They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. I had it. Diviners who go through a long educational and apprenticeship program hold the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of the African people. 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. 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 Kenya I grew up in home, school and church milieus which held that the African religious and cultural background was demonic and anti-Christian. 0000001019 00000 n stream 75 0 obj One of Jacob Oluponas earliest memories in Massachusetts is of nearly freezing in his apartment as a graduate student at Boston University during the great snowstorm of 1978. 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. In contrast, witchcraft beliefs persist. This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between Christianity and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. Anthropologica 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. Indigenous African religions are by nature plural, varied, and usually informed by ones ethnic identity, where ones family came from in Africa. 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. African Traditional Religion in the Context of increasing Christian and Islamic Encounter . %PDF-1.3 Subscriptions are available to libraries and individuals who are not members of CASCA. A prominent European New Testament professor visited Makerere University and interviewed me on what I thought about the "death of God" discussion. in social anthropology from Oxford University, is studying for a master of theological studies (M.T.S.) (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer, By Anthony Chiorazzi Harvard Correspondent. I cannot claim that I have witnessed much progress in that quest at the organizational level, but perhaps I had expected too much. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. 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. 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). 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. 817-820. Oxford: Clarendon, 1994. Theological development in Africa must inevitably grow within this religious setting. Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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.. Omissions? << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> In its place there emerged the word "also." Its fundamental principle is that everything is spirit. 1996 Canadian Anthropology Society 0000008365 00000 n I am not a historian, and I have not done careful thinking in this direction. Take em with a grain of salt. Important lwa are celebrated on saints days (for example: Ogou on St. Jamess Day, July 25; Ezili Danto on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16; Danbala on St. Patricks Day, March 17; and the spirits of the ancestors on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, November 1 and November 2). They include the work of missionaries (of whom there are about 40,000 today, without counting their family members); the work of African Christians in evangelism and pastoral care (their numbers are infinitely greater than those of overseas missionaries, and include men, women and children, both lay and ordained); the role of Christian schools; the translation and distribution of the Bible (which is now available in full or in part in nearly 600 of Africas 1,000 languages); and the ending of the colonial era during the decades 1960-1980. interaction between the Christian churches and West African religious culture. Below is the article summary. God was not a stranger to African peoples. Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. 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 . It was during the Belgian colonial period that the first Catholic and Protestant missionaries came to this region of Zaire. Instead, God brought them, for the God described in the Bible is none other than the God who was already known in the framework of our traditional African religiosity. 0000002026 00000 n But I have discovered that there is also the fundamental factor of African religion, without which this phenomenal expansion of Christianity would not be a reality. Copyright by The Christian Century Foundation; used by permission. African religions, Indigenous religions of the African continent. Didnt our Lord let it be clearly known that "before Abraham was I am" (John 8:58)? This is not to say that indigenous African spirituality represents a form of theocracy or religious totalitarianism not at all. 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 . The rapid growth of many religions in Africa and the revival of AIR in postcolonial Africa have made inter-religious dialogue an urgent necessity. For six years I worked with the World Council of Churches in Geneva. Ancestors also serve as intermediaries (see ancestor worship). And if these shrines are not properly cared for by the designated descendant, then misfortune in the form of illness might befall the caretaker. C'est l'poque de la colonisation belge que les premiers missionnaires catholiques et protestants sont arrivs dans cette rgion du Zare. There is even a community deep in the American Bible Belt in Beaufort County, S.C., called Oyotunji Village that practices a type of African indigenous religion, which is a mixture of Yoruba and Ewe-Fon spiritual practices. He later earned both an M.A. In one case the thinking and experience of the people produced a written record of Gods dealings with the Jewish people in particular. 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. 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. 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. hb```b``g`a`.ef@ aV68+ +$.0t9$r8A2Or}6=<4. Religious pluralism serves peace. Religion informs everything in traditional African society, including political art, marriage, health, diet, dress, economics, and death. It includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. X0#J++?U;_3_gmx9[F\"{,Um1yu 9 ?ce%9EG`N: &U0EHC$p4=$'=DlX6M_7,--" I have concentrated these comments on the role of African background in my theological reflection. ), 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. But they used the names of the God who was and is already known by African peoples -- such as Mungu, Mulungu, Katonda, Ngai, Olodumare, Asis, Ruwa, Ruhanga, Jok, Modimo, Unkulunkulu and thousands more. Nigeria, the most populous country in all of Africa, has the largest number of Muslims as well as the largest number of Christians in the region.3. Their history has a theological meaning. 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. Sign up for daily emails to get the latest Harvardnews. What factors are responsible for it? GAZETTE: What else would we lose if we lost traditional African Religions? In respect and honor of my culture, I also dress in my traditional Nigerian attire when Im in my country. mixing of Christianity and traditional African religions What were maroon communities? In three of the countries surveyed (Djibouti, Mali and Senegal), Muslims clearly outnumber Christians. 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). settlements formed by African slaves who ran away from imprisonment the Americas 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 For myself, I negotiate between my Yoruba and Christian identity by, for example, affirming those aspects of African culture that promote good life and communal human welfare. OLUPONA: Thats 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. (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. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, between 10% and 15% of respondents are Muslim. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Most people in sub-Saharan Africa now identify with either Christianity or Islam. But it is nevertheless a working Yes and one that demands theological understanding. 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. There is no centralized hierarchy, no single leader, and no official spokesperson, but various groups sometimes attempt to create such official structures. One of the things these diaspora African religions testify to is the beauty of African religions to engage a devotee on many spiritual levels. Y.91sC@o9sJL9@XMw`7\`1%nRjBS %U=a{N>. Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. 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. trailer Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. GAZETTE: How do you balance your Christian and indigenous African identity? This interview has been edited for length and clarity. At Makerere University I taught New Testament, African religion and other courses. 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. 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. But I feel that the issue of looking at African history in light of the biblical understanding of history is clearly called for. Request Permissions, Published By: Canadian Anthropology Society. The beliefs and practices of the traditional religions in Africa can enrich Christian theology and spirituality." Some people tried to involve Africa in the debate. These impinge upon their daily life- and experience of the Christian faith. In Africa the traditional religions are a major source for the study of the African experience of God. No doubt there still remain much research and reflection to be done in order to work out a consistent theological understanding of the issues entailed here. The original constitution defined the organization's mandate as providing a forum for the exchange of ideas among ethnologists. It publishes a journal Anthropologica and has reclaimed the name of its former journal, Culture for its occasional online bulletin. 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. Abstract. He sees the other faith as complementing and even adding spiritual potency to his own spiritual practice of constructing effective amulets. Most people in sub-Saharan Africa now identify with either Christianity or Islam. The WCCs very existence as a council of churches is a living hope. 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. That would be a serious loss not only for Africans, but also for academics, researchers, writers, and general seekers of wisdom the world over. Maybe this is why I am not an Anglican priest. 0000002505 00000 n 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. Instead, God brought them. After that date there will be more Christians in the south than in the north. %PDF-1.7 % In 1900 there were an estimated 9 million Christians (accounting for about 7 per cent of the population of Africa). The word Vodou means spirit or deity in the Fon language of the African kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin). They will certainly be overwhelming, and I feel very excited about them. In Cameroon, Ethiopia, Liberia and Mozambique, Muslims account for between 15% and 30% of survey respondents. 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. 75 19 Vodou is a worldview encompassing philosophy, medicine, justice, and religion. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. 0000015705 00000 n Prayers and sacrificial offerings are usually directed toward secondary divinities, who are intermediaries between the human and sacred realms. They have also fostered a greater feeling of individual self-worth by acknowledging important milestones in ones life, including becoming an adult or an elder. OLUPONA: My father, a faithful Anglican priest, was a good example. The first and most intriguing topic that immediately engaged my attention was the thinking of African peoples about God. 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. It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what AIR and . "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. v6 -j>,>Or%I&!To !{vgrh7xxDs}d[!$8k1zX+@}~ 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. In addition, roughly a quarter or more of the population in 11 countries say they believe in the protective power of juju (charms or amulets), shrines and other sacred objects. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. The God described in the Bible is none other than the God who is already known in the framework of our traditional African religiosity. 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. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. Belief in the power of such objects is highest in Senegal (75%) and lowest in Rwanda (5%). God is not insensitive to the history of peoples other than Israel. 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. Par consquent, Mbali-Dieu est la rponse crative des Biras une rencontre religieuse syncrtique. Ritual functionaries include priests, elders, rainmakers, diviners, and prophets. But after braving that first blizzard in a land far from his native Nigeria, Olupona stuck it out and earned his Ph.D. Awolawu and Depamu (1979) For the full article, see, New religions, independent churches, and prophetic movements, https://www.britannica.com/summary/African-religions. Indigenous African religion is primarily an oral tradition and has never been fully codified; thus, it allows itself to more easily be amended and influenced by other religious ideas, religious wisdom, and by modern development. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Indigenous religion in Africa is the way Africans understand and worship their god. Many other familial feasts (for the sacred children, for the poor, for particular ancestors) as well as initiations and funerary rituals occur throughout the year. <>stream This approach is intended to shed further light on the problem of African cultural influence and . GAZETTE: In trying to understand African spirituality, is it helpful to refer to it as polytheistic or monotheistic? At first, Christianity made few inroads into the African slave population, which had its own religious traditions. My interpretation of Israels history demands a new look at the history of African peoples, among whom this same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has indeed been at work. First, the association of traditional African religion with an other-worldly orientation may appear problematic, given the "pragmatic" basis of this religion. Overall, however, Christians outnumber Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa by about two-to-one. That testifies to the enduring power of indigenous religion and its ability to domesticate Christianity and Islam in modern Africa. 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 is not an empty coincidence. (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 Corrections? African scholars 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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). A calendar of ritual feasts, syncretized with the Roman Catholic calendar, provides the yearly rhythm of religious practice. There are other areas of exploration in which I continue to be engaged. I also celebrate and honor the kings festivals and ceremonies in my hometown and other places where I live and do research. In four countries, for instance, half or more of the population believes that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm. 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. I simply and honestly answered him that "for us in Africa, God is not dead." Dr. Mbiti is on the staff of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Switzerland. No viable theology can grow in Africa without addressing itself to the interreligious phenomenon at work there. The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God to our continent. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. An old African adage says: The sky is large enough for birds to fly around without one having to bump into the other.. 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. Africans consequently played a crucial role in establishing the doctrines and theology of the early church. We have already noted that the overseas missionaries did not bring God to Africa. In most countries surveyed, at least three-in-ten people believe in reincarnation, which may be related to traditional beliefs in ancestral spirits. (See the glossary for more information on the evil eye.). Consequently, people are discovering that the biblical faith is not harmful to their religious sensibilities. I want to reflect and write on this topic, but somehow it makes me feel frightened. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 300 ce). 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. 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. The award allows Olupona a year of study and research in Germany; he is on leave this year (201516). Additionally, I will not discourage, disparage, or try and convert those who practice their form of African indigenous religions. The more I peeped into African religious insights about God, the more I felt utterly unable to use the word "only" in this case. During religious rites, believers sometimes enter a trancelike state in which the devotee may eat and drink, perform stylized dances, give supernaturally inspired advice to people, or perform medical cures or special physical feats; these acts exhibit the incarnate presence of the lwa within the entranced devotee. The council made me aware, perhaps even frightfully so, of the problems of our world. 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. Christianity has scored a triumph over the traditional religious life of the Bira. The continued influence of traditional African religion is also evident in some aspects of daily life. The Pew Forums survey found 52% of the population is Muslim. The church is composed largely of people who come out of the African religious background. Updates? This re-ligion is found in almost all the activities of the African man. This was an extremely liberating word in my theological thinking. This is in sharp contrast with the religious composition . OLUPONA: Yes, and the pluralistic nature of African-tradition religion is one of the reasons for its success in the diaspora. (I myself have consulted with several diviners for my research on specific academic topics regarding African culture and history; consequently, if we were to lose Africas diviners, we would also lose one of Africas best keepers and sources of African history and culture. At many points I see intriguing parallels between the biblical record and African religiosity. <> The first African captives entered England's North American colonies through Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. I find the traditional Western distinction between "special revelation" and "general revelation" to be inadequate and unfreeing. Humans are spirits who inhabit the visible world. OLUPONA: Indigenous African religions refer to the indigenous or native religious beliefs of the African people before the Christian and Islamic colonization of Africa. Updates? 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. There are also other parallels in social, political and cultural areas, just as there are some significant differences. Islam And Christianity Christianity came first to the continent of Africa in the 1st or early 2nd century AD. Following a period of parish work in England, I went to teach at Makerere University, Uganda, where I remained for ten years until 1974. Then was he not there in other times and in such places as Mount Fuji and Mount Kenya, as well as Mount Sinai? Its about getting tangible results. OLUPONA: Your question underscores an important facet about African spirituality: It is not a closed theological system. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is in this complex of religiosity that the preaching of the gospel makes sense; it is this preparedness that has undergirded the spreading of the gospel like wildfire among African societies which had hitherto followed and practiced traditional religion. 0 The decisive word here is "only." A magisterial historical synthesis of the formative period of African Christianity written by one of its foremost scholars. 0000000676 00000 n Fewer say it is paramount to their faith to attend religious services (39%), avoid sex before marriage (30%) or oppose abortion . GAZETTE: Are ancestors considered deities in the traditional African cosmology? In the 17th century a movement led by the German Protestant theologian George Calixtus aimed at reconciling the differences between the Protestants in Germany, but his efforts were disparaged by orthodox Christian leaders as syncretistic. barry's portrush sold,
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