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OK. the RELIGIONS of African peoples have developed within various African CULTURES without being influenced by major world religions such as CHRISTIANITY, HINDUISM or ISLAM. Today, Christianity and Islam are religions practiced by the majority of people living in Africa. The three main religious traditions—African traditional religion, Christianity, and Islam—constitute the triple religious heritage of the African continent. The tribes across Africa have various names for the High God such as Maa for the Bambara, Irke for the Songhey or Amma for the Dogun (Velton, p.31). But it is also noticeable that the major world religions all seem to originate from the Middle East and South East Asia. They have both spread and replaced indigenous African religions, but are often adapted to African cultural contexts and belief systems. African religions also share many ideas with world religions such as Judaism and Buddhism. 5. The possessed are referred to as “horsemen,” because they are … Like tribal religions from other parts of the world … His justice is true and he will examine your feet, he will know how to find every stain, whether visible or hidden under the skin; if you have fallen on the way, he will know. Today, around 10 percent of the African population still practice some form of traditional religion. And in the 2nd century, a new religion became popular in Egypt, as well as in Ethiopia and Eritrea. There are common beliefs in Africa although the continent is a large with many different cultures and 1, Hutchison, 1913, p.xll. Les religions traditionnelles africaines sont l ensemble des …   Wikipédia en Français, Religions tribales de l'Afrique noire — Religions traditionnelles africaines  Cet article concerne les religions africaines traditionnelles. So when their Messenger comes, it is judged between them with equity, and they are not wronged.’ [1], ‘And We did raise among every people a Messenger, preaching: “Worship Allah and shun the Evil One”. It is not easy to date how far back these religious systems go, but as an example, the Bantu people of Central Africa are believed to have emerged from Cameroon and Nigeria around 1000 BCE and then spread in the region. This is not just seen with parents who are treated with respect and kindness, but also with teachers who are shown the utmost respect. Sometimes this will also be manifested in a move to towns with communal responsibility and shared worship from traditional pastoral herders who would have moved across the region just as the Tuareg do to this day. It arose through a process of syncretism between the traditional religions of West Africa and Roman Catholicism.Adherents are known as Vodouists (French: vodouisants) or "servants of the spirits" (Haitian Creole: sèvitè).Vodou focuses on the veneration of deities known as lwa (or loa). Pour une vision d ensemble des religions en Afrique, voir Religions en Afrique. It deals with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, and so on. For the continent of Africa, were those people devoid of religion until the Abrahamic faiths came to the continent in the last two millennia, or were they also the beneficiaries of revelation which would have impacted their cultures and behaviours? Abrahamic religions are widespread throughout Africa. Among the tribes, they will often have statues or use mask ceremonies to access secondary divinities or intermediaries between humans and the High God. There are also codes of ethics and morals that are entrenched in these rural communities. Pour une vision d ensemble des religions en Afrique, voir Religions en Afrique. These faiths are usually confined to local areas and tribes, and are passed down from one generation to the next, mostly through oral tradition. Ceremonies and rituals involve the veneration of ancestors and heroes through the use of masks, chanting and drumming in order to have an active dialogue with intermediaries, just as we see with Shaman in other parts of the world. History of African traditional religion Christianity came to Africa from the outside, it happened, as the legend says, in 42, then the Orthodox Coptic Church was formed by the Apostle Mark. The great faiths of the world have a religious text to refer to, and yet, our observance … He also serves as the Global Operations Director with Humanity First, and is responsible for poverty alleviation projects in 54 countries, mainly in Africa, South Asia and Central America. Every aspect of it cannot be described as original. Today, Christianity and Islam are religions practiced by the majority of people living in Africa. But before those two religions arrived, there were several traditional religions practiced. This movement spread to the entire North African coast. It is often combined with elements of Christianity and Islam. Haitian Vodou is an African diasporic religion that developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries. In Africa you are automatically born into your African Traditional Religion, unlike Christianity and Islam where you have to be converted. (Worship of the vodun is the original source of the Haitian religion of Vodou, which emerged as a syncretism of African, Roman Catholic, and Caribbean religious traditions by African slaves in Haiti.) When Ludwig got to The main difference is that the revelations were never written down, and have therefore evolved through verbal transmission from generation to generation. Traditional African religion is very popular and arrived here with our North and West African ancestors. African Traditional Religion has been evolving; there is in it the element of continuity as well as discontinuity. Healers, PROPHETS and other RITUAL specialists play an important role in these religions although not all have people easily identified as PRIESTS. In this song, there are similarities to the Day of Judgement of the Abrahamic faiths. About 10 per cent of the African population is still practicing some form of traditional religion today. At the end of the examination by the Judge, if the person has no stains, they are joyous just as someone would be if they are destined for heaven. Eliade mentioned that around 800 languages are spoken on the continent [5]. In many ways East and Southern African Traditional Religions, which lack professional Priests, share common elements which make them quite distinct from West and North African religions, where professional Priests play an important role in traditional religious practices. Rain will come and again the sun will shine, and over it all passes the eyes of God. Then among them were some whom Allah guided and among them were some who became deserving of ruin.’ [2], ‘And We sent some Messengers whom we have already mentioned to thee and some Messengers whom we have not mentioned to thee.’ [3]. African traditional religion— African traditional religions, also referred to as African indigenous religions or African tribal religions, is a term referring to a variety of religions indigenous to the continent of Africa. For example, the song mentions that the Judge will see all stains whether visible or hidden; similar to the notion that God can see all of your actions and your intentions. The traditional religions indigenous to Africa have, for most of their existence, been orally rather than scripturally transmitted. It is often evident that adults, children and other family members have an established system, as do more senior figures in a village or community. Les religions traditionnelles africaines sont l ensemble des …   Wikipédia en Français, African religions — Indigenous religions of the African continent. In contrast to the indigenous religious systems of Africa, which are generated and sustained by the community, Christian prophetic movement s are organized around an individual. Most of Africa's organized religions were brought to the country from Europeans and other foreign settlers. It is clear that Africa has been a cradle of civilization for millennia, and that as mentioned in the Qur’an (10:48), the various tribes across Africa have not been devoid of prophecy and revelation. More than 100 million Africans still adhere to the traditional African religions. There must have been many Messengers that we are not aware of, but whose legacy would be imprinted in the changes in behaviour and culture resulting from their teachings. The traditional African religions (or traditional beliefs and practices of African people) are a set of highly diverse beliefs that include various ethnic religions . Pour une vision d ensemble des religions en Afrique, voir Religions en Afrique. About 10 per cent of the African population is still practicing some form of traditional religion today. African people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the practice of Abrahamic religions. Elements of the traditional religion that a Christian would need to consider when sharing the Christian faith/gospel with a person from this community. The majority of Africans are adherents of Christianity or Islam. Again the reverence for ancestors stems from the same concept of social order that is seen throughout African life. Vodun gave rise to a number of different diaspora faiths, throughout the world collectively known as “Vo… Man generally is given to misconception, especially in the midst of conflicting ideas or contending issues. African traditional religions stress healing and the spiritual well-being of people and are usually expressed through dance and music. 3 And similar to this was the dialogue that took place between Edwin Smith, who had gone out as a missionary to Africa, and Emil Ludwig, an eminent biographer. This Yoruba proverb from Nigeria illustrates the Golden Rule of treating others as you would want to be treated yourself: ‘One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.’, (Yoruba Proverb, Nigeria). Just as the concept of Satan is familiar to the Abrahamic faiths, in Africa they talk about the Trickster, and ceremonies would seek to ward off the impact of the Trickster and evil spirits. Then there is the characteristic of the Creator being omnipresent and seeing all of our actions and thoughts: ‘God has nothing hid from him’, Ovambo Proverb (Angola), ‘The sun shines and sends its burning rays down upon us, the moon rises in its glory. Travelling around Africa, it is clear that people are comfortable with a social order that has been in place since antiquity. The Yoruba of Nigeria record that Obatala creates the physical body, but the greater Olodumare who sits in the heavens, blows the spirit into the body [5]. Over time, the concept of ‘home’ may be hazy, but knowledge that this is not the end means that people accept their position in society, accept trials and tribulations such as plagues and floods, and seem to be less inclined to hoarding worldly possessions. When addressing religion in Africa, scholars often speak of a “triple heritage,” that is the triple legacy … Pour une vision d ensemble des religions en Afrique, voir Religions en Afrique. The great faiths of the world have a religious text to refer to, and yet, our observance of religious people is often that their behaviour does not reflect their teachings and faith. 2 E. B. Idowu, African Traditional Religion, S.C.M., 1973, p.87. Africa is a massive continent with diverse religious traditions, to the extent that within the same tradition there have been variations. The study of African religions is greatly neglected in religious… …   Concise dictionary of Religion, AFRICAN INDEPENDENT CHURCH —    since the late nineteenth century thousands of NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS have developed in Africa all of which claim to be CHRISTIAN yet they reject traditional MISSIONARY Churches and attempt to incorporate many TRADITIONAL African BELIEFS and… …   Concise dictionary of Religion, African American culture — in the United States refers to the cultural contributions of African ethnic groups to the culture of the United States, either as part of or distinct from American culture. Traditional African religion is still popular throughout Africa and stems from the beliefs of Central and West African ancestors. In Africa, especially with traditional rural culture, the concept of respect for elders is very strong. The traditional African understanding and the interpretation of Christianity have deep roots in these fundamental beliefs of the African traditional religions. In that sense, perhaps these ancestors include the very Prophets of Africa that we are seeking. There are numerous indigenous faiths still found throughout Africa. But before those two religions arrived, there were several traditional religions practiced. Other great empires such as Great Zimbabwe built by descendants of the Shona people had amazing architecture depicting their power, but also had what are thought to be temple complexes before the advent of Islam and Christianity through trade [6]. Traditional African religions are the traditions of the religious groups in Africa.After Christianity and Islam, they are the third-biggest religious group in Africa.These religions still stick to their traditions. 2. They are folk religions, and combine different beliefs.In general, people in the cities confess to either Christianity or Islam. There is also a recognition that time on earth is limited, and that there is a greater purpose: ‘We are on a market trip on earth: whether we fill our baskets or not, once the time is up, we go home’. Britannica 2020). Some examples of devotional masks and outfits are shown below (images courtesy of the author unless otherwise attributed): Examples of masks and ceremonial outfits from the Bassam area of Ivory Coast, Examples of masks and statuettes made by craftsmen on the Gambia-Senegal border. Abrahamic religions are widespread throughout Africa. These proverbs show an understanding of a superior Creator who is also on a different physical plane to mankind, often depicted as being in the heavens. African Traditional Religion is now widely taught in African universities, but its identity remains essentially negative: African belief that is not Christianity or Islam. That is the case concerning issues about Africa and its religious beliefs. Some examples of African traditional religions include the Yoruba and Igbo of Nigeria, the Serer of Senegal, the Akan of Ghana and the Ivory Coast, and Vodun, a religion practiced by the Gbe peoples. The traditional African religions or traditional beliefs and practices of African people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions. Introduction. Since it is a religion practised by living persons today, changes are to be expected. ‘If your parents take care of you up to the time you cut your teeth, you take care of them when they lose theirs’, Akan proverb (Ghana). Mbiti regards African Traditional Religion(s) (ATR(s)) as monotheism and as a praeparatio evangelica, and maintains that the Christian God is the same as the God worshipped in ATR(s). The distinct identity of African American culture is rooted in the… …   Wikipedia, Religions africaines — Religions traditionnelles africaines  Cet article concerne les religions africaines traditionnelles. The Egyptians of north Africa had a clear concept of a day of judgement and life after death as described in their ‘Book of the Dead’. Traditional African religion has common themes such as a Creator or High God, positive ancestor influences as well as tricksters, and an afterlife with spirit worlds. There is also a Hadith [4] saying of the Holy Prophet (sa)] recording a conversation in which Prophet  Muhammad (sa) when asked how many Prophets had been sent to mankind, answered that there were 124,000! Nothing is hidden from Him. Thus, linguistic experts such as Christopher Ehretand Placide Tempels have applied their knowledge of languages towards reconstructing the original core beliefs of the followers of these traditions. However, there were many traditional religions practiced prior to the arrival of these two religions. Trained in the new method of \"fieldwork\"—which entailed observing participants and speaking the language of the community—these anthropologists worked for their governments. The modern understanding has evolved through syncretism with Christian and Islamic influences, and often these beliefs are practised alongside Islam and Christianity in rural communities. The four linguistic phylums spoken in Africa are: Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, Niger-Congo, and Khoi-San. 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 past. 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