African Religions

Amma

The High God of the Dogon people.

Bori

A term for West African spirits.

Candomble

New world religion with roots in West Africa, particularly Yoruba culture, which is prominent in Brazil

Dama

A Dogon rite of passage marking the transition to adulthood and to the afterlife

Divination

The attempt to learn about events that will happen in the future through supernatural means.

Ifa

The divination system of the Yoruba religion, believe to be revealed to humanity by the gods

Kinjiketele

The leader of the Maji Maji rebellion in Tanganyika

Medium

A person who is possessed by a spirit and thus mediates between the human and spirit worlds

Moran

A young man in Samburu or Maasai culture who has been circumcised and thus has special cultural and religious duties

Orisha

Term for lesser deities in Yoruba religion

Oshun

A Yoruba goddess.

Pantheos

A group of deities or spirits.

Santeria

New World religion with roots in West Africa; prominent in Cuba

Vodou

New world religion with roots in West Africa; prominent in Haiti and Haitian diaspora

Zar

A term for spirits in East Africa.