There are other areas of exploration in which I continue to be engaged. On returning home, the learned professor wrote an article using my brief answer as his title. In these congregations, knowledge is passed on through a ritual of initiation (kanzo) in which the body becomes the site of spiritual transformation. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Ifa is an indispensable treasure trove of knowledge that cant be duplicated elsewhere; much of its knowledge has been handed down from babalawo [Ifa priest/diviner] to babalawo for centuries. Liberia is the only country where more than one-in-ten (12%) identify primarily with an African traditional religion. But I have discovered that there is also the fundamental factor of African religion, without which this phenomenal expansion of Christianity would not be a reality. But in practical terms, there is a Christian Yes to African religiosity. In Nigeria, the population in 1900 included 4.2 million Muslims and 180,000 Christians. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. (I myself have consulted with several diviners for my research on specific academic topics regarding African culture and history; consequently, if we were to lose Africas diviners, we would also lose one of Africas best keepers and sources of African history and culture. The church is composed largely of people who come out of the African religious background. He must have been active among African peoples as he was among the Jewish people. Religious pluralism serves peace. OLUPONA: Yes, and the pluralistic nature of African-tradition religion is one of the reasons for its success in the diaspora. religious syncretism, the fusion of diverse religious beliefs and practices. Since the Bible tells me that God is the Creator of all things, his activities in the world must clearly go beyond what is recorded in the Bible. It is here that I have discovered the church in Burma, in the Pacific islands, the house church in China, the basic Christian communities in Latin America, the struggling church in South Africa, plus countless other endeavors of Christians all over the world. He sees the other faith as complementing and even adding spiritual potency to his own spiritual practice of constructing effective amulets. Dr. Mbiti is on the staff of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Switzerland. 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. Indigenous religion in Africa is the way Africans understand and worship their god. The more I peeped into African religious insights about God, the more I felt utterly unable to use the word "only" in this case. 0000014025 00000 n I completed my doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge in 1963, the year that Honest to God, by J.A.T. GAZETTE: What allows African indigenous religions to be so accommodating? I have met here the church not only in its geographical outreach but also in its historical roots -- seeing, for example, the rich traditions of the Orthodox Church, the universality of the Roman Catholic Church (even though it is based in the Vatican), the reconciling positioning of the Anglican Communion, the dynamic vitality of African independent churches, and so on. Corrections? African religions, Indigenous religions of the African continent. Instances of religious syncretismas, for example, Gnosticism (a religious dualistic system that incorporated elements from the Oriental mystery religions), Judaism, Christianity, and Greek religious philosophical conceptswere particularly prevalent during the Hellenistic period (c. 300 bcec. Vodou represents a syncretism of the West African Vodun religion and Roman Catholicism by the descendants of the Dahomean, Kongo, Yoruba, and other ethnic groups who had been enslaved and transported to colonial Saint-Domingue (as Haiti was known then) and partly Christianized by Roman Catholic missionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries. They do this by having Africans increasingly identify themselves as either Muslim or Christian, thus denying their unique African worldview that has always viewed as evidenced in their creation myths everything as unified and connected to the land, the place were ones clan, lineage, and people were cosmically birthed. This re-ligion is found in almost all the activities of the African man. These were not empty names. GAZETTE: What will Africa lose if it loses its African indigenous worldview? 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. Copyright by The Christian Century Foundation; used by permission. He later earned both an M.A. Revelation is given not in a vacuum but within particular historical experiences and reflections. For example, an African amulet might have inside of it a written verse from either the Koran or Christian Bible. We can list some obvious and often publicized factors. At Makerere University I taught New Testament, African religion and other courses. The rapid growth of many religions in Africa and the revival of AIR in postcolonial Africa have made inter-religious dialogue an urgent necessity. For starters, the word religion is problematic for many Africans, because it suggests that religion is separate from the other aspects of ones culture, society, or environment. xref Ethiopia's Christian population, at 6 million in 1900, will grow to a projected 100 million in 2050. Regardless of the variation, it is still true that Nigeria has both the largest number of Muslims and the largest number of Christians in the region. 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. This is, obviously, a general statement, one which needs detailed elaboration. They constitute an important channel of the churchs prophetic witness today. Aujourd'hui, la plupart des Zariens sont soit catholiques, soit protestants; les Biras pour leur part sont principalement catholiques. This massive expansion within a short time is unprecedented in the history of Christianity. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. The beliefs and practices of the traditional religions in Africa can enrich Christian theology and spirituality." Model tested on tens of thousands of routine brain scans spotted disease risk with 90% accuracy, Experts on law, policy say originalist view used to overturn Roe could upend 76 ruling based on cruel, unusual punishment clause, Issues revolve around culture of viewing civilians as potential threats, concerns about self-protection in departments equipped with military-grade arms, Khalil Gibran Muhammad says College Board needs to stand firm behind curriculum, 2023 The President and Fellows of Harvard College. I also celebrate and honor the kings festivals and ceremonies in my hometown and other places where I live and do research. 0000001519 00000 n In one case the thinking and experience of the people produced a written record of Gods dealings with the Jewish people in particular. Much of Oluponas work is an attempt to provide a fuller understanding of the complexity and richness of African indigenous thought and practice by viewing it not as a foil or as a useful comparative to better understand Western religions, but as a system of thought and belief that should be valued and understood for its own ideas and contribution to global religions. And in Botswana, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia, the survey finds that 5% or less identify as Muslim. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. I feel deeply the value of biblical studies in this exercise, and the contribution of biblical insights in this development. I have concentrated these comments on the role of African background in my theological reflection. In its place there emerged the word "also." 9_r'v>#z2"syiBm?mry8%;m8v L,WNHitMJk#RZwEl+M3N1n[nt4]C$i2y]_6Iasrt God was not a stranger to African peoples. Download chapter 3 in full (3-page PDF, <1MB), Photo credit: Sebastien Desarmaux/GODONG/Godong/Corbis, Part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA No viable theology can grow in Africa without addressing itself to the interreligious phenomenon at work there. Additionally, I will not discourage, disparage, or try and convert those who practice their form of African indigenous religions. Later, my theological studies in America and England did not challenge this position, since that was not a living issue for my professors and fellow students. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer, By Anthony Chiorazzi Harvard Correspondent. Yet . The award allows Olupona a year of study and research in Germany; he is on leave this year (201516). This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between Christianity and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. Reuben Kigame, the Kenyan Christian musician and apologist, has rightly suggested that considering the fact that Christianity existed in Africa for a good eighteen centuries before the. My findings were used in teaching, but eventually I put them together in a book, Concepts of God in Africa, published by the British publisher SPCK (1970). GAZETTE: What is the state of indigenous African religions today? Theological development in Africa must inevitably grow within this religious setting. GAZETTE: How do you balance your Christian and indigenous African identity? This is not to say that indigenous African spirituality represents a form of theocracy or religious totalitarianism not at all. And if these shrines are not properly cared for by the designated descendant, then misfortune in the form of illness might befall the caretaker. Christianity in Africa dates to the very inception of the church. GAZETTE: In trying to understand African spirituality, is it helpful to refer to it as polytheistic or monotheistic? I find the traditional Western distinction between "special revelation" and "general revelation" to be inadequate and unfreeing. 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. 93 0 obj This statistical tilting of Christendom from the north to the south, after 2,000 years, holds tremendous prospects and challenges. The Yoruba, however, do have a concept of a supreme being, called Olorun or Olodumare, and this creator god of the universe is empowered by the various orisa [deities] to create the earth and carry out all its related functions, including receiving the prayers and supplications of the Yoruba people. The Yoruba diviners, for example, draw on this extensive indigenous knowledge every day by consulting Ifa, an extensive literary corpus of information covering science, medicine, cosmology, and metaphysics. Diviners who go through a long educational and apprenticeship program hold the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of the African people. Africans consequently played a crucial role in establishing the doctrines and theology of the early church. 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. In the cities, local hierarchies of priestesses or priests (manbo and oungan), children of the spirits (ounsi), and ritual drummers (ountgi) comprise more formal societies or congregations (sosyete). For instance, the Yoruba religion has historically been centered in southwestern Nigeria, the Zulu religion in southern Africa, and the Igbo religion in southeastern Nigeria. Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. Updates? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. These impinge upon their daily life- and experience of the Christian faith. Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. One important task, then, is to see the nature, the method and the implications of Gods revelation among African peoples, in the light of the biblical record of the same revelation. (See the glossary for more information on the evil eye.). "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. I had it. The word Vodou means spirit or deity in the Fon language of the African kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin). African development. 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. I want to see his healing hand, to hear his word that exorcises evil spirits. They have also fostered a greater feeling of individual self-worth by acknowledging important milestones in ones life, including becoming an adult or an elder. The introduced religions of Islam (in northern Africa) and Christianity (in southern Africa) are now the continents major religions, but traditional religions still play an important role, especially in the interior of sub-Saharan Africa. 1996 Canadian Anthropology Society While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. I want to walk with Jesus of Nazareth on the shores of Lake Galilee and the hillsides of Judea, through the gates of Jerusalem. Syncretistic movements in the Orient, such as Manichaeism (a dualistic religion founded by the 3rd-century-ce Iranian prophet Mani, who combined elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism) and Sikhism (a religion founded by the 15th16th-century Indian reformer Guru Nnak, who combined elements of Islam and Hinduism), also met with resistance from the prevailing religions of their respective areas. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender. 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. As the map in the preface to this report shows, sub-Saharan Africa is much more religiously mixed than northern Africa, where the population is overwhelmingly Muslim. They proclaimed the name of Jesus Christ. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, between 10% and 15% of respondents are Muslim. They are not mutually exclusive. 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. Abstract. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax Anthropologica is published for CASCA by University of Toronto Press. Some individuals have criticized these books -- and no book is perfect. 75 0 obj 0000001019 00000 n In this case, so-called "salvation history" must widen its outreach in order to embrace the horizons of other peoples histories. The defining line between deities and ancestors is often contested, but overall, ancestors are believed to occupy a higher level of existence than living human beings and are believed to be able to bestow either blessings or illness upon their living descendants. Maybe this is why I am not an Anglican priest. OLUPONA: We would lose a worldview that has collectively sustained, enriched, and given meaning to a continent and numerous other societies for centuries through its epistemology, metaphysics, history, and practices. That which had been seen as the enemy of the gospel turns out (to me) to be indeed a very welcoming friend. But whatever the shortcomings of these and my other publications, the materials that went into these two have raised extremely important issues for me that have continued to engage my reflection. For myself, I negotiate between my Yoruba and Christian identity by, for example, affirming those aspects of African culture that promote good life and communal human welfare. A magisterial historical synthesis of the formative period of African Christianity written by one of its foremost scholars. Because of this, Africa is now home to some of the world's largest Christian and Muslim communities. Wendy Sherman, who was the lead U.S. negotiator in the nuclear deal with Iran, was welcomed by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School. In addition, roughly a quarter or more of the population in 11 countries say they believe in the protective power of juju (charms or amulets), shrines and other sacred objects. These statements await further exploration by African theologians. The book comprised ideas that I had gathered from 300 African peoples ("tribes" -- a term that today is sometimes used in derogatory ways). I want to reflect and write on this topic, but somehow it makes me feel frightened. 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 social anthropology from Oxford University, is studying for a master of theological studies (M.T.S.) It sensitized my thinking in many areas, one of these being the quest for Christian unity. The council made me aware, perhaps even frightfully so, of the problems of our world. degree at Harvard Divinity School. In most countries, however, less than one-in-twenty say this is their primary religious affiliation. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World, Chapter 3: Traditional African Religious Beliefs and Practices, Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, Next: Chapter 4: Interreligious Harmony and Tensions, Chapter 2: Commitment to Christianity and Islam, Chapter 4: Interreligious Harmony and Tensions, In the U.S. and Western Europe, people say they accept Muslims, but opinions are divided on Islam, In Western Europe, familiarity with Muslims is linked to positive views of Muslims and Islam, Q&A: Measuring attitudes toward Muslims and Jews in Western Europe, Europes Muslim population will continue to grow but how much depends on migration, The Growth of Germanys Muslim Population, Size & Demographic Characteristics of Religious Groups, Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, 60% of Americans Would Be Uncomfortable With Provider Relying on AI in Their Own Health Care, Gender pay gap in U.S. hasnt changed much in two decades. Prayers and sacrificial offerings are usually directed toward secondary divinities, who are intermediaries between the human and sacred realms. Their culture, history, world views and spiritual aspirations cannot be taken away from them. There is even a community deep in the American Bible Belt in Beaufort County, S.C., called Oyotunji Village that practices a type of African indigenous religion, which is a mixture of Yoruba and Ewe-Fon spiritual practices. A prominent European New Testament professor visited Makerere University and interviewed me on what I thought about the "death of God" discussion. For over 200 years, Africans, largely from the west coast of Africa, were brought to the United States in the slave trade. Islam And Christianity Christianity came first to the continent of Africa in the 1st or early 2nd century AD. Its about getting tangible results. The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God. It is a way of life, and it can never be separated from the public sphere. It may be, and needs to be, a qualified and critical Yes. The conviction that people will be reborn in this world again and again tends to be more common among Christians than Muslims. 817-820. This number has since grown rapidly, to the point that in 1980 there are estimated to be 200 million Christians (or about 45 per cent of the population). Of course, behind all these factors is the Holy Spirit working through them. As a resident fellow, Sherman will teach a study group on negotiation and diplomacy this semester. Sign up for daily emails to get the latest Harvardnews. In most countries surveyed, at least three-in-ten people believe in reincarnation, which may be related to traditional beliefs in ancestral spirits. Christianity is more dominant in the south, while Islam is more dominant in the north. 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. National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Vodou's role in Haitian mental health, Learn Religions - An Introduction to the Basic Beliefs of the Vodou (Voodoo) Religion, Ancient Origins - The Origins of Voodoo, the Misunderstood Religion, LiveScience - Voodoo: Facts About Misunderstood Religion, Vodou - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Vodou - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Today, the country claims about 80 million of each . The idea is that the traditional African practitioner who constructed that amulet believes in the efficacy of other faiths and religions; there is no conflict in his mind between his traditional African spirituality and another faith. The rural Bira of northeastern Zaire have been exposed to the Christian message for well over half a century. Take em with a grain of salt. Did he then reveal himself only in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel and other personalities of the Bible? In this overpowering environment, one simply accepted this stand and looked at the world from its perspectives. In the 17th century a movement led by the German Protestant theologian George Calixtus aimed at reconciling the differences between the Protestants in Germany, but his efforts were disparaged by orthodox Christian leaders as syncretistic. Many other familial feasts (for the sacred children, for the poor, for particular ancestors) as well as initiations and funerary rituals occur throughout the year. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Some people tried to involve Africa in the debate. At first, Christianity made few inroads into the African slave population, which had its own religious traditions. Their history has a theological meaning. 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
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