consequences for theological and ecclesiological developments are yet to be faced. I also celebrate and honor the kings festivals and ceremonies in my hometown and other places where I live and do research. I am very excited, for example, by the estimate that in 1987 there will be a statistical balance of Christian population between the north (Europe, Soviet Union and America) and the south (Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania). 75 19 (See the glossary for more information on the evil eye.). African development. In contrast, witchcraft beliefs persist. 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. But it is nevertheless a working Yes and one that demands theological understanding. 0000001519 00000 n
Jacob 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. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World, Chapter 3: Traditional African Religious Beliefs and Practices, Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, Next: Chapter 4: Interreligious Harmony and Tensions, Chapter 2: Commitment to Christianity and Islam, 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. There are other areas of exploration in which I continue to be engaged. The introduced religions of Islam (in northern Africa) and Christianity (in southern Africa) are now the continent's major religions, but traditional religions still play an important role, especially in the interior of sub-Saharan Africa. {PB,`s OLUPONA: If we lose traditional African religions, we would also lose or continue to seriously undermine the African practice of rites of passage such as the much cherished age-grade initiations, which have for so long integrated and bought Africans together under a common understanding, or worldview. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Oral tradition says the first Muslims appeared while the prophet Mohammed was. 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. w?0t7/Oa84P]T}T}?gHq.qsRnkc;]X*s1!E"l^~K_/|j
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*:7??+0:0$! This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between Christianity and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. In four countries, for instance, half or more of the population believes that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm. Didnt our Lord let it be clearly known that "before Abraham was I am" (John 8:58)? Par consquent, Mbali-Dieu est la rponse crative des Biras une rencontre religieuse syncrtique. But upon my return to work in Africa, and upon careful study of the religious background of our people, there emerged gradually the demand to examine this issue and to form my own judgment. Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. 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. 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. It is the southern two-thirds of Africa (including Madagascar) which we can rightly call Christian Africa, as the northern one-third is Muslim Africa. I had it. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God. As discussed elsewhere in this report, many Christians and Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa retain beliefs and rituals that are characteristic of traditional African religions. One important task, then, is to see the nature, the method and the implications of Gods revelation among African peoples, in the light of the biblical record of the same revelation. Reuben Kigame, the Kenyan Christian musician and apologist, has rightly suggested that considering the fact that Christianity existed in Africa for a good eighteen centuries before the. <>stream
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. in social anthropology from Oxford University, is studying for a master of theological studies (M.T.S.) So the church which exists on the African scene bears the marks of its peoples backgrounds. This re-ligion is found in almost all the activities of the African man. Vodou is an oral tradition practiced by extended families that inherit familial spirits, along with the necessary devotional practices, from their elders. 0000014207 00000 n
<<6D546C3FADADB2110A00A09A6B9CFF7F>]/Prev 416812>> This chapter includes information on: Traditional African religious beliefs, such as belief in the protective power of sacrifices to ancestors Traditional African religious practices, such as owning sacred objects Download chapter 3 in full (3-page PDF, <1MB) Photo credit: Sebastien Desarmaux/GODONG/Godong/Corbis Copyright by The Christian Century Foundation; used by permission. Indeed, ten years ago I had no significant theological position. He went on to conduct some of the most significant research on African religions in decades. Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. The suppression of ancestor worship is the only area where mission Christianity has scored a triumph over the traditional religious life of the Bira. I simply and honestly answered him that "for us in Africa, God is not dead." Anthropologica is published for CASCA by University of Toronto Press. 0000015705 00000 n
Consequently, people are discovering that the biblical faith is not harmful to their religious sensibilities. It includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. In Nigeria, the population in 1900 included 4.2 million Muslims and 180,000 Christians. 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. 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. I wish to apply "change of mind" here to mean theological growth, and not necessarily a rejection of or turnaround from ideas that I may have held ten years ago. Par contre, les croyances en la sorcellerie ont persist. According to the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey, for example, Muslims constituted 50% of the population, while the 2008 DHS figure is 45% and the Nigerian Ministry of Healths 2008 estimate is 50%. I am not a historian, and I have not done careful thinking in this direction. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. 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. While African Traditional religion (ATR) is paramount, it is the purpose of this article to suggest that According to all the major surveys, Christianity and Islam each represent approximately 40 percent of the African population. Liberia is the only country where more than one-in-ten (12%) identify primarily with an African traditional religion. Chapter 1: Religious Affiliation. GAZETTE: In trying to understand African spirituality, is it helpful to refer to it as polytheistic or monotheistic? 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.. In 1900 there were an estimated 9 million Christians (accounting for about 7 per cent of the population of Africa). There are also secret societies, called Bizango or Sanpwl, that perform a religio-juridical function. The rural Bira of northeastern Zaire have been exposed to the Christian message for well over half a century. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. That testifies to the enduring power of indigenous religion and its ability to domesticate Christianity and Islam in modern Africa. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. ancient Rome: Religious and cultural life in the 3rd century, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/religious-syncretism, Academia - Religious Syncretism as a Syncretistic Concept: The Inadequacy of the " World Religions " Paradigm in Cross-Cultural Encounter. Indigenous religion in Africa is the way Africans understand and worship their god. I am tantalized by the fact that my vision cannot cope with that horizon. We have already noted that the overseas missionaries did not bring God to Africa. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Updates? interaction between the Christian churches and West African religious culture. %PDF-1.7
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For six years I worked with the World Council of Churches in Geneva. He must have been active among African peoples as he was among the Jewish people. Ritual sacrifices and witchcraft beliefs are still common. A magisterial historical synthesis of the formative period of African Christianity written by one of its foremost scholars. 93 0 obj GAZETTE: What will Africa lose if it loses its African indigenous worldview? 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. Anthony Chiorazzi, who has an M.Phil. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. I should also state that there are signs of the revival of African indigenous practices in many parts of Africa. 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. A subscription to Anthropologica is included in CASCA's annual membership fee. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Today most Zairians belong to either the Catholic or Protestant church, and the Bira themselves are predominantly Catholic. (back to text), 3 Nigerias 2006 census did not ask about religious affiliation, and recent estimates of the numbers of Muslims and Christians in the country vary. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender. Spiritual activities like prayer, thanksgiving, and the making of sacrifices were well-established facts of life for the existence and continuation of the community. GAZETTE: But yet you said its a mixed bag? All these spirits are believed to live in a mythic land called Ginen, a cosmic Africa. The God of the Christian Bible is understood to be the creator of both the universe and the spirits; the spirits were made by God to help him govern humanity and the natural world. 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. As a resident fellow, Sherman will teach a study group on negotiation and diplomacy this semester. It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what AIR and . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. That which had been seen as the enemy of the gospel turns out (to me) to be indeed a very welcoming friend. settlements formed by African slaves who ran away from imprisonment the Americas Indigenous African religions are by nature plural, varied, and usually informed by ones ethnic identity, where ones family came from in Africa. Its about getting tangible results. But I am grateful for that one step I may be taking under the light of this vision. The God described in the Bible is none other than the God who is already known in the framework of our traditional African religiosity. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main 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. OLUPONA: Yes, and the pluralistic nature of African-tradition religion is one of the reasons for its success in the diaspora. GAZETTE: How would you define indigenous African religions? The original constitution defined the organization's mandate as providing a forum for the exchange of ideas among ethnologists. Omissions? 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. That is anathema to the fundamentalist faith movements that have been gaining momentum in recent decades. Ifa is an indispensable treasure trove of knowledge that cant be duplicated elsewhere; much of its knowledge has been handed down from babalawo [Ifa priest/diviner] to babalawo for centuries. trailer C'est l'poque de la colonisation belge que les premiers missionnaires catholiques et protestants sont arrivs dans cette rgion du Zare. In particular, the concepts about God provide one area of great commonality. My doctoral studies in New Testament eschatology led me also to the field of Christology. They constitute an important channel of the churchs prophetic witness today. Subscriptions are available to libraries and individuals who are not members of CASCA. There is no centralized hierarchy, no single leader, and no official spokesperson, but various groups sometimes attempt to create such official structures. Did he then reveal himself only in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel and other personalities of the Bible? 0000003217 00000 n
), In addition to expressing high levels of belief in the protective power of sacrificial offerings and sacred objects, upwards of one-in-five people in every country say they believe in the evil eye, or the ability of certain people to cast malevolent curses or spells. I told my father that I was coming home, he recalled. The church is composed largely of people who come out of the African religious background. v6 -j>,>Or%I&!To !{vgrh7xxDs}d[!$8k1zX+@}~ 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. In most countries surveyed, at least three-in-ten people believe in reincarnation, which may be related to traditional beliefs in ancestral spirits. That experience gave me a face-to-face encounter with the ecumenical movement and left a lasting mark on me. In the cities, local hierarchies of priestesses or priests (manbo and oungan), children of the spirits (ounsi), and ritual drummers (ountgi) comprise more formal societies or congregations (sosyete). That book was followed by a flurry of literature on the so-called "death of God" theology (if "theology" it was, for I would call it "atheology"). One of the things these diaspora African religions testify to is the beauty of African religions to engage a devotee on many spiritual levels. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. While some African cosmologies have a clear idea of a supreme being, other cosmologies do not. Currently I am about to complete a book on this question of the encounter between the biblical faith and African religion. 43. Most people in sub-Saharan Africa now identify with either Christianity or Islam. They do this by having Africans increasingly identify themselves as either Muslim or Christian, thus denying their unique African worldview that has always viewed as evidenced in their creation myths everything as unified and connected to the land, the place were ones clan, lineage, and people were cosmically birthed. 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? Some of these African diaspora religions include Cuban Regla de Ocha, Haitian Vodou, and Brazilian Candomble. Vodou represents a syncretism of the West African Vodun religion and Roman Catholicism by the descendants of the Dahomean, Kongo, Yoruba, and other ethnic groups who had been enslaved and transported to colonial Saint-Domingue (as Haiti was known then) and partly Christianized by Roman Catholic missionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries.