African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. Religious studies and indigenous knowledge in secondary. A major characteristic of primal religions is the fact that they originated and developed in. Any african christian who raised it risked victimization. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. This paper seeks to examine how africans conceive of the supreme being, divinities and spirits. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator, belief in spirits, veneration of the dead, use of magic and traditional. African traditional religion in a globalizing world arc journals. Here then, well appreciate african traditional religion as a necessary linkage between the ancestors and their progenies. Religious studies and indigenous knowledge in secondary schools in zimbabwe. The teaching of african traditional religion in primary schools in zimbabwe. The concept of god, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious ontology has been so misunderstood by many scholars to the point of seeing africans as people who did not know the supreme being nor worship him. Seventhly, there was considerable hostility to african traditional religion.
The study was carried out in the southern sudan between november 2009 and march 2010 in some of the areas occupied by the dinka community. African traditional religion has grown out of the african soil. African religious and cultural values of ghanaians, which emphasize family unity, community participation, love and sense of family belonging. It is therefore important to attempt to describe african influences in theology and worship, as has been done for celtic spirituality. The relevance of african indigenous religions in the 21st century. From the precolonial to the modern day toyin falola and tyler fleming encyclopedia of life support systems eolss people have lived in africa for more than three million years, and thus it possesses a rich and varied history. African traditional religions articles about traditional religions in zimbabwe in shona and ndebele religion, god, or the supreme being, is seen as the creator and sustainer of the universe in much the same manner as within christianity. The recommendation of teaching of african traditional religion was an. The lausanne movement connects influencers and ideas for global mission, with a vision of the gospel for every person, an evangelical church for every people, christlike leaders for every church, and kingdom impact in every sphere of society.
I as a subject had multi purposes for the colonialists and these included evangelization, colonization, and eradication of african beliefs among many other things. The traditional spiritual beliefs of the chewa people of zambia, for example, are humancentered and socially oriented. African traditional religion in a globalizing world. The theology of inculturation and the african church. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. The purpose of this study was to critically examine three different approaches to educational provision in zimbabwe during the precolonial, colonial and postcolonial periods.
In order to understand the people of africa fully, an indepth study. Hackett as a guesteditor has been responsible for those pages. Jun 23, 2019 in order to understand people, it is very crucial you understand the building block of their behavioral patterns. Even after 1900 when christian and muslim expansion reached its peak, traditional african religion still maintained relevance. Philosophy and religion international relations african religions study and teaching postcolonialism religious aspects. What are the main reasons of studying african philosophy. Tabona shoko analyses the traditional karanga views of the causes of illness and disease, mechanisms of diagnosis at their disposal and the methods they use to restore health, shoko discusses the views of a specific african independent church of the apostolic tradition. African traditional religion is part of the category designated as primal religion momen 2009. Why is religion important to society and its people. This is followed by a definition of african traditional religion. Introduction to african traditional religion free online. Oral tradition offers the advantages of inducing open communication and verifiable firsthand knowledge of events from a historical reference point. The traditional spiritual beliefs of the chewa people of zambia. They counteracted various derogatory names given to air.
American evangelical christianity as well as the arab cultural package of islam. In socrates, philosophy is acquiring knowledge through. In your view, does oral tradition have a future in the midst of modernity and social change. Some have seen africans as not having the capacity to reason on the. Box 43844 00100 nairobi kenya michael katola department of philosophy and religious studies kenyatta university. The chapter also examines americans views on religion and salvation, religion and modernity, and religion and morality. This article, therefore, aims at presenting african traditional religions voice in this important discourse by using the traditional akan people of ghana as a case study. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and cultural values on. Myth is a derivation of the greek word muthos, implying, in a very. This also means that when teaching unhu, teachers lives must demonstrate what they say. The subject of contextual theology in africa is of current interest as it flows into the contextual theology of africa in the wider world through its links with, and affect on the growth of, pentecostalism within and beyond its borders, due to globalisation.
Societal religions vary throughout the world, with some worshiping one god and others worshiping many. Pdf the teaching of african traditional religion in primary. That theology must be open to the aspiration of the people of africa if it is to help christianity to become incarnate. The role of african traditional religion, culture and worldview in the context of postwar healing among the dinka community of southern sudan alex kamwaria department of philosophy and religious studies kenyatta university p. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions.
It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of. Orientation, the journal of religious studies in kenya, vol. The bible and christian theology have to address this dominant influence and impact upon the traditional african life. Learn about our beginnings, ongoing connections, and mission today. When we speak of african traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the africans. This paper examines the concept and philosophy of african traditional religion from the viewpoint of africans. In discussing african culture and values, we are not presupposing that all african societies have the same. That theology must be open to the aspiration of the people of africa if it is to help christianity to become incarnate in the life of the peoples of the african continent. Gender refers to the different roles that are assigned to males and females. In order to understand the people of africa fully, an indepth study of the religious beliefs of its people must be carried out. God, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious. Its significance to current educational practices with special reference to zimbabwe.
Mar, 2010 a religion is sometimes described as universal if its membership is no t restricted to a singkle ethnicity in which case judaism after the christianizing of the roman empir e would be excluded and the cult of mwali in southern africa included, andor it may also be so described if it has an allencompassing cosmology in which case much of christianity and hinduism as actually. Religion serves as the structure around which all other activities, such as cultural, economic, political and social organizations are built. The crosscultural nature for understanding its philosophy is of particular importance because of the radicalone might say even traumatic interface that africa has had with european culture and with western modernity. The one aspect, which is common in all the indigenous religions in. Since african traditional religion, promotes integral development that goes beyond mere economic globalization, this paper defends the thesis that atr plays a very important role in the sustainable development of africa despite conflicts, at times violent, arising from religious intolerance. African traditional religion refers to the indigenous or autochthonous. The study of african traditional religion atr is very exciting, fascinating, but sadly uncared for and very much unregarded even by the africans, who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation or naivity have not bothered to. The main objective of this paper is to examine african culture and values. It further studies the difficulties involved in this study and future of african traditional religion. Traditional african religion is much more than westerners give it credit for.
Faso more than 33 percent follow african religion, although it is not the religion of the majority. Traditional african religion still very relevant in africa. The alleged cultural superiority of europe led many missionaries not only to bring the christian faith, but also western culture, at the. African traditional religion and concepts of development. Apr 26, 2017 africans, therefore, were widely considered as people with inferior forms of religion and logic. The study of african traditional religion the study of african traditional religion atr is very exciting, fascinating, but sadly uncared for and very much unregarded even by the africans, who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation or naivity have not bothered to know its worth or importance. Atr african traditional religion introduction three religions dominates african continent. 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. We all come from the background of inheriting and adopting of age long concepts which are transferred to us by our parents, community. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising world international journal of humanities social sciences and education ijhsse page 88 philosophy would be nothing more than asking and offering rational explanations of the universe. In order to be authentically african, christianity has to meet the needs of africans in their.
Religion 20 1990 contains some articles on the study of african religions that are worth reading. African traditional religion is a thriving scholarly business, but a serious disconnect exists between contributions that celebrate a generalized african traditional religion and those that describe particular religions and aspects of religion on the basis of ethnographic and archival research. Revival of ancient traditions impact of christianity on ancient traditions and african indigenous religion. Oral sources and the study of african traditional religion george i. Africans, therefore, were widely considered as people with inferior forms of religion and logic.
African traditional religions religion in zimbabwe. In order to understand people, it is very crucial you understand the building block of their behavioral patterns. Steve kquofi andpeace amate from the university of science and technology in kumasi, ghana, carried out a study. What are the advantages and disadvantages of african.
Welcome to the summary lecture of african traditional religions. It also shows that the worship of god in african traditional religion is through sacrifices, offerings, singing, dancing and prayers. The role of african traditional religion, culture and. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising world. African traditional religion african studies oxford.
Traditional african concepts of reality and destiny are deeply rooted in the spirit world. Interreligious relations, especially, among african traditional religion atr worshippers, muslims and christians are becoming sources of social tension and violence. Well then come to the conclusion that african traditional religion is an indispensable value. This testifies to the enduring power of indigenous religion and its ability to domesticate christianity and islam in modern africa. Religion, centre for west african studies, centre for the study of global ethics. Its study has to go handin hand with the study of the people who practise the religion. Why teach or study african traditional religion in modern. From the precolonial to the modern day toyin falola and tyler fleming encyclopedia of life support systems eolss people have lived in africa for more than three million years. Sex refers to a persons biological characteristics. God, divinities and spirits in african traditional.
Proverbs in africa are wise philosophical expressions, generally short and sometimes very funny, yet the messages they carry are deep. The study of african traditional religion atr is very exciting, fascinating, but sadly uncared for and very much unregarded even by the africans, who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation or naivity have not bothered to know its worth or importance. It presents the worldview, philosophical nature and foundation of african traditional religion. Why teach or study african traditional religion in modern africa. What is the influence and impact of this dominant religious belief in spirit beings upon the whole of traditional african life. It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of former generations. The place of african traditional religion in interreligious encounters in sierra leone since the advent of islam and christianity is my own work and that all the sources that i have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. Studying as a foreign student in the us and the uk could not have been possible without the generous financial support from the scholarship office of the global. The invention of african traditional religion, a thorough analysis of the categories used for lumping together religious traditions and one of the best critiques of the. A definition 1973, omosade awolalu in yoruba belief and sacrificial rites and john mbiti in the concept of god in africa 1970 are a few examples of postcolonial scholars of religion who have resisted and denounced colonial idea that africans do not know god. The reason for studying african religion in postcolonial. Pdf the teaching of african traditional religion in.
World civilizations and history of human development african civilizations. The role of african traditional religion, culture and worldview in. If focuses on ghana but could pobably apply to most african countries. Very much misunderstood, the religion has been called all kinds of derogatory names, from animism to paganism. The advantages of african traditional education include passing on of essential values from the community as well as defining the roles of both boys and girls distinctly. African traditional religion has also been the source of inspiration ofre which africa is known, and included in theses are art, music, social institutions, politically systems and the ancient civilization.
In discussing african culture and values, we are not. Based on their study in nigerian schools, lawal et al. This is a 3hour summary lecture on the basic components of african traditional religions. African traditional religion, mainly by the west and also by some africans themselves who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation have not bothered to know it. These figures represent people who primarily follow african traditional religion. African people from vestiges of traditional life and religion to christianity. What are the main reasons of studying african philosophy and. This paper primarily addresses the controversy among scholars on whether oral traditions such as myths, songs, wise sayings, incantations, invocations, legends, etc. Religion enters into every aspect of the life of the africans and it cannot be studied in isolation.
Religions of africa 1985 that one of the most fascinating aspects of our. Well then come to the conclusion that african traditional religion is an indispensable value every african child must study with the. For many africans and ghanaians, in particular, it is religion more than anything else that shapes their worldview and participation in social life6. In african traditional religion, morals, values, beliefs and culture among other things play a critical role in society. Social and cultural anthropology and the study of africa. This is the complete text of what is african traditional religion. One particular subject that many african philosophers have written about is that on the subject of. Over the years, african traditional institutions have thrived on religion. Christianity and the african traditional religions. First, it begins by a study of the meaning of religion, which itself is enigmatic and elusive. The reason for studying african religion in postcolonial africa. Traditional songs, poems and dances have also been integrated with traditional worship styles of western origin. April 26, 2017 africa african atr culture philosophy religion. African traditional spirituality as an african heritage must be taken seriously for a fuller understanding of african christian spirituality, particularly of the african pentecostal churches.
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