Religious elements have been present in many of africas conflicts ever since. Islam is the dominant religion in north africa and the horn of africa, and it is also the predominant and historical religion of the west african interior and the far west coast of the continent as well as the coast of east africa. To europe, africa does not desire any serious attention because historically africa does not exist. Read the history of religions article cited in salon. The spread of christianity throughout egypt and northern africa, during the first five centuries was rapid and intense, despite the prevalence of false teachings, persecutions and martyrdom.
It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what air and its essential characteristics is. The spread of christianity in africa timeline timetoast. African traditional religion is very pragmatic and apply to the need as it arises. This piece therefore studied the meaning and nature of african traditional religion in the midst of the globalizing process. Africa, with minority but significant immigrant populations in south africa. Uya and erim 1984 has observed that the history of africa written by europeans has been a subject of monumental distortions, ridicule and amusement p. The new testament of the bible mentions several events in which africans were witnesses to the life of christ and the ministry of the apostles. But it is possible to explore the origins of african people and to raise relevant questions regarding the contexts and circumstances within which jazz emerged and evolved. History of the church in south africa guide to information. Through north africa, christianity was embraced as the religion of dissent against the expanding roman empire. History of religions sets standard for the comparative study of religious phenomena from prehistory to modern times. Uganda, providing a brief overview of the history of religion and conflict and. African traditional religion in a globalizing world.
It is situated on a high plateau in southcentral africa and takes its name from the zambezi river, which drains all but a small northern part of the country. For the first time in a single volume, the history of islam in africa presents a detailed historic mapping of the cultural, political, geographic, and religious past of this significant presence on a continentwide scale. Africa is one of the largest and most populous continents in the world, as well as the birthplace of humanity. African religions this entry presents a brief, general picture of africas traditional religious heritage, focusing on the major beliefs because these underlie the general attitudes of individuals and society and shape their worldview. A welcome and challenging addition to the discourse on the lost tribes of israel, it should be read by anyone interested in jewish history, african history, and the sociology of religion. This unprecedented work is the first onevolume study of the history of christianity in africa. The journal of religion in africa, founded in 1967 by andrew walls, is interested in all religious traditions and all their forms, in every part of africa, and it is open to every methodology. Its contributors include scholars working in history, anthropology, sociology, political science, missiology, literature and related disciplines. In the 4th century ad the ethiopian king ezana made christianity the kingdoms. Religions of africa 1985 that one of the most fascinating aspects of our. During these first few decades after the death of jesus, roman law regarded the new christian movement as a jewish sect.
Abstract this paper investigated the theology of inculturation and the african church. Different fathers played a role in the development of this religion. A critical and appreciative perspective 7 military despot in nigeria from 1985 1993, religious and traditional leaders. Topic vi northeast and north central african developments traditional religion and islam in the central sudan. Traditional african religion is very popular and arrived here with our north and west african ancestors. Download pdf africantraditionsinthestudyofreligion. The swahili language remains central to many east african muslims, hence the occasionally heard phrase, swahili islam. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions. Religion in africa is multifaceted and has been a major influence on art, culture and philosophy. Outside egypt, more in west africa, people seemed to worship one single god like the sky god or the. Bantuspeaking people moved into southern africa from west and central africa and brought their religion and traditions with them.
The africans consider the impact of colonization on them to be perhaps the most important factor in understanding the present condition of the african continent and of the african. Various terms are used to refer to the indigenous religious heritage, including african religion, african tradition. Early african christianity regrettably, some scholars of african culture and religion have acquired a persistent habit of assuming that christianity began in africa only a couple of centuries ago. African traditional religions produced no written works, but derived their authority from oral history, custom and practice, and the power of priests, kings and others gifted in dealing with. In this second edition, dr mbiti has updated his material to include the involvement of women in religion, and the potential unity to be found in what was once thought to be a mass of quite separate religions. An idiosyncratic collection of sources from professional to popular. Because islam spread to west africa from north africa, muslims there fol lowed the maliki school of law dominant in north africa. Towards southern africa, the kushites seemed to have their own religion and.
Thousands of african people are converted to christianity every day and in nigeria about 20 new religious sects or groups come into. In christian or islamic communities, religious beliefs are also sometimes characterized with syncretism with. Christianity is the worlds largest religion, practiced by. God and humanity, sacrifices, afterlife and ancestors. This ambitious and passionate work explores the fascination that jewish history and identity have held for the people of africa. It evolved through many centuries, before the westerner come to africa. History, faith, and gender in roho religion in western kenya. African religion is traditional for the following reasons. A critical and appreciative perspective 7 military despot in nigeria from 1985 1993, religious and traditional leaders were used to support his schemes. It is the religion which resulted from the sustaining faith held by the forebears of the present africans, and which is being practised today in various forms and. These religions are often adapted to african cultural contexts and indigenous belief systems. Exploring the complex history of a continent as large and diverse as africa within a few introductory pages is an impossible task. Until the mid20th century, it remained largely confined to the coast and closely bound up with the history of the swahili towns situated on it. Western scholars, such as sir james frazier, had had a fascination with african religions, either from the scientific point of view, as a phenomenon to be studied, or from a missionary point of view.
African church history, african christian theology, the. African religions, religious beliefs and practices of the peoples of africa. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. African religions and philosophy is a systematic study of the attitudes of mind and belief that have evolved in the many societies of africa. This period of religious history begins with the invention of writing about 5,220 years ago 3200 bce. Th e report provides a brief overview of the religious landscape of africa with a special focus on the role of religion in the continents several con.
Trumps reference to wounded knee evokes the dark history of suppression of indigenous religions. The theology of inculturation and the african church sussy gumo kurgat department of religion, theology and philosophy, maseno university, p. A person must be born in a particular african people in order to be able to follow african religion. African traditional religion south african history online. This paper aims to provide a brief analysis of the role of religion in africas. It has no founders or reformers like gautama the buddha, asoka, christ, or muhammad. It was estimated in 2000 that christians form 45% of africa s population, and muslims forming 40. The people from europe, america, and asia cannot be converted to african religion as it is more removed from their geographical and cultural setting. The religious beliefs, practices and the provision of social services of these immigrant religions have impacted on the religious and cultural life of. This article seeks to counteract this view by outlining the place of african traditional religions in the religious history of mankind. The history of islam in east africa stretches back to around ce. Written by elizabeth isichei, a leading scholar in this field, a history of christianity in africa examines the origins and development of christianity in africa from the early story of egyptian christianity to the spectacular growth, vitality, and diversity of the churches in africa today.
In five of these countriesbenin, mozambique, guineabissau, liberia, and the ivory coast african religion is the majority religion. Religious interactions in a changing african rural society. Both approaches assumed that african religious beliefs. The study of african spirituality in its own right is a recent. The theology of inculturation and the african church. I speak of histories in the plural because my own research has led me to the conclusion that the his. Zuesse divination and deity in african religions divination as a spiritual phenomenon has had very little written about it, perhaps due in part to the ready labeling of it as a form of magic and therefore irrational, utilitarian, egoistic, and insuffici ently religious. Religion is an important part of millions of peoples lives across the world.
The rapid growth of many religions in africa and the revival of air in postcolonial africa have made inter religious dialogue an urgent necessity. The most important thing is that in the new south africa religion and spirituality are used to create greater understanding and harmony rather than to divide people as was done in. Academic works on the history, growth and development of christianity in africa. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, 2 3 include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator, belief in spirits. Religious education in south africa during the 1990s represents a dramatic departure from the religious education, instruction, or introduction of the past. The church in africa has expressed the need to liberate christianity from western dominance, in its teaching, in structures and power base and in developing forms of worship and communication which are appropriate to africans, and enable them to make the gospel message their own. In 3000 bc, people were worshipping gods like isis, horus, osiris, ra, and hapi. Thus the title of the lecture, histories of religion in africa. The histom1 ofls1am il1 africa ohio university press. When we speak of african traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the africans. The earliest reference of religion in africa can be made in egypt.
Table 31 reports on the religious affiliation of the southafrican population. Click download or read online button to african traditionsinthestudyof religion in africa book pdf for free now. History religion south africa religion abiche, tefera talore community development initiatives and poverty reduction. This paper attempts to examine the aspect of religion in african continent, its origin, types and categories, advantages and its effects in the continent. 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. Histories of religion in africa joao ferreira dias. The general history of africa gha is a pioneering corpus, unparalleled in its ambition to cover the history of the entire african continent, since the appearance of human beings to contemporary challenges faced by africans and their diasporas in the world. A people without history european hatred of africa was total. African traditionsinthestudyof religion in africa download african traditionsinthestudyof religion in africa ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Traditional religion thinking of those common things. It is often combined with elements of christianity and islam. Christianity and the african traditional religions. A short history 2006, as well as editing a new edition of a threevolume work of historical documents and classic contributions to the discipline.
In fact, africa is a vast continent encompassing both. Christianity is the most widely practiced religion in the world, with more than 2 billion followers. The history of africa 71 reason to draw attention to robert o. It then proceeds to look at east africa, where the three religious families of traditional religion, islam and christianity are all present in large numbers. History of religion in africa the earliest reference of religion in africa can be made in egypt. It is therefore important for any analysis or recommendations to take account of this. The historical fact is that christianity came to africa before it came to europe and north america.
In fact, africa is a vast continent encompassing both geographic variation and tremendous cultural diversity. Some religious scholars believe that christianity was introduced to africans by way of the egyptian city of alexandria. Outside egypt, more in west africa, people seemed to worship one single god like the sky god or the rain god. On the other hand, in east africa, where islam came from the arabian peninsula, muslims followed the shafli school of law that prevailed in arabia. Hinduism is a compilation of many traditions and philosophies and is considered by many scholars to be the worlds oldest religion, dating back more than 4,000 years. The history of the islamic faith on the continent of africa spans fourteen centuries. 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. Colonialism, culture, development, governance, liberal. Today, the continents various populations and individuals are mostly adherents of christianity, islam, and to a lesser extent several traditional african religions. A history of christianity in africa elizabeth isichei. Academic works on the history, growth and development of. Distortion of facts in western ethnographic study of african religion, culture and society etim e. Religion, were the forces of colonialism and the missionary enterprises of both islam and christianity.
African history for a possible guide to an appropriate developmental framework that would. This is a religion that is based mainly on oral transmission. Muslim is an arabic word meaning one who submits to god. While there has been considerable study of religion in africa, it has tended to be dominated either by a fairly static, ethnographic vision of african religion or a study of missionary, evangelical. Hopkins, corpus of arabic documents for the study of west african history. Ancestral or traditional african religions are practised by 5 % south africa. Africa s development in the twentyfirst century will be shaped largely by religion. View african church history, african christian theology, the study of new religious movements in africa research papers on academia.
Aims this paper aims to provide a brief analysis of the role of religion in africa s. Even in efforts to try to understand african religions, scholars have abstracted african religions. In sierra leone, botswana, and burkina faso more than 33 percent follow african religion, although it is not the religion of the majority. Okon department of religious and cultural studies university of calabar, nigeria abstract this paper will identify some of the fundamental short comings in african ethnographic studies undertaken by europeans in the nineteenth century. Under the apartheid regime, with its commitment to christian national education. The venerable journal of the international african institute offers academic articles on all aspects of african history and culture, including religion. The history of islam in africa athens, oh, 2000, pp. The christian faith centers on beliefs regarding the birth, life, death and resurrection of. Dec 21, 2012 religion and spiritual issues, including judaism, christianity, hinduism, islam, the bible, wicca, buddhism and more, are at the core of human values and history.
One can also study comparative religious chronology through a timeline of. Islam, islamic history, islamic civilization, islam in africa, islam in south africa. The history of islam concerns the religion of islam and its adherents, muslims. Towards southern africa, the kushites seemed to have their own religion and worshipped their own gods. The study of african spirituality in its own right is a recent phenomenon. The paper aims at analyzing development of religion in africa from precolonial era to the contemporary. The history of christianity in africa probably began during the earthly ministry of jesus christ, two thousand years ago. It first studies the meaning of religion and africa, as basis for understanding african. It concludes by putting forth viable options as a panacea for africa to come out of its cultural logjam.
African traditional religion african studies oxford. The history of religion refers to the written record of human religious experiences and ideas. Africa is a massive continent with diverse religious traditions, to the extent that within the same tradition there have been variations. But christianity is not a recent arrival in africa.