Moreover, the religions developed in the Americas impact Africa in that devotees of the African diaspora have significant influence on practices in Africa. African religion has equipped people to listen to the gospel, to discover meaningful passages in the Bible, and to avoid unhealthy religious conflict. settlements formed by African slaves who ran away from imprisonment the Americas Oxford: Clarendon, 1994. Omissions? It sensitized my thinking in many areas, one of these being the quest for Christian unity. 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. But the basic truth seems to be that Gods revelation is not confined to the biblical record. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock. OLUPONA: Yes, and the pluralistic nature of African-tradition religion is one of the reasons for its success in the diaspora. In 1900 there were an estimated 9 million Christians (accounting for about 7 per cent of the population of Africa). 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. Did he then reveal himself only in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel and other personalities of the Bible? Again, it doesnt reflect the multiplicity of ways that traditional African spirituality has conceived of deities, gods, and spirit beings. But to the disappointment of those theological exporters, this fish was not attracted by the bait. This is not an empty coincidence. 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. It may be, and needs to be, a qualified and critical Yes. Its consequences for theological and ecclesiological developments are yet to be faced. 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. Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. After that date there will be more Christians in the south than in the north. Request Permissions, Published By: Canadian Anthropology Society. Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. Orthodox Christianity, although influenced by other religions, generally looked negatively upon these syncretistic movements. APUSH Unit 1 Flashcards | Quizlet 9_r'v>#z2"syiBm?mry8%;m8v L,WNHitMJk#RZwEl+M3N1n[nt4]C$i2y]_6Iasrt 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. 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 decisive word here is "only." Some individuals have criticized these books -- and no book is perfect. GAZETTE: What else would we lose if we lost traditional African Religions? In Nigeria, the population in 1900 included 4.2 million Muslims and 180,000 Christians. But for many Africans, religion can never be separated from all these. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax 0000001019 00000 n (1981) and Ph.D. (1983) in the history of religions from Boston University. Yet . His research has helped to introduce and popularize new concepts in religious studies, such as the term reverse missionaries, referring to African prelates sent to Europe and the United States. 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. ), 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. GAZETTE: How have ancestors played a role in traditional societies? www.ej-theology.org Christianity and Indigenisation in Africa "For us in Africa, God is not dead" -- and that applies whether or not there is a written record of his relations with and concern for people. This massive expansion within a short time is unprecedented in the history of Christianity. 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. Subscriptions are available to libraries and individuals who are not members of CASCA. Modernity has not put a total stop to its influence. 300 ce). African Traditional Religion in the Context of Christian and Islamic I simply and honestly answered him that "for us in Africa, God is not dead." 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. 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. Since Christianity came in contact with the traditional religion, there has always been a sharp conflict between traditionalists and Christians. In this overpowering environment, one simply accepted this stand and looked at the world from its perspectives. That would be a serious loss not only for Africans, but also for academics, researchers, writers, and general seekers of wisdom the world over. These were not empty names. 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. 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. Outline of the Curricular Framework: Anglicanization Atlantic slave trade "Atlantic World" Barbados (sugar) British-American system of slavery the Carolinas (rice) Caste system cereal crops Colonial resistance Dominion of New England Enlightenment Furs Great Awakening Indentured Servants Mercantilism Metis Models of colonization Molasses Act A magisterial historical synthesis of the formative period of African Christianity written by one of its foremost scholars. It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what AIR and . While Islam and Christianity tend to . Vodou is an oral tradition practiced by extended families that inherit familial spirits, along with the necessary devotional practices, from their elders. GAZETTE: In trying to understand African spirituality, is it helpful to refer to it as polytheistic or monotheistic? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Awolawu and Depamu (1979) 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. 0000005005 00000 n The conviction that people will be reborn in this world again and again tends to be more common among Christians than Muslims. In four countries, for instance, half or more of the population believes that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm. /// Dans le nord-est du Zare, la communaut rurale Bira a t expose depuis plus de cinquante ans au message chrtien. 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. At first, Christianity made few inroads into the African slave population, which had its own religious traditions. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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. Author of. African religions and corresponding beliefs and practices What is African Traditional Religion? Because of this, Africa is now home to some of the world's largest Christian and Muslim communities. The concept of the church as the body of Christ in the whole world is another growing development for me. The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God. It doesnt have a fixed creed, like in some forms of Christianity or Islam. A subscription to Anthropologica is included in CASCA's annual membership fee. At Makerere University I taught New Testament, African religion and other courses. 0000015705 00000 n He later earned both an M.A. Abstract. I want to see his healing hand, to hear his word that exorcises evil spirits. Today, the country claims about 80 million of each . Chapter 1: Religious Affiliation | Pew Research Center African diaspora religions - Wikipedia (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 A calendar of ritual feasts, syncretized with the Roman Catholic calendar, provides the yearly rhythm of religious practice. 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 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. The continued influence of traditional African religion is also evident in some aspects of daily life. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions That finished the interview. No viable theology can grow in Africa without addressing itself to the interreligious phenomenon at work there. OLUPONA: I was raised in Africa during the 1960s, when the Yoruba community never asked you to chose between your personal faith and your collective African identity. I told my father that I was coming home, he recalled. When this happens, then a passage such as Hebrews 1:1-3 rolls down like mighty waters, full of exciting possibilities of theological reflection. In most countries surveyed, at least three-in-ten people believe in reincarnation, which may be related to traditional beliefs in ancestral spirits. OLUPONA: Thats a mixed bag. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. Prayers and sacrificial offerings are usually directed toward secondary divinities, who are intermediaries between the human and sacred realms. 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. He must have been active among African peoples as he was among the Jewish people. The original constitution defined the organization's mandate as providing a forum for the exchange of ideas among ethnologists. OLUPONA: Yes, and the pluralistic nature of African-tradition religion is one of the reasons for its success in the diaspora. A prominent European New Testament professor visited Makerere University and interviewed me on what I thought about the "death of God" discussion. This approach is intended to shed further light on the problem of African cultural influence and . They proclaimed the name of Jesus Christ. Its fundamental principle is that everything is spirit. 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. 0000000676 00000 n Afro-American Religious Syncretism in Brazil and the United States: A Unlike in Europe and the United States, very few people in sub-Saharan Africa say they are unaffiliated with a particular faith. God was not a stranger to African peoples. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. 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. Its about getting tangible results. 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. Indigenous African religions are by nature plural, varied, and usually informed by ones ethnic identity, where ones family came from in Africa. It publishes a journal Anthropologica and has reclaimed the name of its former journal, Culture for its occasional online bulletin. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. colonization_terms_apush.docx - ` Units 1 and 2 Vocabulary Consequently, traditional Africans have different ideas on what role the ancestors play in the lives of living descendants. Then was he not there in other times and in such places as Mount Fuji and Mount Kenya, as well as Mount Sinai? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). GAZETTE: What allows African indigenous religions to be so accommodating? The amount of devotees to indigenous practices has dwindled as Islam and Christianity have both spread and gained influence throughout the continent. I find the traditional Western distinction between "special revelation" and "general revelation" to be inadequate and unfreeing. 93 0 obj 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? For example, an African amulet might have inside of it a written verse from either the Koran or Christian Bible. That which had been seen as the enemy of the gospel turns out (to me) to be indeed a very welcoming friend. So, "Lord, help Thou my unbelief!" 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. In Cameroon, Ethiopia, Liberia and Mozambique, Muslims account for between 15% and 30% of survey respondents. African religions, Indigenous religions of the African continent. 0000008365 00000 n 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. African immigrants and slaves worked to maintain traditional religious and social practices in their new surroundings. 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. I wont pray to an orisa, but I will affirm the importance of my connection with members of my age group. 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. The first African captives entered England's North American colonies through Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. Religious beliefs among Black Americans | Pew Research Center Faith in The One God in Christian and African Traditional Religions: a In five countries (Tanzania, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal and Mali) majorities express this belief. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main There are other areas of exploration in which I continue to be engaged. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between Christianity and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Some people tried to involve Africa in the debate. And this witness deserves ones support through service and prayer. 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. For this reason, some African theologians take African religiosity to be one of the sources of theological reflection (besides the Bible, Christian heritage, etc.). In 1900 there were an estimated 9 million Christians (accounting for about 7 per cent of the population of Africa). AR-Ndhdnn}H\{%jC!a,]c8F`1LE(3%"w+tj}](q w[,p8i$dd$GrMRD K4wLG4@h\WfPY Below is the article summary. 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. 0000003641 00000 n They are not mutually exclusive. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender. I had it. But in practical terms, there is a Christian Yes to African religiosity. 0000002884 00000 n 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. OLUPONA: The role of ancestors in the African cosmology has always been significant. 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.
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