Religion in Africa

What does the term “religion” mean? What does it mean to be “religious”? What are some of the ways to practice one’s religious faith? Why do humans need religion? Why do humans need religious practice, in addition to faith?

How is religious faith and practice expressed? Sacred oral and written traditions. Is one way more significant than the other? Performance and ritual. Dance and music. Education. Rights of passage.

Religious belief and practice are central in Africa. African religions are often closely associated with African peoples' concepts of ethnic identity, language and culture. Religious beliefs impact the way people live their everyday lives. African religions provide people with world-view. system of values, attitudes, and beliefs, which provide people with a mechanism to understand the world in which they live and everyday events and occurrences.

African indigenous religions provide a system of morality that establishes right from wrong, good and appropriate from bad or inappropriate behavior. Can a system of morality come from something other than religion? Example: I am not religious. Can I still act in a morally correct way? Rituals are important to African indigenous religions. Rituals are cultural or religious ceremonies that celebrate or commemorate specific events that have deep religious significance.

Monotheistic and polytheistic religions. In Africa religions, between an all-powerful God and humans is a pantheon of spirits. These spirits are directly engaged in the lives of human beings, and can act as intermediaries between God and humans. What/who are the intermediaries in western religions? Spirits in African religious traditions share some of the same characteristics of angels in the Christian, Islamic, and Jewish traditions. 

Good spirits help to protect against illness and misfortune, provide rain needed for crops, etc. Evil spirits responsible for illness, premature death, and other forms of suffering and misfortune. Human Spirits: people continue to live, through their spirits, after death.  The Recent Dead Ancestors: After an elder dies her or his spirit remains actively interested and engaged in the life of their family and community for many years.

Spirits don’t go to heaven permanently, they go back and forth. Great respect for ancestors. Respect shown by giving libations, symbolic drink and food presented to ancestors. The Spirits of the Long Dead: spirits of the recently dead gradually withdraw from the lives of their descendants and communities, they live with God. 

Nature spirits live in nature  Nature spirits live in nature. They control the rain, rivers, lakes and oceans. Bad spirits are responsible for causing much of the misfortune that individuals and communities suffer. Religious leaders: Priests – usually affiliated with particular spirit or group of spirits. The ancestor directly communicates with the priest, passing on information to the people. In charge of a special shrine dedicated to the spirit

Rain makers. Rain makers through possession communicate with ancestral spirits to find the cause of the draught. Healers. Primary causes of illness comes from inappropriate behavior or the result of the work of bad spirits.  Illnesses have a spiritual basis, which requires a spiritual remedy. Two methods of healing – Herbalists and diviners. Diviners treat illness through facilitating the direct intervention of the spiritual world.

Good behavior includes: Following and practicing values and behavior established by society and culture. Participation in religious rituals. Proper respect for family, neighbor and community. Failure to follow these behavioral guidelines often results in the good spirits withdrawing their blessing and protection. The result? Illness, death, misfortune, etc.