Ukah, Asonzeh. 2016. Religion in the Pre-Contact old world Africa

Religion in the Pre-Contact Old World: Africa

Introduction

• John Mbiti's Assertion

  • Africans are deeply religious; every people has its own religious beliefs and practices.

  • Religion is interwoven into all aspects of life, making it challenging to isolate.

Societies and Cultures in Pre-Contact Africa

• Vibrant Societies

  • Sub-Saharan Africa had established kingdoms with rich cultures, arts, laws, and religious traditions.

  • Example: The Benin Kingdom in the 17th century had a stable administration under the Oba (King) and significant legal and cultural advancements.

  • Artistic works from this time were often ritualistic and are now displayed in Western museums.

Interconnectedness of Life Spheres

• No Separation of Religious and Secular

  • Vital power permeated all life aspects; spiritual and material realms are interrelated.

  • Even today, Africa displays diversity in ethnicities, cultures, and religions.

African Cosmovisions

• Cosmology and Spirituality

  • The African world is characterized by a holistic view where religious beliefs shape social, cultural, political, and economic structures.

  • J.D.Y. Peel describes African cosmovisions as "unsecular", emphasizing religion's foundational role.

  • Western interpretation of African religions has often been flawed due to misinterpretations and eurocentrism.

Nature of African Indigenous Religions

• Non-Proselytizing Nature

  • Membership is ascribed, not recruited; one is born into a specific spiritual community.

  • Land holds significant spiritual importance; it's tied to identity and existence.

  • Many African languages struggle to translate the term "religion"; for example, in Yorùbá and Igbo, spirituality is entwined with community and lifestyle practices.

Goals of Religious Practices

• Principal Life Objectives

  • Individuals engage in prayer, sacrifices, invocations aiming for wealth, children, and longevity.

  • The physical and spiritual environment is viewed as facilitating these goals.

Chapter Overview

• The chapter aims to outline pre-contact African religions devoid of external influences, organized as follows:

  • Introduction

  • The African Worlds

  • Universe of the Gods

  • Religion as Healing

  • Conclusion

• Focus is primarily on West African indigenous religious practices still relevant today.

African Worlds

• Three Interconnected Spheres

  • Human Order: Social structures and community life.

  • Natural World: Physical environment, animals, and resources.

  • Spiritual Universe: Supreme Being, deities, ancestors, and spirits that impact earthly existence.

• The interaction among these worlds sustains a harmonious existence essential for personal and communal development.

The Spiritual World

• Hierarchy of Beings

  • Includes the Supreme Being, deities, ancestral spirits, and other spiritual entities.

  • Life events are observed as interconnected across time (past, present, future).

  • Names and roles attributed to the Supreme Being vary across cultures; for example, Chukwu in Igbo and Olodumare in Yorùbá.

Deities and Ancestors

• Roles and Characteristics

  • Deities act as agents of the Supreme Being, each possessing local names and attributes reflecting their duties.

  • Ancestors play critical roles in moral guidance and community welfare; their intercession is vital.

  • Due reverence is given to ancestors who meet societal and ritual criteria to attain ancestorhood.

Religion as Healing

• Holistic Concept of Health

  • Addresses the total person, encompassing physical, spiritual, and societal aspects.

  • Healing involves restoring balance disrupted by illness or misfortune.

  • Practices include various rituals tailored to individual and communal well-being, using herbs, sacrifices, and divination.

Conclusion**

• The African worldview integrates spirituality with daily life, maintaining cultural identity through rituals, art, and traditions.

• Resilience of African religious cultures has endured throughout history, adapting despite the influences of foreign religions.

Religion in the Pre-Contact Old World: Africa

Introduction

John Mbiti's Assertion

• John Mbiti, a prominent scholar on African religions, asserted that Africans are inherently religious, indicating that religion is an intrinsic aspect of their identity and social fabric. Every ethnic group possesses its own unique religious beliefs and practices that reflect their historical experiences and cultural contexts.

• Religion is so intertwined with daily life that it can be challenging to isolate from other aspects such as politics, social structures, and family life, highlighting a holistic approach to existence where spirituality permeates every action and decision.

Societies and Cultures in Pre-Contact Africa

Vibrant Societies

• Pre-contact Sub-Saharan Africa was home to several established kingdoms, each boasting rich cultural heritages characterized by arts, music, oral traditions, laws, and a complex web of religious traditions. These elements combined to create a vibrant social tapestry.

• For instance, the Benin Kingdom in the 17th century exemplified a sophisticated societal structure with a centralized administration under the Oba (King), who not only acted as the political leader but also had religious duties. Legal systems were developed, and cultural innovations thrived, including impressive artistic works that often held ceremonial significance and are now displayed in prestigious Western museums, showcasing the global impact of African artistry.

Interconnectedness of Life Spheres

• In traditional African societies, there was no clear demarcation between the religious and the secular; instead, vital power was believed to influence all aspects of life. Individuals viewed the spiritual realm as intimately connected to their material existence, shaping their experiences and interactions.

• This interconnectedness continues to be reflected in contemporary Africa, where a myriad of ethnicities, cultures, and religious practices exist side-by-side, creating a rich mosaic of beliefs and traditions.

African Cosmovisions

Cosmology and Spirituality

• The African worldview is characterized by a holistic approach, where religious beliefs underpin social, cultural, political, and economic structures. Scholar J.D.Y. Peel emphasizes that African cosmovisions are "unsecular" because they incorporate spiritual elements into the mundane aspects of everyday life.

• Unfortunately, the Western understanding of African religions has often been marked by flawed interpretations influenced by eurocentrism, failing to appreciate the depth and complexity of African spiritualities.

Nature of African Indigenous Religions

Non-Proselytizing Nature

• Unlike proselytizing religions, African indigenous religions are largely non-proselytizing, where membership is ascribed rather than recruited; individuals are born into specific spiritual communities that shape their identity from a young age.

• Land holds immense spiritual significance and is intimately tied to identity, community, and existence. Many African languages lack a direct translation for the word religion; rather, concepts of spirituality are intertwined with community practices and lifestyle, suggesting a more organic approach to belief systems.

Goals of Religious Practices

• The principal life objectives within African religions often revolve around engaging in various practices such as prayer, sacrifices, and invocations aimed at achieving wealth, fertility, health, and longevity.

• Practitioners view the physical and spiritual environments as interconnected spaces that facilitate the achievement of these aspirations, suggesting a worldview that integrates action and belief.

Chapter Overview

• This chapter seeks to present a comprehensive overview of pre-contact African religions, emphasizing indigenous practices free from external influences.

• The organization is as follows: Introduction, The African Worlds, Universe of the Gods, Religion as Healing, and Conclusion. Particular focus will be placed on West African indigenous religious practices that continue to thrive today, showcasing their resilience and adaptation to changing contexts.

African Worlds

Three Interconnected Spheres

• African cosmology is often depicted as consisting of three interconnected spheres:

  1. Human Order: This encompasses social structures, community relationships, and the ethical frameworks guiding interpersonal conduct.

  2. Natural World: This includes the physical environment, which consists of flora, fauna, and natural resources that are vital to sustenance and spirituality.

  3. Spiritual Universe: This sphere encompasses the Supreme Being, various deities, ancestral spirits, and other supernatural entities believed to directly impact earthly existence.

• The harmonious interaction among these worlds is essential for personal well-being and communal development, underscoring the holistic nature of African thought.

The Spiritual World

Hierarchy of Beings

• Within the spiritual universe, a hierarchy of beings exists, encompassing a Supreme Being, various deities, ancestral spirits, and lesser spiritual entities.

• Life events—be they joyous or tragic—are perceived as interconnected across time (with past, present, and future influences), suggesting a belief in continuity within the human experience.

• Names and roles assigned to the Supreme Being can vary significantly across cultures; for example, Chukwu is revered in Igbo cosmology while Olodumare holds the same position in Yorùbá tradition.

Deities and Ancestors

• African deities are seen as emissaries of the Supreme Being, each having unique local names, attributes, and responsibilities reflective of their cultural context.

• Ancestors play a critical role in imparting moral guidance, offering support to the living, and preserving community welfare; their intercession is considered vital for achieving balance and prosperity in everyday life.

• Special reverence is accorded to those ancestors who fulfill societal and ritual criteria, achieving the revered status of ancestorhood, where their wisdom can be called upon by descendants.

Religion as Healing

Holistic Concept of Health

• An integral aspect of African religions is the holistic concept of health, which aims to address the total person, encompassing physical, spiritual, and societal dimensions of well-being.

• Healing practices are designed to restore balance in life, disrupted by illness, misfortune, or social discord.

• These practices often incorporate various rituals tailored to meet the needs of individuals and the community, employing natural remedies, ceremonial sacrifices, and divination methods to facilitate healing processes.

Conclusion

• The African worldview distinctively integrates spirituality into daily life, maintaining cultural identity through vibrant rituals, artistic expressions, and age-old traditions.

• The resilience of African religious cultures, despite the pressures of colonization, globalization, and the emergence of foreign religions, showcases their ability to adapt while retaining core cultural tenets.

• Consequently, African religions continue to thrive and evolve, affirming their importance in understanding the identity and heritage of the peoples of Africa.

Religion in pre-contact Africa, as articulated by John Mbiti, is deeply embedded in personal and social identity. Each African society possesses unique beliefs and practices, with religion intricately linked to politics, social structures, and daily life. Pre-contact Sub-Saharan Africa was home to vibrant kingdoms, such as the Benin Kingdom, highlighting a rich cultural tapestry inclusive of arts and rituals. The interconnectedness of life spheres in African cosmology is paramount, as it comprises the Human Order, the Natural World, and the Spiritual Universe. This holistic perspective influences social, cultural, and economic structures. African religions are typically non-proselytizing, emphasizing inherited membership and a deep connection to land and community. Religious practices aim for personal objectives like wealth and health, viewing the spiritual and physical as intertwined. The chapter presents an overview organized into key themes, focusing on West African indigenous practices that remain significant today. It emphasizes that spirituality is crucial to daily life, cultural identity, and community cohesion despite the challenges posed by foreign influences, underscoring the resilience of African religious traditions

Ancestors in African Indigenous Religions

• Role: Ancestors are vital figures in African religions, regarded as spiritual entities who provide moral guidance, support to the living, and protect community welfare. They serve as intermediaries between the living and the Supreme Being or deities.

• Criteria for Ancestorhood: To attain the revered status of ancestorhood, individuals must meet specific societal and ritual qualifications. This often involves having led a life that reflects the community’s values and having participated in essential rituals during their lifetime.

• Intercession: Ancestors are believed to intercede on behalf of their descendants, offering divine guidance and protection. Rituals, prayers, and offerings are often directed towards ancestors, reflecting the deep connection and respect held for those who have passed.

• Moral and Social Values: Ancestors embody and transmit the moral and social values of the community. The wisdom of ancestors is sought in making important decisions, ensuring the continuation of cultural practices and traditions.

• Cultural Significance: Ancestor worship fosters community cohesion and identity, reinforcing social norms and cultural integrity. By honoring ancestors, individuals and communities maintain their historical connections and cultural heritage.

• Ritual Practices: Rituals honoring ancestors may include offerings, sacrifices, and specific celebrations, particularly during significant life events or seasonal changes, emphasizing the continuing relationship between the living and the dead.