Religion and Culture in Africa 6th Grade UBD - Unit 8 - Religion and Culture in Africa Religion and Culture in Africa

Essential Question How did contact with other religions change life in Africa?

Preview Traditional Religion in Africa- For thousands of years, the native-born people of Africa have practiced traditional religions. The Influence of Christianity and Islam- Christianity reached Egypt before 100 CE. Islam began to spread through northern Africa during the 600s CE.

Key Ideas- Traditional Religion in Africa Most traditional religions are indigenous to Africa and are polytheistic. The traditional religions all recognize the existence of a supreme god. Most Africans who follow traditional religions seek guidance and help from lesser gods and dead ancestors. Followers believe their ancestors act as go-betweens for the physical world and the spiritual world. Africa’s traditional religions have not spread far beyond the specific regions where they arose.

Religion in Africa Religion has always been central to people's lives in Africa. Religion plays an important role in daily life in Africa, marked by prayers of gratitude in times of plenty and prayers of request in times of need.

Traditional Religion in Africa The traditional religions of Africa are polytheistic.

Traditional Religion in Africa The people in the villages in the ancient African kingdoms believed that more than one god ruled, because obviously, no one god could do everything by himself.

Traditional Religion in Africa To catch the eye of a passing god African people would: dance and sing and shake rattles and beat drums and carve masks.

Africans also believed in magic Africans also believed in magic. They believed the local witchdoctor could perform feats of magic. People would visit the witchdoctor to find help for their problems. The witchdoctor might give them something magical to wear, or bury, or give away. Witchdoctors knew a great deal about herbs and home made medicines. Their magic spells sometimes worked.

Traditional Religion in Africa Africans often use masks representing cultural heroes, gods, and ancestors in their worship ceremonies.

Talking to the Gods In some traditions, dancing, chanting, or drumming are used to connect with gods or spirits. This is very common in groups that practice Vodun.

Talking to the Gods Vodun followers believe that people who practice these rhythmic arts can become possessed. Gods or spirits are believed to take over their bodies. The spirits then communicate with the group through the possessed people.

Traditional Religion in Africa In addition, many African traditional religions use statuettes. Believers think these objects serve as mediators between the human and spiritual worlds.

Traditional Religion in Africa African traditional religions have not spread far outside of Africa. Each religion remains relatively limited to the specific region of the ethnic group practicing it.

Why Does It Matter? Traditional religions continue to be practiced throughout Africa today. In Africa, the Christian and Muslim religions often mix in some of the beliefs and rituals of the traditional religions.

Questions What was traditional religion in Africa like? What practices and customs do traditional African religions use to communicate with the gods?

Key Ideas- The Influence of Christianity and Islam Christians in Egypt formed the Coptic Church. During the early 300s, many people in Aksum began to convert to Christianity. The Muslims had a large impact on North African culture. This is seen especially in math, science, literature, and architecture. During the 800s, Muslim merchants from North Africa began to convert people in West Africa. The pilgrimage of Mansa Musa spread news of the great wealth of Mali. As a result, many countries wanted to find the source of this wealth.

Christianity Enters Africa Christians entered Egypt around year 100 and developed a type of Christianity called Coptic Christianity.

Christianity Enters Africa Copts believed Jesus had one nature that combined the human and divine. Many Romans, though, claimed Jesus had two natures: one divine and the other human.

Islam Spreads to Africa Muslim Arabs conquered Egypt during the 600s bringing North Africa into the Muslim empire. The Muslims encouraged people they conquered to convert to Islam but usually did not force them to convert. 

Islam Spreads to Africa Muslim Arabs formed the ruling class of the areas they conquered. Below them were non-Arabs—native Africans—who converted to Islam . Non-Arabs who decided to practice another religion formed the next social class, and the lowest class consisted of enslaved people.

Islam Spreads to Africa Muslim Arabs brought Muslim culture and learning to North Africa. advances in math, science, medicine, literature, and architecture. 

Islam Spreads to Africa Muslim merchants began to trade on a regular basis with parts of West Africa. Many people West Africa converted to Islam.

Mansa Musa In West Africa, the Mali Empire formed around 1240 and gained considerable wealth and influence through the gold and salt trade. - In 1312, Mansa Musa became the emperor of Mali and converted to Islam.

Mansa Musa Mansa Musa established Islam as the official religion of his empire. Soon Mansa Musa made an elaborate pilgrimage to Mecca via Egypt.

Mansa Musa Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage included about 60,000 of his followers carrying huge amounts of gold on camels. The pilgrimage spread news of the great wealth in Mali throughout all the Muslim lands and even into Europe. Because of this, many countries sought to find the source of this amazing wealth.

Mansa Musa Mansa Musa established the city of Timbuktu in Mali as an important center of trade and learning. He made the mosque of Sankore a school for the teaching of history, law, and theology.

Why Does It Matter? Christianity continues to be practiced in Ethiopia (formerly Aksum). Also, European countries took control of most of Africa during the 1800s. During this time, a large number of Christian missionaries entered Africa. They converted many of the local people. Despite this, Islam remains the main religion in many African countries.