There is the Shona and Ndebele religions in which God is seen as the creator of the universe and is believed to … They have been nurtured with the local practices and culture, but still carry some similarities, like pantheism, in their structures. Myths of various African peoples relate that, after setting the world in motion, the Supreme Being withdrew, and he remains remote from the concerns of human life. (1 ½ - 2 pages) Religion provides us with a set of beliefs, values and attitudes, a focal point for developing ritual as well as a variety of social networks therefore giving us a purpose to our lives. Yet Ngai is not the distant God that we know in the West. For the Kikuyu, according to their primary supreme creator, Ngai, acting through the lesser deities, is believed to speak to and be capable of guiding the virtuous person as one’s conscience. This article examines some of the beliefs and practices underlying traditional African religion's attitudes to nature with reference to Shona religion of Zimbabwe. [25], Some researchers, including historical ethnolinguist Christopher Ehret, suggest that certain monotheistic concepts, such as the belief in a creator god or force (next to other gods, deities and spirits) are ancient and indigenous among peoples of the Niger-Congo ethnolinguistic family (of much of West Africa and Central Africa) and date to the beginning of their history, in a form substantially different from the monotheism found in Abrahamic religions. This builds skills at separating the feelings elicited by this mindset from their situational manifestations in daily life. In recent times, traditional religions, such as the Yoruba religion, are on the rise. This belief, just as in the case of the previous one, has a theological basis – the plurality of divinities ( polytheism ). In traditional African societies, many people seek out diviners on a regular basis. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in a supreme creator, belief in spirits, veneration of the dead, use of magic and traditional African medicine. Inter-religious relations, especially, among African Traditional Religion (ATR) worshippers, Muslims and Christians are becoming sources of social tension and violence. Christianity and Islam, which are considered as foreign since their doctrines and practices came from outside of Africa. The beliefs and the concepts of beliefs are found in the idea of God, the creators of all things; the concept that has enriched Christianity. The religion of the Yoruba is finding roots in the Islands of the Caribbean and portions of Central and South America. Instead, myths are embedded and transmitted in ritual practice. [18], Traditional African religions can be broken down into linguistic cultural groups, with common themes. The African belief in one Creator God on the one hand, and lesser gods on the other hand, raises the question of whether African Traditional Religion should be termed monotheistic or polytheistic. 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. Followers of traditional African religions pray to various spirits as well as to their ancestors. Examples include social behaviors such as the respect for parents and elders, raising children appropriately, providing hospitality, and being honest, trustworthy, and courageous. The three main religious traditions—African traditional religion, Christianity, and Islam—constitute the triple religious heritage of the African continent. Diviner (also known as priest) are also sought for their wisdom as counselors in life and for their knowledge of herbal medicine. For example, in the Serer religion, one of the most sacred stars in the cosmos is called Yoonir (the Star of Sirius). One religious ceremony practiced in Gabon and Cameroon is the Okuyi, practiced by several Bantu ethnic groups. Mobolaji Idowu in Olodumare: God in Yoruba Belief (1962), African Traditional Religion: 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. In support, Iwuoha points out that traditional African religion cuts … The four linguistic phylums spoken in Africa are: Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, Niger-Congo, and Khoi-San. Traditional African Beliefs. Finally, religion includes the beliefs and practices of historic native African communities with regard to the supernatural and the meaning and purpose of life. According to Lugira, “it is the only religion that can claim to have originated in Africa. . Among Niger–Congo-speakers is a belief in a creator God, force or higher deity, which is considered by some to be a widespread and ancient feature of Niger-Congo-cultures,[19][20][21] along with other more specialized deities, ancestor spirits, territorial spirits, and beings, as well as evil caused by human ill will and neglecting ancestor spirits, and priests of territorial spirits. Ancestor veneration has always played a "significant" part in the traditional African cultures and may be considered as central to the African worldview. Some sacred or holy locations for traditional religions include Nri-Igbo, the Point of Sangomar, Yaboyabo, Fatick, Ife, Oyo, Dahomey, Benin City, Ouidah, Nsukka, Kanem-Bornu, Igbo-Ukwu, and Tulwap Kipsigis, among others. This facilitates better control and transformation of these energies into positive, culturally appropriate behavior, thought, and speech. West and Central African religious practices generally manifest themselves in communal ceremonies or divinatory rites in which members of the community, overcome by force (or ashe, nyama, etc. The practice of casting may be done with small objects, such as bones, cowrie shells, stones, strips of leather, or flat pieces of wood. The nature of the two classes of religions are very different from each other. He had human characteristics, and although some say that he lives in the sky or in the clouds, they also say that he comes to earth from time to time to inspect it, bestow blessings and mete out punishment. This is what makes African Religion a traditional belief. Some of their beliefs and practices like Caste-system (osu-one Such separation and subsequent contemplation of the nature and sources of pure energy or feelings serves to help participants manage and accept them when they arise in mundane contexts. 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