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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. GAZETTE: But yet you said its a mixed bag? 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. The editor of The Christian Century has given me an undeserved privilege in asking me to contribute some reflections on "How My Mind Has Changed" in the course of the past decade. Omissions? degree at Harvard Divinity School. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. Updates? w?0t7/Oa84P]T}T}?gHq.qsRnkc;]X*s1!E"l^~K_/|j p z|9~p uf:}[Mc|4!#"Zg!/vc _~|oyuQ'dX :?NmU)?oPSw?6#?[OUN@6oz{j;\e7nWsV~XyU4vMm4#f4c:[Wefkd&88XB|cMh6)mt<4M8}; *:7??+0:0$! The Yoruba, however, do have a concept of a supreme being, called Olorun or Olodumare, and this creator god of the universe is empowered by the various orisa [deities] to create the earth and carry out all its related functions, including receiving the prayers and supplications of the Yoruba people. That which had been seen as the enemy of the gospel turns out (to me) to be indeed a very welcoming friend. /// Dans le nord-est du Zare, la communaut rurale Bira a t expose depuis plus de cinquante ans au message chrtien. According to the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey, for example, Muslims constituted 50% of the population, while the 2008 DHS figure is 45% and the Nigerian Ministry of Healths 2008 estimate is 50%. 0000003641 00000 n The success of Christianity and Islam on the African continent in the last 100 years has been extraordinary, but it has been, unfortunately, at the expense of African indigenous religions. This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between Christianity and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. I simply and honestly answered him that "for us in Africa, God is not dead." Par contre, les croyances en la sorcellerie ont persist. That testifies to the enduring power of indigenous religion and its ability to domesticate Christianity and Islam in modern Africa. I had it. hb```b``g`a`.ef@ aV68+ +$.0t9$r8A2Or}6=<4. African development. En ce qui concerne la croyance en Dieu, il semblerait que les Biras se soient servis de la chrtient pour rendre leur dieu traditionnel Mbali plus accessible et plus comprhensif, un changement qui a rendu le Dieu des chrtiens plus compatissant et indulgent vis vis du pch. Diviners who go through a long educational and apprenticeship program hold the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of the African people. Traditional African religious beliefs, such as belief in the protective power of sacrifices to ancestors, Traditional African religious practices, such as owning sacred objects. Corrections? In four countries, for instance, half or more of the population believes that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm. On returning home, the learned professor wrote an article using my brief answer as his title. Request Permissions, Published By: Canadian Anthropology Society. 0000005005 00000 n 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. They were names of one and the same God, the creator of the world, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 0000002505 00000 n 0 I have met here the church not only in its geographical outreach but also in its historical roots -- seeing, for example, the rich traditions of the Orthodox Church, the universality of the Roman Catholic Church (even though it is based in the Vatican), the reconciling positioning of the Anglican Communion, the dynamic vitality of African independent churches, and so on. 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. Africans consequently played a crucial role in establishing the doctrines and theology of the early church. 75 0 obj 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"). But I am grateful for that one step I may be taking under the light of this vision. GAZETTE: It sounds like African indigenous religions are dynamic, inclusive, and flexible. These statements await further exploration by African theologians. The recipient of many prestigious academic honors and research fellowships, Olupona also received the 20152016 Reimar Lust Award for International and Cultural Exchange, considered one of Germanys most prestigious academic honors. In this overpowering environment, one simply accepted this stand and looked at the world from its perspectives. Much of Oluponas work is an attempt to provide a fuller understanding of the complexity and richness of African indigenous thought and practice by viewing it not as a foil or as a useful comparative to better understand Western religions, but as a system of thought and belief that should be valued and understood for its own ideas and contribution to global religions. 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. African diaspora religions, also described as Afro-American religions, are a number of related beliefs that developed in the Americas in various nations of the Caribbean, Latin America and the Southern United States. 0000002884 00000 n The amount of devotees to indigenous practices has dwindled as Islam and Christianity have both spread and gained influence throughout the continent. I wont pray to an orisa, but I will affirm the importance of my connection with members of my age group. It may be, and needs to be, a qualified and critical Yes. It will keep me chewing for a long time, and it will most certainly feed my theological development. My doctoral studies in New Testament eschatology led me also to the field of Christology. Their history has a theological meaning. Author of. 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 GAZETTE: How have ancestors played a role in traditional societies? In one case the thinking and experience of the people produced a written record of Gods dealings with the Jewish people in particular. African religions, Indigenous religions of the African continent. 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. Spiritual activities like prayer, thanksgiving, and the making of sacrifices were well-established facts of life for the existence and continuation of the community. {PB,`s But after braving that first blizzard in a land far from his native Nigeria, Olupona stuck it out and earned his Ph.D. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock. colonization_terms_apush.docx - ` Units 1 and 2 Vocabulary Yet . Vodou is an oral tradition practiced by extended families that inherit familial spirits, along with the necessary devotional practices, from their elders. There is no room to describe them, and I can mention only two or three of them briefly. I should also state that there are signs of the revival of African indigenous practices in many parts of Africa. The defining line between deities and ancestors is often contested, but overall, ancestors are believed to occupy a higher level of existence than living human beings and are believed to be able to bestow either blessings or illness upon their living descendants. A belief in ancestors also testifies to the inclusive nature of traditional African spirituality by positing that deceased progenitors still play a role in the lives of their living descendants. 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. 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. Christianity has scored a triumph over the traditional religious life of the Bira. For six years I worked with the World Council of Churches in Geneva. As a resident fellow, Sherman will teach a study group on negotiation and diplomacy this semester. Omissions? 0000014025 00000 n 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. African religion has equipped people to listen to the gospel, to discover meaningful passages in the Bible, and to avoid unhealthy religious conflict. Theological development in Africa must inevitably grow within this religious setting. Ancestors also serve as intermediaries (see ancestor worship). Humans are spirits who inhabit the visible world. A magisterial historical synthesis of the formative period of African Christianity written by one of its foremost scholars. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This includes five countries (Cameroon, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal) where more than half the population uses traditional healers. %%EOF GAZETTE: How do you balance your Christian and indigenous African identity? 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. GAZETTE: How would you define indigenous African religions? The book comprised ideas that I had gathered from 300 African peoples ("tribes" -- a term that today is sometimes used in derogatory ways). 9_r'v>#z2"syiBm?mry8%;m8v L,WNHitMJk#RZwEl+M3N1n[nt4]C$i2y]_6Iasrt We can list some obvious and often publicized factors. The council made me aware, perhaps even frightfully so, of the problems of our world. Chapter 1: Religious Affiliation | Pew Research Center Afro-American Religious Syncretism in Brazil and the United States: A <<6D546C3FADADB2110A00A09A6B9CFF7F>]/Prev 416812>> It was during the Belgian colonial period that the first Catholic and Protestant missionaries came to this region of Zaire. trailer Omissions? 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. In five countries (Tanzania, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal and Mali) majorities express this belief. This massive expansion within a short time is unprecedented in the history of Christianity. Consequently, traditional Africans have different ideas on what role the ancestors play in the lives of living descendants. OLUPONA: My father, a faithful Anglican priest, was a good example. Updates? This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. 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. It sensitized my thinking in many areas, one of these being the quest for Christian unity. In contrast, witchcraft beliefs persist. Their culture, history, world views and spiritual aspirations cannot be taken away from 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. 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. X0#J++?U;_3_gmx9[F\"{,Um1yu 9 ?ce%9EG`N: &U0EHC$p4=$'=DlX6M_7,--" The concept of the church as the body of Christ in the whole world is another growing development for me. Because of this, Africa is now home to some of the world's largest Christian and Muslim communities. (See the glossary for more information on juju. <>stream This is not an empty coincidence. OLUPONA: Your question underscores an important facet about African spirituality: It is not a closed theological system. And if these shrines are not properly cared for by the designated descendant, then misfortune in the form of illness might befall the caretaker. I have concentrated these comments on the role of African background in my theological reflection. The bottom line then is that Africans who still wholly practice African indigenous religions are only about 10 percent of the African population, a fraction of what it used to be only a century ago, when indigenous religions dominated most of the continent. Ritual functionaries include priests, elders, rainmakers, diviners, and prophets. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> Model tested on tens of thousands of routine brain scans spotted disease risk with 90% accuracy, Experts on law, policy say originalist view used to overturn Roe could upend 76 ruling based on cruel, unusual punishment clause, Issues revolve around culture of viewing civilians as potential threats, concerns about self-protection in departments equipped with military-grade arms, Khalil Gibran Muhammad says College Board needs to stand firm behind curriculum, 2023 The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Abstract. African religions, Indigenous religions of the African continent. This is in sharp contrast with the religious composition . African Traditional Religion in the Context of increasing Christian and Islamic Encounter . Most people in sub-Saharan Africa now identify with either Christianity or Islam. 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. 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. 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. 0000001519 00000 n The word Vodou means spirit or deity in the Fon language of the African kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin).