And in Botswana, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia, the survey finds that 5% or less identify as Muslim. That testifies to the enduring power of indigenous religion and its ability to domesticate Christianity and Islam in modern Africa. They will certainly be overwhelming, and I feel very excited about them. The suppression of ancestor worship is the only area where mission Christianity has scored a triumph over the traditional religious life of the Bira. A magisterial historical synthesis of the formative period of African Christianity written by one of its foremost scholars. African spirituality is truly holistic. 0000002884 00000 n
It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what AIR and its essential characteristics is: God and humanity, sacrifices, afterlife and ancestors. It was during the Belgian colonial period that the first Catholic and Protestant missionaries came to this region of Zaire. I was like a snail shyly peeping out of its house after a heavy thunderstorm. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. He went on to conduct some of the most significant research on African religions in decades. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. The Pew Forums survey found 52% of the population is Muslim. This re-ligion is found in almost all the activities of the African man. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock. I am not a historian, and I have not done careful thinking in this direction. In Cameroon, Ethiopia, Liberia and Mozambique, Muslims account for between 15% and 30% of survey respondents. I have met here the church not only in its geographical outreach but also in its historical roots -- seeing, for example, the rich traditions of the Orthodox Church, the universality of the Roman Catholic Church (even though it is based in the Vatican), the reconciling positioning of the Anglican Communion, the dynamic vitality of African independent churches, and so on. ), In addition to expressing high levels of belief in the protective power of sacrificial offerings and sacred objects, upwards of one-in-five people in every country say they believe in the evil eye, or the ability of certain people to cast malevolent curses or spells. Jacob Olupona, professor of indigenous African religions at Harvard Divinity School and professor of African and African-American studies in Harvards Faculty of Arts and Sciences, recently sat down for an interview about his lifelong research on indigenous African religions. OLUPONA: One of the basic reasons is that indigenous African spiritual beliefs are not bound by a written text, like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Indigenous African practices tend to be strongest in the central states of Africa, but some form of their practices and beliefs can be found almost anywhere in Africa. I am very excited, for example, by the estimate that in 1987 there will be a statistical balance of Christian population between the north (Europe, Soviet Union and America) and the south (Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania). They include the work of missionaries (of whom there are about 40,000 today, without counting their family members); the work of African Christians in evangelism and pastoral care (their numbers are infinitely greater than those of overseas missionaries, and include men, women and children, both lay and ordained); the role of Christian schools; the translation and distribution of the Bible (which is now available in full or in part in nearly 600 of Africas 1,000 languages); and the ending of the colonial era during the decades 1960-1980. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. The original constitution defined the organization's mandate as providing a forum for the exchange of ideas among ethnologists. For the full article, see, New religions, independent churches, and prophetic movements, https://www.britannica.com/summary/African-religions. African scholars The previous year I had published African Religions and Philosophy (Doubleday, 1969). What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Corrections? Did he then reveal himself only in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel and other personalities of the Bible? African religion has equipped people to listen to the gospel, to discover meaningful passages in the Bible, and to avoid unhealthy religious conflict. OLUPONA: Yes, its a mixed bag because in the African diaspora mostly due to the slave trade starting in the 15th century indigenous African religions have spread and taken root all over the world, including in the United States and Europe. OLUPONA: No, this type of binary thinking is simplistic. Olupona, professor of indigenous African religions at Harvard Divinity School and professor of African and African-American studies in Harvards Faculty of Arts and Sciences, recently sat down for an interview about his lifelong research on indigenous African religions. In these congregations, knowledge is passed on through a ritual of initiation (kanzo) in which the body becomes the site of spiritual transformation. Chapter 1: Religious Affiliation. Everywhere he went in southwestern Nigeria, he never opposed or spoke out against African culture including initiation rites, festivals, and traditional Yoruba dress as long as it didnt directly conflict with Christianity. So, "Lord, help Thou my unbelief!" Christianity is more dominant in the south, while Islam is more dominant in the north. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax Eating pattern tied to 24% reduction in cardiovascular, cancer mortality in people diagnosed with the chronic condition, HMS/Brigham study shows most advertised medicines little better than other treatment options. Olupona earned his bachelor of arts degree in religious studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1975. %PDF-1.7
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I feel deeply the value of biblical studies in this exercise, and the contribution of biblical insights in this development. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, between 10% and 15% of respondents are Muslim. It may be, and needs to be, a qualified and critical Yes. 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 Supreme Court may halt health care guarantees for inmates, Why police resist reforms to militarization, Historian says Fla. dispute shows why AP class in African American studies is needed, Low-carb diet can help manage progression of Type 2 diabetes, Those breezy TV drug ads? Oral tradition says the first Muslims appeared while the prophet Mohammed was. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. These were not empty names. trailer 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. Ethiopia's Christian population, at 6 million in 1900, will grow to a projected 100 million in 2050. When this happens, then a passage such as Hebrews 1:1-3 rolls down like mighty waters, full of exciting possibilities of theological reflection. 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 . In contrast, witchcraft beliefs persist. 817-820. GAZETTE: What is the state of indigenous African religions today? GAZETTE: What will Africa lose if it loses its African indigenous worldview? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Religion informs everything in traditional African society, including political art, marriage, health, diet, dress, economics, and death. Model tested on tens of thousands of routine brain scans spotted disease risk with 90% accuracy, Experts on law, policy say originalist view used to overturn Roe could upend 76 ruling based on cruel, unusual punishment clause, Issues revolve around culture of viewing civilians as potential threats, concerns about self-protection in departments equipped with military-grade arms, Khalil Gibran Muhammad says College Board needs to stand firm behind curriculum, 2023 The President and Fellows of Harvard College. 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. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Some people tried to involve Africa in the debate. {PB,`s The recipient of many prestigious academic honors and research fellowships, Olupona also received the 20152016 Reimar Lust Award for International and Cultural Exchange, considered one of Germanys most prestigious academic honors. I told my father that I was coming home, he recalled. But after braving that first blizzard in a land far from his native Nigeria, Olupona stuck it out and earned his Ph.D. In three of the countries surveyed (Djibouti, Mali and Senegal), Muslims clearly outnumber Christians. We have already noted that the overseas missionaries did not bring God to Africa. This article appeared in the Christian Century, August 27- September 3, 1980, pp. Updates? (I myself have consulted with several diviners for my research on specific academic topics regarding African culture and history; consequently, if we were to lose Africas diviners, we would also lose one of Africas best keepers and sources of African history and culture. Ritual functionaries include priests, elders, rainmakers, diviners, and prophets. A prominent European New Testament professor visited Makerere University and interviewed me on what I thought about the "death of God" discussion. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main I want to reflect and write on this topic, but somehow it makes me feel frightened. Y.91sC@o9sJL9@XMw`7\`1%nRjBS %U=a{N>. That finished the interview. Instead, God brought them, for the God described in the Bible is none other than the God who was already known in the framework of our traditional African religiosity. In this overpowering environment, one simply accepted this stand and looked at the world from its perspectives. Islam has experienced a similar rapid growth. African spirituality has always been able to adapt to change and allow itself to absorb the wisdom and views of other religions, much more than, for example, Christianity and Islam. Humans are spirits who inhabit the visible world. Vodou is a worldview encompassing philosophy, medicine, justice, and religion. Corrections? In the cities, local hierarchies of priestesses or priests (manbo and oungan), children of the spirits (ounsi), and ritual drummers (ountgi) comprise more formal societies or congregations (sosyete). The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God. Ritual sacrifices and witchcraft beliefs are still common. OLUPONA: Yes, and the pluralistic nature of African-tradition religion is one of the reasons for its success in the diaspora. The beliefs and practices of the traditional religions in Africa can enrich Christian theology and spirituality." 1996 Canadian Anthropology Society This statistical tilting of Christendom from the north to the south, after 2,000 years, holds tremendous prospects and challenges. L'interdiction de pratiquer le culte des anctres est l'unique domaine dans lequel la mission chrtienne a triomph de la vie religieuse traditionnelle des Biras. This bitter conflict has led to wanton destruction of lives and property, and this has become a source of great worry to the writers. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. I completed my doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge in 1963, the year that Honest to God, by J.A.T. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Muslim populations are especially concentrated in a large geographic belt running west to east from Senegal to the Horn of Africa.1 Southern Africa is predominantly Christian. A follower of African diaspora religions has many choices in terms of seeking spiritual help or succor. They derive from traditional African religions with some influence from other religious traditions, notably Christianity and Islam . This is not an empty coincidence. Didnt our Lord let it be clearly known that "before Abraham was I am" (John 8:58)? Anthropologica Abstract. Orthodox Christianity, although influenced by other religions, generally looked negatively upon these syncretistic movements. Of course, behind all these factors is the Holy Spirit working through them. 0000008365 00000 n
Yet . I have been greatly enriched by working at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, 1974-1980. This is in sharp contrast with the religious composition . Later, my theological studies in America and England did not challenge this position, since that was not a living issue for my professors and fellow students. (See the glossary for more information on the evil eye.). 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. 0000014207 00000 n
I want to make a pilgrimage into Christ. OLUPONA: Thats a mixed bag. 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. The concept of the church as the body of Christ in the whole world is another growing development for me. Their history has a theological meaning. 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. Revelation is given not in a vacuum but within particular historical experiences and reflections. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax In 1900 there were an estimated 9 million Christians (accounting for about 7 per cent of the population of Africa). The bottom line then is that Africans who still wholly practice African indigenous religions are only about 10 percent of the African population, a fraction of what it used to be only a century ago, when indigenous religions dominated most of the continent. My findings were used in teaching, but eventually I put them together in a book, Concepts of God in Africa, published by the British publisher SPCK (1970). The Church in Africa, 1450-1950. OLUPONA: Your question underscores an important facet about African spirituality: It is not a closed theological system. 9_r'v>#z2"syiBm?mry8%;m8v
L,WNHitMJk#RZwEl+M3N1n[nt4]C$i2y]_6Iasrt It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. GAZETTE: It sounds like African indigenous religions are dynamic, inclusive, and flexible. 43. GAZETTE: What allows African indigenous religions to be so accommodating? Diviners who go through a long educational and apprenticeship program hold the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of the African people. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> Consequently, traditional Africans have different ideas on what role the ancestors play in the lives of living descendants. Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. OLUPONA: The role of ancestors in the African cosmology has always been significant. 4 0 obj The numerous traditional African religions have in common the notion of a creator god, who made the world and then withdrew, remaining remote from the concerns of human life. Traditional African religious beliefs, such as belief in the protective power of sacrifices to ancestors, Traditional African religious practices, such as owning sacred objects. 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. Traditional African religions and practices were brought to the Western hemisphere through the African diaspora and the slave trade, often resulting in a syncretic blending with Christianity. One of the things these diaspora African religions testify to is the beauty of African religions to engage a devotee on many spiritual levels. Additionally, I will not discourage, disparage, or try and convert those who practice their form of African indigenous religions. The continued influence of traditional African religion is also evident in some aspects of daily life. At many points I see intriguing parallels between the biblical record and African religiosity. For six years I worked with the World Council of Churches in Geneva. Their culture, history, world views and spiritual aspirations cannot be taken away from them. The unseen world is populated by lwa (spirits), myst (mysteries), anvizib (the invisibles), zanj (angels), and the spirits of ancestors and the recently deceased. My research into and teaching of African religion has led to another important area of development. At first, Christianity made few inroads into the African slave population, which had its own religious traditions. A conference of mainly African theologians, held in Ghana in December 1977, said in its final communiqu: "The God of history speaks to all peoples in particular ways. <>stream
On returning home, the learned professor wrote an article using my brief answer as his title. Fewer say it is paramount to their faith to attend religious services (39%), avoid sex before marriage (30%) or oppose abortion . 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. There is no centralized hierarchy, no single leader, and no official spokesperson, but various groups sometimes attempt to create such official structures. Indeed, ten years ago I had no significant theological position. African diaspora religions, also described as Afro-American religions, are a number of related beliefs that developed in the Americas in various nations of the Caribbean, Latin America and the Southern United States. Liberia is the only country where more than one-in-ten (12%) identify primarily with an African traditional religion. They have also fostered a greater feeling of individual self-worth by acknowledging important milestones in ones life, including becoming an adult or an elder. Anthropologica is published for CASCA by University of Toronto Press. GAZETTE: Are ancestors considered deities in the traditional African cosmology? He later earned both an M.A. %PDF-1.3 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. In respect and honor of my culture, I also dress in my traditional Nigerian attire when Im in my country. 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. There are also secret societies, called Bizango or Sanpwl, that perform a religio-juridical function.