The original constitution defined the organization's mandate as providing a forum for the exchange of ideas among ethnologists. OLUPONA: No, this type of binary thinking is simplistic. 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. The primary goal and activity of Vodou is to sevi lwa (serve the spirits)to offer prayers and perform various devotional rites directed at God and particular spirits in return for health, protection, and favour. 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). The council made me aware, perhaps even frightfully so, of the problems of our world. religious syncretism, the fusion of diverse religious beliefs and practices. OLUPONA: Yes, its a mixed bag because in the African diaspora mostly due to the slave trade starting in the 15th century indigenous African religions have spread and taken root all over the world, including in the United States and Europe. Some scholars choose to call it the African Traditional Religion, while others prefer to name it the African traditional Religions. 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. Religious pluralism serves peace. In this overpowering environment, one simply accepted this stand and looked at the world from its perspectives. 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. x\u}4`P}E#(9q"%LCl'KLb)Sfgdq N In February 1974 a group of 120 anthropologists launched the Canadian Ethnology Society/socit canadienne d'ethnologie (CESCE), because they felt there was room for an association of anthropologists separate from the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association (CSAA) which was dominated by sociologists. Copyright by The Christian Century Foundation; used by permission. Ethiopia's Christian population, at 6 million in 1900, will grow to a projected 100 million in 2050. Yet consider that in 1900 most Africans in sub-Saharan Africa practiced a form of indigenous African religions. This is, obviously, a general statement, one which needs detailed elaboration. In most countries, however, less than one-in-twenty say this is their primary religious affiliation. 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. 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. 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. Some people tried to involve Africa in the debate. hb```b``g`a`.ef@ aV68+ +$.0t9$r8A2Or}6=<4. In 1988 the society changed its name to the Canadian Anthropology Society to clarify its identity and emphasize its role as an anthropology association. Religious beliefs among Black Americans | Pew Research Center Ancestors also serve as intermediaries (see ancestor worship). 817-820. That finished the interview. The WCCs very existence as a council of churches is a living hope. (PDF) Christianity and the African traditional religion(s): The OLUPONA: Yes, and the pluralistic nature of African-tradition religion is one of the reasons for its success in the diaspora. Diviners who go through a long educational and apprenticeship program hold the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of the African people. 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. 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. 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. For instance, in a few years time, I pray that I will be participating in an age-grade festival for men around 70 years of age called Ero in my native Nigerian community in Ute, in Ondo state. <> At many points I see intriguing parallels between the biblical record and African religiosity. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Faith in The One God in Christian and African Traditional Religions: a Muslim populations are especially concentrated in a large geographic belt running west to east from Senegal to the Horn of Africa.1 Southern Africa is predominantly Christian. % {PB,`s It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. The previous year I had published African Religions and Philosophy (Doubleday, 1969). Yet . Consequently, traditional Africans have different ideas on what role the ancestors play in the lives of living descendants. Indeed, ten years ago I had no significant theological position. These initiation rituals are already not as common in Africa as they were only 50 years ago, yet age-grade initiations have always helped young Africans feel connected to their community and their past. Indigenous African religions are by nature plural, varied, and usually informed by ones ethnic identity, where ones family came from in Africa. But Gods dealings with the African people are recorded, nevertheless, in living form -- oral communication, rituals, symbols, ceremonies, community faith. For over 200 years, Africans, largely from the west coast of Africa, were brought to the United States in the slave trade. trailer 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. Belief in the power of such objects is highest in Senegal (75%) and lowest in Rwanda (5%). GAZETTE: What else would we lose if we lost traditional African Religions? But in practical terms, there is a Christian Yes to African religiosity. 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. Oxford: Clarendon, 1994. 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. But today that is not the case due to more exclusive-minded types of Christianity and Islam that see patronizing indigenous African beliefs and practices as violating the integrity of their Christian or Muslim principles, but I believe that one can maintain ones religious integrity and also embrace an African worldview. GAZETTE: How have ancestors played a role in traditional societies? OLUPONA: My father, a faithful Anglican priest, was a good example. 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. There are other areas of exploration in which I continue to be engaged. But it is nevertheless a working Yes and one that demands theological understanding. How Africa Is Changing Faith Around the World 1996 Canadian Anthropology Society The councils programs in response to these problems are impressive. 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. I wont pray to an orisa, but I will affirm the importance of my connection with members of my age group. The spirituality of Africa - Harvard Gazette 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. Fewer say it is paramount to their faith to attend religious services (39%), avoid sex before marriage (30%) or oppose abortion . %%EOF 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 I want to make a pilgrimage into Christ. I feel deeply the value of biblical studies in this exercise, and the contribution of biblical insights in this development. Y.91sC@o9sJL9@XMw`7\`1%nRjBS %U=a{N>. OLUPONA: Your question underscores an important facet about African spirituality: It is not a closed theological system. mixing of Christianity and traditional African religions What were maroon communities? Par consquent, Mbali-Dieu est la rponse crative des Biras une rencontre religieuse syncrtique. We have already noted that the overseas missionaries did not bring God to Africa. 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. Indigenous religion in Africa is the way Africans understand and worship their god. Since Christianity and Islam spread across Africa, many people there have observed a mixture of religious practices. 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. The conviction that people will be reborn in this world again and again tends to be more common among Christians than Muslims. 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. in social anthropology from Oxford University, is studying for a master of theological studies (M.T.S.) X0#J++?U;_3_gmx9[F\"{,Um1yu 9 ?ce%9EG`N: &U0EHC$p4=$'=DlX6M_7,--" In the other case no such written record exists. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This is not to say that indigenous African spirituality represents a form of theocracy or religious totalitarianism not at all. It is here that I have discovered the church in Burma, in the Pacific islands, the house church in China, the basic Christian communities in Latin America, the struggling church in South Africa, plus countless other endeavors of Christians all over the world. It sensitized my thinking in many areas, one of these being the quest for Christian unity. I also celebrate and honor the kings festivals and ceremonies in my hometown and other places where I live and do research. A magisterial historical synthesis of the formative period of African Christianity written by one of its foremost scholars. African Christianity - African Studies - Oxford Bibliographies - obo Additionally, I will not discourage, disparage, or try and convert those who practice their form of African indigenous religions. In these congregations, knowledge is passed on through a ritual of initiation (kanzo) in which the body becomes the site of spiritual transformation. 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. Aujourd'hui, la plupart des Zariens sont soit catholiques, soit protestants; les Biras pour leur part sont principalement catholiques. 1"7$X9Xyyyb GNpL!9I&mxo0++44cA@5c. 0000002026 00000 n interaction between the Christian churches and West African religious culture. Then was he not there in other times and in such places as Mount Fuji and Mount Kenya, as well as Mount Sinai? 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. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. Corrections? Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. As the map in the preface to this report shows, sub-Saharan Africa is much more religiously mixed than northern Africa, where the population is overwhelmingly Muslim. Since Christianity came in contact with the traditional religion, there has always been a sharp conflict between traditionalists and Christians. 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. Updates? Holding or maintaining to a uniform doctrine is not the essence of indigenous African religions. In most countries surveyed, at least three-in-ten people believe in reincarnation, which may be related to traditional beliefs in ancestral spirits. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Christianity: An African traditional religion - ghanaweb.com Christianity is more dominant in the south, while Islam is more dominant in the north. 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. Focuses on the influences of Africans and African ideas on the mission enterprise, conversion, religious innovation, and church life, but it neglects to cover the . 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 of sins. A calendar of ritual feasts, syncretized with the Roman Catholic calendar, provides the yearly rhythm of religious practice. In most of the 19 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, 90% or more of the respondents say they belong to one of these faiths. Revelation is given not in a vacuum but within particular historical experiences and reflections. Maybe this is why I am not an Anglican priest. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax 0000002884 00000 n There is no room to describe them, and I can mention only two or three of them briefly. Awolawu and Depamu (1979) That testifies to the enduring power of indigenous religion and its ability to domesticate Christianity and Islam in modern Africa. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Sign up for daily emails to get the latest Harvardnews. Humans are spirits who inhabit the visible world. (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 I told my father that I was coming home, he recalled. 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. Some Africans believe that the ancestors are equal in power to deities, while others believe they are not. www.ej-theology.org Christianity and Indigenisation in Africa This approach is intended to shed further light on the problem of African cultural influence and . Today, the country claims about 80 million of each . So, "Lord, help Thou my unbelief!" In lieu of these traditional African ways of defining oneself, Christianity and Islam are gradually creating a social identity in Africa that cuts across these indigenous African religious and social identities. Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. They will certainly be overwhelming, and I feel very excited about them. The Encounter of Christian Faith and African Religion I had it. The more I peeped into African religious insights about God, the more I felt utterly unable to use the word "only" in this case. Ritual sacrifices and witchcraft beliefs are still common. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. They constitute an important channel of the churchs prophetic witness today. Religion informs everything in traditional African society, including political art, marriage, health, diet, dress, economics, and death. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. 0000014025 00000 n (See the glossary for more information on the evil eye.). Nevertheless, since 1900, Christians in Africa have grown from approximately 7 million to over 450 million today. Author of. We can list some obvious and often publicized factors. Most people in sub-Saharan Africa now identify with either Christianity or Islam. The award allows Olupona a year of study and research in Germany; he is on leave this year (201516). Request Permissions, Published By: Canadian Anthropology Society. An old African adage says: The sky is large enough for birds to fly around without one having to bump into the other.. These were not empty names. ), 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. PDF Traditional African Religion and Modern Christianity in Zaire - JSTOR 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. 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). The first and most intriguing topic that immediately engaged my attention was the thinking of African peoples about God. Unlike in Europe and the United States, very few people in sub-Saharan Africa say they are unaffiliated with a particular faith.
