African Religions

Africa is the birthplace of humanity-where humans first sought to commune with the sacred

Religious triangle that frames the spiritual world of the humanity’s cradle:

1.       Christianity- Southern portion up until half of continent; with presence in egypt

2.       Islam – Heavily northern Africa extending down towards mid Africa

3.       Traditional African Religion- Eastern central region of Africa and seen along west coast along top of gulf

Traditional religion is meant the worldview and spiritual practice of Africans prior to the arrival of Islam and Christianity into the heart of the continent.

Ashe is that force which gives life, and the point of life is to obtain and maintain as much as ashe as possible. Foods nourish us because of their ashe, and drums animate us and the spirits whom we worship because of their ashe. Ashe is most present in things that are both fluent and transmissive of life, like breast milk, semes, rivers, and blood.

Khoisan shamanism- hunters and gathers like the Khoisan of the south relied on the visions and magic of shamans, as expressed in their remarkable cave art, some of which is 20,000 years old. Also known for unique click languages. Shaman is seen as medium of contact.

Traditional religion beginning to decline with the progress of 1900 to 1990. Congo significant decline in religious views from traditional to cathlics.

Charisma and vibrations-Traditional religion in Africa is steered by charismatic healers and by the vibrations of drums.

Sangoma: contemporary shaman, healer, or medium, in south Africa

West Africa-home to roots of Haitian voodoo, enslaved Africans moved to Haiti and birth of voodoo. The main religion to influence Haitian voodoo, is traditional religion of west Africa in particular to Fawn people, now known as the Benin. Or larger ethnic group known as Dehome.

Oungan is known as master of spirits. A traditional priest in a Benin temple.

Yoruba use a divination tray to determine divinations, use ifa divinations. Odus are poems about orishas, spirits of Yoruba religion, ex chango the spirit of thunder of lightning. Stories are myths about orishas and then interpreted by babalao.

Djember drums of Mali, invented by Dinka people. Used to celebrate rights of passage.

Drums evoke the possession of dancers by spirits and ancestors, especially in Nigeria.

Masks are used to represent the ancestors that are called by the drum into the bodies of men

Konga yowa symbol; symbol represent cosmos, sun and moon, sun rises signifying birth and death than passage into after world after death. Until you cross horizon, river, into the physical world.

The Kongo people use a nkisi statue. Believed to restrain ritual objects because empowered objects must be enclosed to ensure the nkisi energy is bound within the object.

Islam is in sub Saharan Africa- 1 out of 3 people is muslim in Africa

Djenne Mosque is located in oldest city in sub Saharan Africa, city of Djenne, Mali. Built of stick and mud. Rebuilt many times. Islam entered the continent through Saharan trade routes during life of mohammed.

Timbuktu also important for islam in west Africa. Islam appealed to the people of western Africa.

Marabout is a leader of sofi brotherhood. Seen as modern incarnation of babalao, seen for same reason.

Maribout chalk dust considered sacred since they are used to teach word of god, used in other rituals or used to create something to wear.

Millions of Africans join the hajj to mecca, islams most important pilgrimage.

Christianity – Africa is home to some of the most dynamic forms of Christianity in the world.

Africans have “Africanized” Jesus. Africanized whole religion of Christianity for appeal and recognition.

Christianity brought to Africa through missionaries like David Livingston (1813-1873) set out to discover rivers for missionaries to set out with and spread the gospel. Became first London Missionary Society, European to explore interior of the African continent. Three C’s would help Africa: Civilization, Christianity, and Commerce.

Most successful missionaries in Africa are African. Called white fathers because they were known for wearing white robes, inspired by the gospel of Matthew.  Charles Lavigierie, founder of white fathers, born in France.

Father Placid Tempels(1906-) born in Belgium. Served in mining region of the Kongo. Flourished drawing thousands of members of the mining camp and was a movement of married couple only. Vatican ordered Tempels to return to Belgium immediately.

Music in Africa has been ingrated into Christian religion.

Basilica  Yamoussoukro,Ivory coast. Modeled after basilica in rome. The largest cathedral in the world. Created by  dictator, made at place because it was birthplace of dictator.

Religion heals in Africa. Pentecostals fill an arena with praise.

Isisah Shembe, prophet founded his own church. Church of nazarites. Successful independent African church. Kufakomene- elevated place.