REL (Tut 3) Ikenga-Metuh, Emefie. 1987. Comparative studies of African Traditional Religions

Comparative Studies of African Traditional Religions

Author and Publication Details

• Author: Emefie Ikenga-Metuh

• Published by: IMICO Publishers

• Location: Onitsha, Nigeria

• Year: 1987

• Chapter 8 focuses on "The Living Dead and Ancestral Cult" (pages 145-159)

Page 1 Overview

• Main Themes: Introduction to African traditional religions, focusing on spiritual beings.

• Spiritual classification:

  • Non-Human Spirits: Supreme Being, Deities, Spirit Forces.

  • Human Spirits: Disincarnated spirits from formerly human beings (souls, ghosts, ancestors).

• Apotheosis Examples:

  • Yoruba deities: Sango (4th King of Oyo) and Oduduwa (1st King of Ife).

  • Bugandan spirits: Kibuka and Mukasa (war heroes).

• Human spirits discussion: Include souls in living bodies that can temporarily leave.

Page 2: Definitions and Concepts

Human Spirits Classification

• Spirits of departed beings include:

  • Souls, ghosts, witches, ancestors.

  • Distinction between ancestors and other spirits.

• Terminology Debate:

  • Terms like "ghosts" and "ancestors" might be limiting.

  • Recommended term: "living-dead" to encompass all categories of departed spirits.

• Hierarchical Status:

  • Ancestors hold special status, revered after meeting requirements (old age, moral life, funeral rites).

Page 3: Criteria for Ancestorship

Who Can Be Ancestors?

• Conditions for becoming an ancestor are diverse across African societies:

  • General requirements:

    • Old age, moral integrity, children, proper funeral rites.

  • Some societies include criteria like a "good death".

• Cultural Variances:

  • Practices across different groups (e.g., Ashanti, Ndembu) show how ancestorship is culturally contextual.

Page 4: Ancestral Influence and Cultural Practices

Role in Society

• Ancestors viewed as protectors, enforcing community ethics and customs.

• Differentiation in Recognition:

  • Women represented through male relatives, particularly in matrilineal societies.

  • The status of deceased men and women influenced by lineage responsibilities.

Page 5: Ancestor Worship among Igbo

Ancestral Cult Practices

• Veneration System:

  • Importance of the 'Ofo', symbolizing ancestral authority.

  • Shrines present in households where offerings are made.

• Ceremonial Observances:

  • Daily prayers, offerings during festivals (beginning and end of rainy season).

  • Ancestors believed to visit homes in the form of masquerades.

Page 6: Ancestor Cult among Ashanti and Gikuyu

Ashanti Practices

• Belief in ancestors underpinning societal hierarchy and governance.

• Chief's Role:

  • Validation through sacred connection with ancestor spirits.

• Regular ancestor worship includes communing foods and libations.

Gikuyu Spiritual Framework

• Acknowledges three categories of ancestral spirits:

  1. Direct communication with living children (Ngoma cia aciari).

  2. Clan spirits concerned with community welfare (ngoma cia moherega).

  3. Age-group spirits (ngoma cia riika) governing social unity.

Page 7: Ancestors in South African Cultures

Community Dynamics

• Among various Bantu tribes, ancestral spirits integrated into social structure.

• Types of Ancestors:

  • Those connected to clans versus individual families.

• Ritual Practices:

  • Complex communal rites, sacrifices, and societal roles of ancestors to uphold traditions.

Page 8: The Nature of Ancestor Cults

Understanding Ancestor Worship

• Term "ancestor worship" is often debated for its accuracy in describing the relationship.

• Cultural Perspective:

  • Ancestors viewed as intermediaries rather than objects of worship.

  • Communal gatherings likened to family reunions, mixing respect with familiarity.

• Role of Rituals:

  • Not solely about worship but maintaining family and communal relations with the departed.

Comparative Studies of African Traditional Religions by Emefie Ikenga-Metuh discusses the spiritual beings in African traditional religions, categorizing them into non-human (Supreme Being, deities, spirit forces) and human spirits (souls, ghosts, ancestors). The term "living-dead" is recommended to encompass various departed spirits. Ancestors hold a revered status and the criteria for ancestorship vary across societies, often involving old age, moral behavior, and proper funeral rites. The role of ancestors in community influence and practices, especially among the Igbo, Ashanti, and Gikuyu, highlights their importance in society, governance, and cultural rituals.