AFRICAN RELIGIONS

There is no single religion, theology or world view or ritual system.

Many varied ancient culture
HIGH GOD
Many believe in high god, the one who created the world or had given the responsibility to
someone and withdrew himself from the creation. This has given birth to polytheism.
Example: Yoruba tribe believe Olorun the high god gave the responsibility to his first son who
failed and then subsequently when the responsibility given to the second son he also failed.
Therefore Olorun himself had to do the job but he delegated the responsibility to Orisha (a lesser
deities). After the creation Olorun retired to heaven. Several villages have different Orisha. (Like
totemism)

THE LESSER SPIRIT

African religions believe in spirits. The sky, the water, everywhere there are spirits just as there
are human beings and animals. They are everywhere. They can be beneficial or harmful. They
need to be pleased and so worshipped or avoided. Water is considered as sacred and should
come from a living source. It cannot be heated, boiled treated.

The most common form of worship is offering food drinks etc.

ANCESTORS
The most common form of spiritual force is the spirits of ancestors. After death the individual
becomes the spirit and dwell in the world of spirits and take active interest in the day to day life
of the family. They are often consulted before the child birth, seasons of agriculture, royal or
political decisions. Some places the first fruit is offered to them.

Africans fear the ancestors more than their gods. They frequently offer gifts to the ancestors.

Ancestors are believed to be communicated; most often through the dreams which could be
interpreted by the individual himself or by the religious functionary.

SACRIFICE
Rituals and sacrifices are to appease gods, ancestors and spirits for passages through several rites
like rites of passages or rites of transitions etc.

Regular offering of a small portion of food or drink is a common thing to please the supernatural.
The special offerings may come in the form of blood sacrifice. After the blood is offered to the
supernatural the flesh is often shared between the divine and the worshipper. This establishes a
bond between the living and the spirit.

RITES OF PASSAGES
At the important transit points of life such rites are performed.

One of the most important rites is at puberty. Many Africans boys go through it through
circumcision. Many cases it is done without any anaesthesia and the boy is expected not to show
sign of pain. This shows the manhood of the boy. After that the boy is considered as an adult and
eligible for marriage.

Death is also another such ritual where, depending upon the people group elaborate rituals is
performed. The rituals are primarily to prevent the dead from returning to their villages, homes
and families.

African religions do not have the concept of judgement or retribution after death.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS
There is a place for religious leaders in African religions. It is believed that all the sickness and
misfortune are caused by the spirits. And the religious functionary helps to come out from such
situations by playing the role of a mediator.

The tools for divination vary according to the people group.

One of the prominent religious figures is the king, often considered as the incarnation of the
divine. They are the connection to the ancestors and the living symbol of the tribe. So, if the
divine is good and healthy the tribe will be good and healthy. Therefore many tribes do not allow
the old king to survive.