The religious beliefs, practices and the provision of social services of these immigrant religions have impacted on the religious and cultural life of. Religion is an important part of millions of peoples lives across the world. Bantuspeaking people moved into southern africa from west and central africa and brought their religion and traditions with them. The history of africa 71 reason to draw attention to robert o. Traditional african religion is very popular and arrived here with our north and west african ancestors. In fact, africa is a vast continent encompassing both geographic variation and tremendous cultural diversity. African religions this entry presents a brief, general picture of africas traditional religious heritage, focusing on the major beliefs because these underlie the general attitudes of individuals and society and shape their worldview. African traditional religion is very pragmatic and apply to the need as it arises. To europe, africa does not desire any serious attention because historically africa does not exist.
The histom1 ofls1am il1 africa ohio university press. Thus the title of the lecture, histories of religion in africa. History of religions sets standard for the comparative study of religious phenomena from prehistory to modern times. Academic works on the history, growth and development of christianity in africa.
African church history, african christian theology, the. The people from europe, america, and asia cannot be converted to african religion as it is more removed from their geographical and cultural setting. During these first few decades after the death of jesus, roman law regarded the new christian movement as a jewish sect. Th e report provides a brief overview of the religious landscape of africa with a special focus on the role of religion in the continents several con. Traditional religion thinking of those common things. Towards southern africa, the kushites seemed to have their own religion and. African traditional religions produced no written works, but derived their authority from oral history, custom and practice, and the power of priests, kings and others gifted in dealing with.
Thousands of african people are converted to christianity every day and in nigeria about 20 new religious sects or groups come into. A people without history european hatred of africa was total. These religions are often adapted to african cultural contexts and indigenous belief systems. A person must be born in a particular african people in order to be able to follow african religion. Western scholars, such as sir james frazier, had had a fascination with african religions, either from the scientific point of view, as a phenomenon to be studied, or from a missionary point of view. African history for a possible guide to an appropriate developmental framework that would. Islam is the dominant religion in north africa and the horn of africa, and it is also the predominant and historical religion of the west african interior and the far west coast of the continent as well as the coast of east africa. For the first time in a single volume, the history of islam in africa presents a detailed historic mapping of the cultural, political, geographic, and religious past of this significant presence on a continentwide scale. Africa is one of the largest and most populous continents in the world, as well as the birthplace of humanity. History religion south africa religion abiche, tefera talore community development initiatives and poverty reduction.
Today, the continents various populations and individuals are mostly adherents of christianity, islam, and to a lesser extent several traditional african religions. Islam, islamic history, islamic civilization, islam in africa, islam in south africa. History of the church in south africa guide to information. It evolved through many centuries, before the westerner come to africa. This ambitious and passionate work explores the fascination that jewish history and identity have held for the people of africa.
Abstract this paper investigated the theology of inculturation and the african church. Colonialism, culture, development, governance, liberal. This paper attempts to examine the aspect of religion in african continent, its origin, types and categories, advantages and its effects in the continent. Uya and erim 1984 has observed that the history of africa written by europeans has been a subject of monumental distortions, ridicule and amusement p. The general history of africa gha is a pioneering corpus, unparalleled in its ambition to cover the history of the entire african continent, since the appearance of human beings to contemporary challenges faced by africans and their diasporas in the world. Aims this paper aims to provide a brief analysis of the role of religion in africa s. It concludes by putting forth viable options as a panacea for africa to come out of its cultural logjam. Different fathers played a role in the development of this religion.
African traditionsinthestudyof religion in africa download african traditionsinthestudyof religion in africa ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Even in efforts to try to understand african religions, scholars have abstracted african religions. Academic works on the history, growth and development of. Both approaches assumed that african religious beliefs. Uganda, providing a brief overview of the history of religion and conflict and. One can also study comparative religious chronology through a timeline of. The spread of christianity in africa timeline timetoast. Various terms are used to refer to the indigenous religious heritage, including african religion, african tradition. Early african christianity regrettably, some scholars of african culture and religion have acquired a persistent habit of assuming that christianity began in africa only a couple of centuries ago. Outside egypt, more in west africa, people seemed to worship one single god like the sky god or the rain god. The spread of christianity throughout egypt and northern africa, during the first five centuries was rapid and intense, despite the prevalence of false teachings, persecutions and martyrdom.
But christianity is not a recent arrival in africa. View african church history, african christian theology, the study of new religious movements in africa research papers on academia. It is often combined with elements of christianity and islam. This unprecedented work is the first onevolume study of the history of christianity in africa. Trumps reference to wounded knee evokes the dark history of suppression of indigenous religions. African traditional religion african studies oxford. Topic vi northeast and north central african developments traditional religion and islam in the central sudan. Christianity is the worlds largest religion, practiced by. In christian or islamic communities, religious beliefs are also sometimes characterized with syncretism with.
The book presents one by one the different groups of black jews from western central, eastern, and southern africa, and the ways in which they have used and imagined their oral history and traditional customs to construct a distinct jewish identity. This is a religion that is based mainly on oral transmission. In the 4th century ad the ethiopian king ezana made christianity the kingdoms. Download pdf africantraditionsinthestudyofreligion. In five of these countriesbenin, mozambique, guineabissau, liberia, and the ivory coast african religion is the majority religion. The book series studies of religion in africa covers the historical, empirical, and. A critical and appreciative perspective 7 military despot in nigeria from 1985 1993, religious and traditional leaders. African religions, religious beliefs and practices of the peoples of africa. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. Religions of africa 1985 that one of the most fascinating aspects of our. It was estimated in 2000 that christians form 45% of africa s population, and muslims forming 40. It then proceeds to look at east africa, where the three religious families of traditional religion, islam and christianity are all present in large numbers. Religious education in south africa during the 1990s represents a dramatic departure from the religious education, instruction, or introduction of the past.
It is situated on a high plateau in southcentral africa and takes its name from the zambezi river, which drains all but a small northern part of the country. Some religious scholars believe that christianity was introduced to africans by way of the egyptian city of alexandria. Religion in africa is multifaceted and has been a major influence on art, culture and philosophy. An idiosyncratic collection of sources from professional to popular. The history of christianity in africa probably began during the earthly ministry of jesus christ, two thousand years ago. Hopkins, corpus of arabic documents for the study of west african history. Read the history of religions article cited in salon. For instance, if we were to lose indigenous african religions in africa, then diviners would disappear, and if diviners disappeared, we would not only lose an important spiritual specialist for many africans, but also an institution that for centuries has been the repository of african history, wisdom, and knowledge.
Towards southern africa, the kushites seemed to have their own religion and worshipped their own gods. The christian faith centers on beliefs regarding the birth, life, death and resurrection of. The new testament of the bible mentions several events in which africans were witnesses to the life of christ and the ministry of the apostles. It is the religion which resulted from the sustaining faith held by the forebears of the present africans, and which is being practised today in various forms and. Exploring the complex history of a continent as large and diverse as africa within a few introductory pages is an impossible task. Hinduism is a compilation of many traditions and philosophies and is considered by many scholars to be the worlds oldest religion, dating back more than 4,000 years. The history of islam in africa athens, oh, 2000, pp. This article seeks to counteract this view by outlining the place of african traditional religions in the religious history of mankind.
It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what air and its essential characteristics is. Christianity is the most widely practiced religion in the world, with more than 2 billion followers. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, 2 3 include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator, belief in spirits. Through north africa, christianity was embraced as the religion of dissent against the expanding roman empire. Its contributors include scholars working in history, anthropology, sociology, political science, missiology, literature and related disciplines. History of religion in africa the earliest reference of religion in africa can be made in egypt. A history of christianity in africa elizabeth isichei. When we speak of african traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the africans. Africa, with minority but significant immigrant populations in south africa. Outside egypt, more in west africa, people seemed to worship one single god like the sky god or the. The historical fact is that christianity came to africa before it came to europe and north america. On the other hand, in east africa, where islam came from the arabian peninsula, muslims followed the shafli school of law that prevailed in arabia.
Okon department of religious and cultural studies university of calabar, nigeria abstract this paper will identify some of the fundamental short comings in african ethnographic studies undertaken by europeans in the nineteenth century. Click download or read online button to african traditionsinthestudyof religion in africa book pdf for free now. The journal of religion in africa, founded in 1967 by andrew walls, is interested in all religious traditions and all their forms, in every part of africa, and it is open to every methodology. Muslim is an arabic word meaning one who submits to god. In fact, africa is a vast continent encompassing both. The theology of inculturation and the african church. This piece therefore studied the meaning and nature of african traditional religion in the midst of the globalizing process. In 3000 bc, people were worshipping gods like isis, horus, osiris, ra, and hapi. Zuesse divination and deity in african religions divination as a spiritual phenomenon has had very little written about it, perhaps due in part to the ready labeling of it as a form of magic and therefore irrational, utilitarian, egoistic, and insuffici ently religious.
Religious elements have been present in many of africas conflicts ever since. The history of islam in east africa stretches back to around ce. A critical and appreciative perspective 7 military despot in nigeria from 1985 1993, religious and traditional leaders were used to support his schemes. Christianity and the african traditional religions. Colonialism and the african experience chapter 4 introduction colonization of africa by european countries was a monumental milestone in the development of africa. Ancestral or traditional african religions are practised by 5 % south africa. A welcome and challenging addition to the discourse on the lost tribes of israel, it should be read by anyone interested in jewish history, african history, and the sociology of religion.
African traditional religion in a globalizing world. The most important thing is that in the new south africa religion and spirituality are used to create greater understanding and harmony rather than to divide people as was done in. The swahili language remains central to many east african muslims, hence the occasionally heard phrase, swahili islam. The history of islam concerns the religion of islam and its adherents, muslims. The prehistory of religion involves the study of religious beliefs that existed prior to the advent of written records. The history of the islamic faith on the continent of africa spans fourteen centuries. In this second edition, dr mbiti has updated his material to include the involvement of women in religion, and the potential unity to be found in what was once thought to be a mass of quite separate religions. Africa s development in the twentyfirst century will be shaped largely by religion. This period of religious history begins with the invention of writing about 5,220 years ago 3200 bce. A short history 2006, as well as editing a new edition of a threevolume work of historical documents and classic contributions to the discipline. Table 31 reports on the religious affiliation of the southafrican population.
Until the mid20th century, it remained largely confined to the coast and closely bound up with the history of the swahili towns situated on it. The history of religion refers to the written record of human religious experiences and ideas. The study of african spirituality in its own right is a recent. Written by elizabeth isichei, a leading scholar in this field, a history of christianity in africa examines the origins and development of christianity in africa from the early story of egyptian christianity to the spectacular growth, vitality, and diversity of the churches in africa today. The study of african spirituality in its own right is a recent phenomenon. It has no founders or reformers like gautama the buddha, asoka, christ, or muhammad. God and humanity, sacrifices, afterlife and ancestors. The rapid growth of many religions in africa and the revival of air in postcolonial africa have made inter religious dialogue an urgent necessity.
The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions. I speak of histories in the plural because my own research has led me to the conclusion that the his. Histories of religion in africa joao ferreira dias. It is therefore important for any analysis or recommendations to take account of this. The paper aims at analyzing development of religion in africa from precolonial era to the contemporary. African religion is traditional for the following reasons.
African religions and philosophy is a systematic study of the attitudes of mind and belief that have evolved in the many societies of africa. It should be noted that any attempt to generalize about the nature of african religions risks wrongly implying that there is homogeneity among all african cultures. The venerable journal of the international african institute offers academic articles on all aspects of african history and culture, including religion. The church in africa has expressed the need to liberate christianity from western dominance, in its teaching, in structures and power base and in developing forms of worship and communication which are appropriate to africans, and enable them to make the gospel message their own. The three main religious traditions african traditional religion, christianity, and islamconstitute the triple religious heritage of the african continent. Dec 21, 2012 religion and spiritual issues, including judaism, christianity, hinduism, islam, the bible, wicca, buddhism and more, are at the core of human values and history. Under the apartheid regime, with its commitment to christian national education. Religion, were the forces of colonialism and the missionary enterprises of both islam and christianity. It first studies the meaning of religion and africa, as basis for understanding african. Because islam spread to west africa from north africa, muslims there fol lowed the maliki school of law dominant in north africa.
While there has been considerable study of religion in africa, it has tended to be dominated either by a fairly static, ethnographic vision of african religion or a study of missionary, evangelical. This paper aims to provide a brief analysis of the role of religion in africas. In sierra leone, botswana, and burkina faso more than 33 percent follow african religion, although it is not the religion of the majority. But it is possible to explore the origins of african people and to raise relevant questions regarding the contexts and circumstances within which jazz emerged and evolved. Distortion of facts in western ethnographic study of african religion, culture and society etim e. The earliest reference of religion in africa can be made in egypt. History, faith, and gender in roho religion in western kenya. Africa is a massive continent with diverse religious traditions, to the extent that within the same tradition there have been variations. African traditional religion south african history online. Religious interactions in a changing african rural society. The theology of inculturation and the african church sussy gumo kurgat department of religion, theology and philosophy, maseno university, p. The africans consider the impact of colonization on them to be perhaps the most important factor in understanding the present condition of the african continent and of the african.
11 570 179 302 389 214 1075 474 842 283 880 981 281 439 998 319 1311 369 726 585 1328 573 1375 199 407 1420 560 423 771 633 425