I had it. This is, obviously, a general statement, one which needs detailed elaboration. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. 0000001019 00000 n 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. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. The success of Christianity and Islam on the African continent in the last 100 years has been extraordinary, but it has been, unfortunately, at the expense of African indigenous religions. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. But it is nevertheless a working Yes and one that demands theological understanding. Maybe this is why I am not an Anglican priest. One read Honest to God and a variety of other works in an effort to understand the hot debate then raging in Europe and America. 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 Current articles and subscription information can be found at www.christiancentury.org. Vodou is an oral tradition practiced by extended families that inherit familial spirits, along with the necessary devotional practices, from their elders. 43. The decisive word here is "only." 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. GAZETTE: It sounds like African indigenous religions are dynamic, inclusive, and flexible. 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. Orthodox Christianity, although influenced by other religions, generally looked negatively upon these syncretistic movements. The statistical expansion of the Christian faith in Africa in this century is one of the considerations that led me back to the issue of its relation with African religion. Vodou ritual activity (e.g., prayer, song, dance, and gesture) is aimed at refining and restoring balance and energy in relationships between people and between people and the spirits of the unseen world. hb```b``g`a`.ef@ aV68+ +$.0t9$r8A2Or}6=<4. 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. 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. 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. The conviction that people will be reborn in this world again and again tends to be more common among Christians than Muslims. So, "Lord, help Thou my unbelief!" Christianity is more dominant in the south, while Islam is more dominant in the north. With it, one began to explore afresh the realm of Gods revelation and other treasures of our faith. In Nigeria, the population in 1900 included 4.2 million Muslims and 180,000 Christians. There are also other parallels in social, political and cultural areas, just as there are some significant differences. Oral tradition says the first Muslims appeared while the prophet Mohammed was. No doubt there still remain much research and reflection to be done in order to work out a consistent theological understanding of the issues entailed here. In 1900 there were an estimated 9 million Christians (accounting for about 7 per cent of the population of Africa). OLUPONA: Yes, and the pluralistic nature of African-tradition religion is one of the reasons for its success in the diaspora. The word Vodou means spirit or deity in the Fon language of the African kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin). Ancestors also serve as intermediaries (see ancestor worship). 0 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. A semi-annual journal, it publishes peer-reviewed articles in both French and English devoted to social and cultural issues whether they are pre-historic, historic, contemporary, biological, linguistic, applied or theoretical in orientation. 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.. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Aujourd'hui, la plupart des Zariens sont soit catholiques, soit protestants; les Biras pour leur part sont principalement catholiques. Awolawu and Depamu (1979) A prominent European New Testament professor visited Makerere University and interviewed me on what I thought about the "death of God" discussion. Corrections? (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. 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. That testifies to the enduring power of indigenous religion and its ability to domesticate Christianity and Islam in modern Africa. The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God to our continent. 75 0 obj Liberia is the only country where more than one-in-ten (12%) identify primarily with an African traditional religion. 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. This is not an empty coincidence. My interpretation of Israels history demands a new look at the history of African peoples, among whom this same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has indeed been at work. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. 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. Its fundamental principle is that everything is spirit. Modernity has not put a total stop to its influence. GAZETTE: In trying to understand African spirituality, is it helpful to refer to it as polytheistic or monotheistic? 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. 1996 Canadian Anthropology Society Alternate titles: Vaudou, Vodun, Voodoo, Voudou, vodon, Elizabeth McAlister Associate Professor of Religion, Weslyan University. In the other case no such written record exists. <> Omissions? Nigeria, the most populous country in all of Africa, has the largest number of Muslims as well as the largest number of Christians in the region.3. The book comprised ideas that I had gathered from 300 African peoples ("tribes" -- a term that today is sometimes used in derogatory ways). When this happens, then a passage such as Hebrews 1:1-3 rolls down like mighty waters, full of exciting possibilities of theological reflection. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions 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. Anthony Chiorazzi, who has an M.Phil. 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. Christianity in Africa dates to the very inception of the church. There is no room to describe them, and I can mention only two or three of them briefly. The original constitution defined the organization's mandate as providing a forum for the exchange of ideas among ethnologists. That experience gave me a face-to-face encounter with the ecumenical movement and left a lasting mark on me. As for the belief in God, it appears that the Bira have utilized Christianity to make their traditional God Mbali less remote and more caring, a change which has also made the Christian God more compassionate and forgiving of sins. Today, the country claims about 80 million of each . Religious pluralism serves peace. An old African adage says: The sky is large enough for birds to fly around without one having to bump into the other.. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender, Side by side with their high levels of commitment to Christianity and Islam, many people in the countries surveyed retain beliefs and rituals that are characteristic of traditional African religions. 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). I completed my doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge in 1963, the year that Honest to God, by J.A.T. OLUPONA: If we lose traditional African religions, we would also lose or continue to seriously undermine the African practice of rites of passage such as the much cherished age-grade initiations, which have for so long integrated and bought Africans together under a common understanding, or worldview. The God described in the Bible is none other than the God who is already known in the framework of our traditional African religiosity. GAZETTE: How do you balance your Christian and indigenous African identity? This is not a biblical distinction. 0000002884 00000 n 0000003217 00000 n Belief in the power of such objects is highest in Senegal (75%) and lowest in Rwanda (5%). At many points I see intriguing parallels between the biblical record and African religiosity. Y.91sC@o9sJL9@XMw`7\`1%nRjBS %U=a{N>. African Traditional Religion in the Context of increasing Christian and Islamic Encounter . The concept of the church as the body of Christ in the whole world is another growing development for me. African immigrants and slaves worked to maintain traditional religious and social practices in their new surroundings. Omissions? 1"7$X9Xyyyb GNpL!9I&mxo0++44cA@5c. But the basic truth seems to be that Gods revelation is not confined to the biblical record. Ritual sacrifices and witchcraft beliefs are still common. 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. Animism is a common feature of African religions, and misfortune is often attributed to witchcraft and sorcery. 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. startxref The WCCs very existence as a council of churches is a living hope. I cannot claim that I have witnessed much progress in that quest at the organizational level, but perhaps I had expected too much. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. For instance, if we were to lose indigenous African religions in Africa, then diviners would disappear, and if diviners disappeared, we would not only lose an important spiritual specialist for many Africans, but also an institution that for centuries has been the repository of African history, wisdom, and knowledge. These impinge upon their daily life- and experience of the Christian faith. Instead, God brought them. Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. (1981) and Ph.D. (1983) in the history of religions from Boston University. Islam And Christianity Christianity came first to the continent of Africa in the 1st or early 2nd century AD. 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. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. In one case the thinking and experience of the people produced a written record of Gods dealings with the Jewish people in particular. For instance, in a few years time, I pray that I will be participating in an age-grade festival for men around 70 years of age called Ero in my native Nigerian community in Ute, in Ondo state. Request Permissions, Published By: Canadian Anthropology Society. In most countries, however, less than one-in-twenty say this is their primary religious affiliation. Authoring or editing more than half a dozen books on religion and African culture (including the recent African Religions: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press), Olupona has researched topics ranging from the indigenous religions of Africa to the religious practices of Africans who have settled in America. %%EOF And if these shrines are not properly cared for by the designated descendant, then misfortune in the form of illness might befall the caretaker. 0000001519 00000 n It includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. In particular, the concepts about God provide one area of great commonality. I was like a snail shyly peeping out of its house after a heavy thunderstorm. I should add that without claiming to be full members of indigenous traditions, there are many professed Christians and Muslims who participate in one form of indigenous religious rituals and practices or another. "The success of Christianity and Islam on the African continent in the last 100 years has been extraordinary, but it has been, unfortunately, at the expense of African indigenous religions," said Olupona. I should also state that there are signs of the revival of African indigenous practices in many parts of Africa. The introduced religions of Islam (in northern Africa) and Christianity (in southern Africa) are now the continent's major religions, but traditional religions still play an important role, especially in the interior of sub-Saharan Africa. But to the disappointment of those theological exporters, this fish was not attracted by the bait. In respect and honor of my culture, I also dress in my traditional Nigerian attire when Im in my country. OLUPONA: Your question underscores an important facet about African spirituality: It is not a closed theological system. degree at Harvard Divinity School. 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. Foreign religions simply dont have that same connection to the African continent. 817-820. I feel deeply the value of biblical studies in this exercise, and the contribution of biblical insights in this development. 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. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Rituals are aimed at maintaining a harmonious relationship with cosmic powers, and many have associated myths that explain their significance. God is not insensitive to the history of peoples other than Israel. For example, in 14 of the 19 countries surveyed, more than three-in-ten people say they sometimes consult traditional healers when someone in their household is sick. That is anathema to the fundamentalist faith movements that have been gaining momentum in recent decades. So I read on and on, and conducted field research to learn more and more. It is a way of life, and it can never be separated from the public sphere. But after braving that first blizzard in a land far from his native Nigeria, Olupona stuck it out and earned his Ph.D. The statistical expansion of the Christian faith in Africa in this century is one of the considerations that led me back to the issue of its relation with African religion. Subscriptions are available to libraries and individuals who are not members of CASCA. Islam has experienced a similar rapid growth. I want to make a pilgrimage into Christ. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. I find the traditional Western distinction between "special revelation" and "general revelation" to be inadequate and unfreeing. During religious rites, believers sometimes enter a trancelike state in which the devotee may eat and drink, perform stylized dances, give supernaturally inspired advice to people, or perform medical cures or special physical feats; these acts exhibit the incarnate presence of the lwa within the entranced devotee. 0000002264 00000 n For example, followers can seek spiritual direction and relief from healers, medicine men and women, charms [adornments often worn to incur good luck], amulets [adornments often used to ward off evil], and diviners [spiritual advisers]. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In its place there emerged the word "also." 0000005005 00000 n I wont pray to an orisa, but I will affirm the importance of my connection with members of my age group. Updates? It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what AIR and . 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. 0000015705 00000 n It is the southern two-thirds of Africa (including Madagascar) which we can rightly call Christian Africa, as the northern one-third is Muslim Africa. Yet consider that in 1900 most Africans in sub-Saharan Africa practiced a form of indigenous African religions. I have seen the quest more sharply. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Unlike in Europe and the United States, very few people in sub-Saharan Africa say they are unaffiliated with a particular faith. 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. 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). 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. settlements formed by African slaves who ran away from imprisonment the Americas 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. 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 First, the association of traditional African religion with an other-worldly orientation may appear problematic, given the "pragmatic" basis of this religion. 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. Some scholars choose to call it the African Traditional Religion, while others prefer to name it the African traditional Religions. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World, Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, Next: Chapter 2: Commitment to Christianity and Islam, Chapter 2: Commitment to Christianity and Islam, Chapter 3: Traditional African Religious Beliefs and Practices, 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. It sensitized my thinking in many areas, one of these being the quest for Christian unity. 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. Traditional African religious beliefs, such as belief in the protective power of sacrifices to ancestors, Traditional African religious practices, such as owning sacred objects. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 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).

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