God, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious. It is not possible to speak of one aboriginal and torres strait islander religion, as there were many. It fostered literacy in arabic, the spread of islamic learning, and the construction of mosques in the cities of west africa. Heres a closer look at the different types of religions practiced by people around the world. The social cause refers to human causality, which includes relations between living human beings. Complementary to this side of the shona religion is the other aspect which is concerned with a mans own family lineage, with the vadzimu from whom his nuclear family originated, rather than the clan spirits. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator, belief in spirits. Other articles where indigenous religion is discussed. Jun 01, 2017 the second chapter deals with interesting issues of existence and functions of spirits in indigenous religion. Welcome to the summary lecture of african traditional religions. There is a specific cult of olodumare in y orubaland.
As the prayers are directed certainly in the first instance to the clan spirits mhondoro or family spirits vadzimu f the individual families, their myths almost all deal with them. Ancestor spirits and their role in african traditional religion. Zimbabwe religion religion plays an important role in zimbabwe culture. West africas indigenous religions remained strongest in the forest region. Religion, in this view, constitutes an element within culture, as religion is seen as a way of life. The concept of god, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious ontology has been a controversial and misunderstood concept. The ngozi are, briefly, the spirits of deceased individuals who were greatly wronged. Spirituality for indigenous australians takes many forms. The concept of god, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious ontology has been so misunderstood by many scholars to the point of seeing africans as people who did not know the. The other two types of causation are social and natural.
The difficulties in discussing indigenous religious traditions also lie in the fact that, introduction the category indigenous religions of the world merits an encyclopedia all its own. It should be noted that any attempt to generalize about the nature of african religions risks wrongly implying that there is homogeneity among all african cultures. These five types of ngozi spirits identified include a victim of murder, a servant or slave who was mistreated and deprived of hisher rightful recompense, a parent who was deeply hurt by hisher. Shona and ndebele religions postcolonial literature. There are four types of angry spirits according to gelfand 1962. This paper seeks to examine how africans conceive of the supreme being, divinities and spirits. Many indigenous peoples refer to spirituality rather than religion and for most aboriginal people, religious beliefs are derived from a sense of belonging to the land, the sea and nature. There are many different indigenous beliefs, the most common is shona, and 25% of the population is christian. These ancestors stay in the air, trees, rocks, caves, mountains, forests or a spring of fresh water, hence. An africanbased religion practiced primarily in haiti and in other central and south american countries. A term used generally to refer to indigenous religions that believe in an unseen spirit world that influences human affairs. Ancestor spirits and their role in african traditional.
Religion, health, and healing in the traditional shona. I find this chapter illuminating as the authors deployed their one and only diagram illustrating the african tripartite worldview p. Religious ontology, african tradition, divinities, spirits introduction the concept of god, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious ontology has been a controversial. The second chapter deals with interesting issues of existence and functions of spirits in indigenous religion. The declared adherents of the indigenous religion are very conservative, resisting the. Analysis of family and religious studies topics the sunday news. Religious beliefs and practices, and why they change. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and cultural values on christian muslim relations in ghana from 1920 through the present. That which is beyond the observable world, including things relating to god or spirits.
African religions, religious beliefs and practices of the peoples of africa. Indigenous religions notes intro to world religions. The spirits of those who were people on earth those who died long ago and are forgotten those who died recently and are remembered up to the 4th and 5th generation. In african cultures, men are more likely to become possessed than women. Thus, linguistic experts such as christopher ehret and placide tempels have applied their knowledge of languages towards. This is a 3hour summary lecture on the basic components of african traditional religions. Spirit and spirits in african religious traditions springerlink. In african traditional religion, the concept of spirits is well defined.
Indigenous religions is a category used in the study of religion to demarcate the religious belief systems of communities described as being indigenous. To introduce and explain what an indigenous religion is 2. This papers tries to analyse what the africans believe would happen in the afterlife. Apr 19, 2015 indigenous religion indigenous religions, sometimes also called folk religions, are faiths that developed among the native inhabitants of a particular geographical place. Rather than being without a religion, every act of his life was according to divine prompting. This category is often juxtaposed against others such as the world religions and new religious movements. Study 15 terms religion chapter 3 flashcards quizlet.
What are the key characteristics of indigenous religions. God, divinities and spirits in african traditional. Although there are some exceptions, primal religions are usually found in small insulated tribes. Through modern changes, the traditional religion cannot remain intact but it is by no means extinct. Jul 19, 2016 realisation that a church is a subcommunity within the larger community where people experience the realities of life.
Man stands between this array of spiritual hosts in the spirit world and the world of nature ikengametuh, 1987. The religious traditions and practices discussed below are informed by african beliefs in the reality of the spirit world and the ardent desire to engage with it for the purposes of human survival, health, fruitfulness, and longevity. There are different types of spirits in indigenous religion, it includes. The masks, dances, and gestures are, in one way or another, aspects of the structure of the cosmogonic myth. Many african religions teach that everyday human life is influenced or even controlled by gods or other supernatural beings. How religions contribute to the maintenance of social order. The illness by ancestral spirits and alien spirits is not meant to kill the victim but to alert the people on what is supposed to be done. In shona religion, in addition to the guarding characteristics of the vadzimu, there are also avenging or evil spirits, ngozi, and witches who communicate with them. Tabona shoko argues that, there are different types of spirits. The purpose of this is to help to orient a person who would like to work in the context of africa. Jul 11, 2018 explain the nature and function of alien spirits in the shona\ndebele traditional religion. The other spirits among the chewa people are angry spirits. Start studying more on african indigenous religions. Indigenous religions are the oldest faiths of mankind.
Beliefs in deities and spirits the indigenous people of canada originated in all provinces throughout the nation. Followers believe in the guidance of their ancestors spirits. Analysis of family and religious studies topics the. The spirits that were created as spirits the spirits are found all over africa. Let us start with the ritual in connection with the worship of god olodumare and gods orisa. Each issue of cultural survival quarterly magazine features an article by an indigenous shaman, healer, or other spiritual leader, discussing his worldview and his. Hence, the shona christians are affected by the fears of ngozi like all.
The nature spirits are represented by natural objects, such as rivers, mountains, trees, the sun, and forces including wind and rain. This religious worldview is integrated into every aspect of africans life. Indigenous knowledge systems and environmental management. The ancestral spirits will intercede who will carry it forward to god, because we also believe in god. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Islam was the religion of merchants and bureaucrats. To present key common features of indigenous religions with particular emphasis on their views of humanitys relationships with spirits, creation, and power. Some examples rituals and rites abound in yoruba traditional religion. First in the hierarchy is the creator, then the deities, objectembodied spirits, ancestors spirits and other miscellaneous spirits that are nonhuman, comprising both good or harmless spirits and evil spirits.
Within these tribes, animism, or the belief that all of nature is alive with spirits, is practiced. In this article i consider the most prominent of the many rival definitions that have been proposed, the majority falling within three basic types. Submitted by francis acquah to the university of exeter as a thesis for the degree of doctor of philosophy in theology in december 2011. When the founder of the clan died his spirit became deified as a mhondoro, whereas in the family there are the vadzimu of the dead grandparents and dead parents. Its more about faith, respect and gratitude before the creator, etc means same foundation as the religions that we know tod. The concept of ngozi among the shona people by mberengwa. African traditional religions is a term referring to a variety of religions indigenous to the continent of africa. Explain the nature and function of alien spirits in the shona\ndebele traditional religion. Beliefs in deities and spirits canadian aboriginal spirituality.
To help students appreciate why it is difficult to understand these religions and the current perils of their existence 3. The portuguese attempted to begin christianity in zimbabwe in 1561 but was not successful. Tabona shoko analyses the traditional karanga views of the causes of illness and disease, mechanisms of diagnosis at their disposal and the methods they use to restore health, shoko discusses the views of a specific african independent church of the apostolic tradition. Why religion is so widespread amongst human societies. In fact, africa is a vast continent encompassing both. Like many other religions, they are characterised by having a god or gods who created.
This attitude has continued by some indigenous clerics and religious leaders to the extent that sierra leone indigenous religion slir and it practitioners continue to be marginalised in sierra leones interreligious dialogue and cooperation. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions. What part religions play in cultural and social transformation. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. The practice of this religion is difficult in an urban atmosphere and for this reason is not as adaptable as many others. There is no one indigenous religion, but probably thousands of. It is a religion that is practised by living men and women. They were polytheistic and animistic, recognizing a great number of divinities and spirits. These types of spirits get attention from the shona people through illness.
African traditional religions religion in zimbabwe. I even think that we cant really talk about religion. Revealing how important were the roles of the spirit mediums in the resistance of 18967. The pragmatics of defining religion in a multicultural world. This paper exposes some of the indigenous knowledge systems iks that have been practised immemorial by the kalanga people of zaka district in masvingo in order to manage and protect their environment from land degradation.
The concept of god, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious ontology has been so misunderstood by many scholars to the point of seeing africans as people who did not know the supreme being nor worship him. In african religions, a person who has become possessed is known as a. The use of supernatural powers to cause misfortune. List of books and articles about african religions online. The religious traditions and practices discussed below are informed by african beliefs in the reality of the spirit world and the ardent desire to engage with it for the purposes of. The paper sees the spirits as strangers, foreigners and outsiders in the category of things that should be defeated using spiritual powers. They are different types of spirits in indigenous religion, it includes a the avenging spirits these are the spirit of the deceased individuals who were wronged, neglected or murdered. African traditional religions have a strong foothold in contemporary zimbabwe as an integral part of the everyday lives of many zimbabweans. Ancestors maintain a spiritual connection with their living relatives and generally most of them are good and kind.
They are used by diviners, mediums and medicine men. Indigenous religions religions typically have a belief in. Man stands between this array of spiritual hosts in the spirit world and. Each religion has its own unique set of principles and ethics, yet all of them unanimously preach universal peace and goodwill. Unlike many nonindigenous cultures, native spirituality is not a discrete part of life, but is integrated with the culture as a whole, with nature, and with generations gone by. Historically each culture has its own religious traditions and beliefs. A case study of nkusukumekumfienyan area of the central region. Most traditional african religions have, for most of their existence, been orallyspiritually rather than scripturally transmitted or practiced. African indigenous religions began with the origin of human civilization on the continent. Pdf god, divinities and spirits in african traditional.
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