African Traditional Religion: The Misconceptions Surrounding The Religion
Welcome to my blog!
As a student of philosophy, i was introduced to many subjects and African Traditional Religion was one of the courses i took in the Religion Department. I was introduced to the religion in my first year in school and the misconceptions surrounding the religion of the people.
Every religion has its history and no history is superior to the other. When Africa came in contact with the White people, all our beliefs and traditions were seen as barbaric. This is because they do not understand our culture. So we were easily called uncivilized. There are many articles that actually show civilization started in Africa (An argument for another day).
Do not forget also that no religion is true and no religion is false. God knows what He will look for in the end and i doubt if He will ask the domination one belongs to before judging the person. So the question of religion should be treated with caution.
African Traditional Religion is the beliefs and ways of living of the African people. It is a religion that has the Supreme being (God) at its center. Just like religion itself, African Traditional Religion does not have specific and generally accepted definition.
ATR (I will be using this) is not an holistic religion. That is, it is not a religion practiced by all Africans but a religion that is evident in every ancient African communities.
Unlike other popular religions that are scriptural, ATR is oral. It is a religion the Africans practice by transmitting the knowledge from one generation to the other. It does not have written scripture which the people can reference.
The general misconception which i still find amusing is the idea that the Africans do not believe in God. This argument was what our forefathers faced during their contact with the West. It should be noted that the confusion between God and god is Western and not African. We do not have such confusion when discussing the Supreme Being in Africa.
God is evident in the life of the African people. In hierarchy, the Supreme Being is number one. The names Africans call God is different but has same meaning and they refer to one God.
Names Africans call God:
IGBO (Nigeria): Chukwu, Chi, Chineke
IJAW (Nigeria): Egbesu
YORUBA (Nigeria): Olodumare, Olorun, Olofin-Orun, Oluwa.
HAUSA (Nigeria) Ubangidi
SOUTH AFRICA Inkosi, Modimo
SUDAN Ajok
LIBERIA Yala
ZIMBABWE Mwari
Looking at the above names, it is obvious we have names for God even before the advent of colonialism. If it is claimed that Africans are spiritual beings, how come same people have no idea of God?
The names we give our children is a clear evident that we know God and have clear understanding of who He is.
Below are some examples:
Yoruba people
Olu/oluwa: means God. They are used interchangeably.
Oluwabukola: God adds to wealth
Oluwabunmi: God adds to me
Oluwabusayo: God adds to joy
Olumayowa: God brings joy
Oluwaremilekun: God has dried my tears
Igbo people
Chinyere: God gave
Chidiogo: God is friendly
Chizoba: God should help
Chigozie: God blesses
Chinenye: God gives
Chidimma: God is good
Chinazo: God protects
The above names clearly shows the Yoruba and Igbo people of Nigeria have good knowledge of God. This is evident in all tribes across Africa.
We have names we call God and we have names we call divinities. All our supplements, prayers and request are always directed towards God.
Perhaps, you will say we do this through the divinities. Yes, you are right. The Supreme Being is highly respected by the Africans and they think mere humans cannot just go and meet Him and ask for things directly. This is why they do so via the divinities. The divinities are by definition, the intermediaries between man and God. The divinities take the people's request to God.
Do not forget also that as Christians we reach God through Jesus. He has said it that no one goes to the father except through me.
The belief in God is number one and evident in people's daily activities.
To be continue...
In my next post, i will talk more about divinities, spirit, esu (lot of misconceptions is surrounding this divinity), ancestors and many more.
Thanks for reading. Your boy @smyle the philosopher.
I like this post. The West only could not understand the African man due to language barriers and because they therefore made African traditional and religious practices to appear inferior so as to sell theirs.
You are very correct brother! There are no bad religions, what we have is bad people! Every religion is good!
Informative post please up vote back
nice job.
They are in more danger from Islamic expansion than Christian missionaries these days. I like all tribal religions around the world and hope to see them preserved.
@smyle, this work is well researched sir
Thank you ma!
still on the stuff, pls