OLUPONA: Yes, and the pluralistic nature of African-tradition religion is one of the reasons for its success in the diaspora. While African Traditional religion (ATR) is paramount, it is the purpose of this article to suggest that They include the work of missionaries (of whom there are about 40,000 today, without counting their family members); the work of African Christians in evangelism and pastoral care (their numbers are infinitely greater than those of overseas missionaries, and include men, women and children, both lay and ordained); the role of Christian schools; the translation and distribution of the Bible (which is now available in full or in part in nearly 600 of Africas 1,000 languages); and the ending of the colonial era during the decades 1960-1980. xref African spirituality simply acknowledges that beliefs and practices touch on and inform every facet of human life, and therefore African religion cannot be separated from the everyday or mundane. This includes five countries (Cameroon, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal) where more than half the population uses traditional healers. The first and most intriguing topic that immediately engaged my attention was the thinking of African peoples about God. It publishes a journal Anthropologica and has reclaimed the name of its former journal, Culture for its occasional online bulletin. 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. (1981) and Ph.D. (1983) in the history of religions from Boston University. Did he then reveal himself only in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel and other personalities of the Bible? The amount of devotees to indigenous practices has dwindled as Islam and Christianity have both spread and gained influence throughout the continent. Chapter 1: Religious Affiliation. Subscriptions are available to libraries and individuals who are not members of CASCA. OLUPONA: Your question underscores an important facet about African spirituality: It is not a closed theological system. ancient Rome: Religious and cultural life in the 3rd century, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/religious-syncretism, Academia - Religious Syncretism as a Syncretistic Concept: The Inadequacy of the " World Religions " Paradigm in Cross-Cultural Encounter. The word Vodou means spirit or deity in the Fon language of the African kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin). In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, between 10% and 15% of respondents are Muslim. 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. The rural Bira of northeastern Zaire have been exposed to the Christian message for well over half a century. That book was followed by a flurry of literature on the so-called "death of God" theology (if "theology" it was, for I would call it "atheology"). Olupona, professor of indigenous African religions at Harvard Divinity School and professor of African and African-American studies in Harvards Faculty of Arts and Sciences, recently sat down for an interview about his lifelong research on indigenous African religions. In 1900 there were an estimated 9 million Christians (accounting for about 7 per cent of the population of Africa). Moreover, the religions developed in the Americas impact Africa in that devotees of the African diaspora have significant influence on practices in Africa. AR-Ndhdnn}H\{%jC!a,]c8F`1LE(3%"w+tj}](q w[,p8i$dd$GrMRD K4wLG4@h\WfPY 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. A magisterial historical synthesis of the formative period of African Christianity written by one of its foremost scholars. Its fundamental principle is that everything is spirit. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. African diaspora religions, also described as Afro-American religions, are a number of related beliefs that developed in the Americas in various nations of the Caribbean, Latin America and the Southern United States. There are also other parallels in social, political and cultural areas, just as there are some significant differences. GAZETTE: What else would we lose if we lost traditional African Religions? This is not an empty coincidence. 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. In the end, I believe that Africans can make room for a plurality of religious points of view without one religious point of view excluding or compromising the other. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. 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. One of Jacob Oluponas earliest memories in Massachusetts is of nearly freezing in his apartment as a graduate student at Boston University during the great snowstorm of 1978. Black Americans who identify with a religion are most likely to say belief in God is essential to what their faith means to them (84%), while large majorities say the same about opposing racism (76%) and sexism (71%). I completed my doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge in 1963, the year that Honest to God, by J.A.T. This is, obviously, a general statement, one which needs detailed elaboration. The church is composed largely of people who come out of the African religious background. I want to reflect and write on this topic, but somehow it makes me feel frightened. 0000001019 00000 n Some individuals have criticized these books -- and no book is perfect. Since Christianity came in contact with the traditional religion, there has always been a sharp conflict between traditionalists and Christians. The council made me aware, perhaps even frightfully so, of the problems of our world. It includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. Fewer say it is paramount to their faith to attend religious services (39%), avoid sex before marriage (30%) or oppose abortion . 1996 Canadian Anthropology Society African scholars About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. Corrections? Some people tried to involve Africa in the debate. In three of the countries surveyed (Djibouti, Mali and Senegal), Muslims clearly outnumber Christians. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main So the church which exists on the African scene bears the marks of its peoples backgrounds. A close geographical correlation exists between the location of African religion and the rapid expansion of the Christian faith. I told my father that I was coming home, he recalled. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. x\u}4`P}E#(9q"%LCl'KLb)Sfgdq N It will keep me chewing for a long time, and it will most certainly feed my theological development. 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. African development. While some African cosmologies have a clear idea of a supreme being, other cosmologies do not. All these spirits are believed to live in a mythic land called Ginen, a cosmic Africa. The God of the Christian Bible is understood to be the creator of both the universe and the spirits; the spirits were made by God to help him govern humanity and the natural world. startxref Didnt our Lord let it be clearly known that "before Abraham was I am" (John 8:58)? 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. In most of the 19 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, 90% or more of the respondents say they belong to one of these faiths. Some of these African diaspora religions include Cuban Regla de Ocha, Haitian Vodou, and Brazilian Candomble. These initiation rituals are already not as common in Africa as they were only 50 years ago, yet age-grade initiations have always helped young Africans feel connected to their community and their past. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Omissions? In five countries (Tanzania, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal and Mali) majorities express this belief. Its about getting tangible results. So I read on and on, and conducted field research to learn more and more. Supreme Court may halt health care guarantees for inmates, Why police resist reforms to militarization, Historian says Fla. dispute shows why AP class in African American studies is needed, Low-carb diet can help manage progression of Type 2 diabetes, Those breezy TV drug ads? Religion informs everything in traditional African society, including political art, marriage, health, diet, dress, economics, and death. One of the things these diaspora African religions testify to is the beauty of African religions to engage a devotee on many spiritual levels. ), In addition to expressing high levels of belief in the protective power of sacrificial offerings and sacred objects, upwards of one-in-five people in every country say they believe in the evil eye, or the ability of certain people to cast malevolent curses or spells. Yet . But the basic truth seems to be that Gods revelation is not confined to the biblical record. African spirituality simply acknowledges that beliefs and practices touch on and inform every facet of human life, and therefore African religion cannot be separated from the everyday or mundane.. That would be a serious loss not only for Africans, but also for academics, researchers, writers, and general seekers of wisdom the world over. 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. 93 0 obj At Makerere University I taught New Testament, African religion and other courses. My doctoral studies in New Testament eschatology led me also to the field of Christology. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Indigenous African religions are pragmatic. It sensitized my thinking in many areas, one of these being the quest for Christian unity. Unlike in Europe and the United States, very few people in sub-Saharan Africa say they are unaffiliated with a particular faith. I want to make a pilgrimage into Christ. I find the traditional Western distinction between "special revelation" and "general revelation" to be inadequate and unfreeing. Request Permissions, Published By: Canadian Anthropology Society. 1"7$X9Xyyyb GNpL!9I&mxo0++44cA@5c. 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. Corrections? Important lwa are celebrated on saints days (for example: Ogou on St. Jamess Day, July 25; Ezili Danto on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16; Danbala on St. Patricks Day, March 17; and the spirits of the ancestors on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, November 1 and November 2). 817-820. 0000015705 00000 n This is not a biblical distinction. The fusion of cultures that was effected by the conquest of Alexander the Great (4th century bce ), his successors, and the Roman Empire tended to bring together a variety of religious and philosophical views that resulted in a strong tendency toward religious syncretism. He has researched and written about such diverse religious cultures as the Hare Krishnas, Zoroastrians, Shakers, and the Old Order Amish. But Gods dealings with the African people are recorded, nevertheless, in living form -- oral communication, rituals, symbols, ceremonies, community faith. At first, Christianity made few inroads into the African slave population, which had its own religious traditions. A prominent European New Testament professor visited Makerere University and interviewed me on what I thought about the "death of God" discussion. Some African diasporans are returning to the continent to reconnect with their ancestral traditions, and they are encouraging and organizing the local African communities to reclaim this heritage. interaction between the Christian churches and West African religious culture. 0000001791 00000 n Olupona earned his bachelor of arts degree in religious studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1975. 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. Sign up for daily emails to get the latest Harvardnews. 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. 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. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender. 75 0 obj Humans are spirits who inhabit the visible world. OLUPONA: Yes, and the pluralistic nature of African-tradition religion is one of the reasons for its success in the diaspora. In four countries (Chad, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria and Tanzania), the number of Christians and Muslims is more equally divided, with a ratio of less than two-to-one in either direction.2 The other countries surveyed are predominantly Christian with Muslim minorities of varying sizes. 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. But for many Africans, religion can never be separated from all these. This chapter includes information on: Traditional African religious beliefs, such as belief in the protective power of sacrifices to ancestors Traditional African religious practices, such as owning sacred objects Download chapter 3 in full (3-page PDF, <1MB) Photo credit: Sebastien Desarmaux/GODONG/Godong/Corbis 0000008365 00000 n I feel deeply the value of biblical studies in this exercise, and the contribution of biblical insights in this development. 0000001519 00000 n There is not space here to argue the case for the role played by African religion in the establishment of the Christian faith in Africa. Theological development in Africa must inevitably grow within this religious setting. But, it has been a sorrowful, disappointment to me to experience the fact that some individuals who exercise great power in the council are not angels: they sometimes practice the exact contrary of those values and goals to which the council is committed. The Pew Forums survey found 52% of the population is Muslim. I was like a snail shyly peeping out of its house after a heavy thunderstorm. 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. Christianity is more dominant in the south, while Islam is more dominant in the north. "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. Vodou is an oral tradition practiced by extended families that inherit familial spirits, along with the necessary devotional practices, from their elders. The previous year I had published African Religions and Philosophy (Doubleday, 1969). Ancestors can offer advice and bestow good fortune and honor to their living dependents, but they can also make demands, such as insisting that their shrines be properly maintained and propitiated. 0000001586 00000 n 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. (back to text), 3 Nigerias 2006 census did not ask about religious affiliation, and recent estimates of the numbers of Muslims and Christians in the country vary. 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 After that date there will be more Christians in the south than in the north. GAZETTE: It sounds like African indigenous religions are dynamic, inclusive, and flexible. I cannot claim that I have witnessed much progress in that quest at the organizational level, but perhaps I had expected too much. GAZETTE: What will Africa lose if it loses its African indigenous worldview? (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. In most of the 19 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Centers Forum on Religion & Public Life, 90% or more of the respondents say they belong to one of these faiths. endobj Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. They are not mutually exclusive. For six years I worked with the World Council of Churches in Geneva. Its consequences for theological and ecclesiological developments are yet to be faced. Some scholars choose to call it the African Traditional Religion, while others prefer to name it the African traditional Religions. 0 0000000016 00000 n Consequently, traditional Africans have different ideas on what role the ancestors play in the lives of living descendants. They depended on the labor of enslaved Africans who often constituted the majority of the population in these areas and developed their own forms of cultural and religious autonomy Examples: plantation agriculture, the Carolinas (rice), Barbados (sugar), tobacco Colonial government 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.
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