The importance of women in african society is portrayed in a ghanaian proverb which says, a woman is a flower in a garden, her husband is the fence around. Study in african traditional religion started as mostly a descriptive encounter of observable actions of the african by the foreign observers. Parrinder who has produced several works on african traditional religion. Geoffrey parrinders contributions to studies of religion in africa. Written expressly for the middle grade struggling reader, the series does not contain strong language, edgy themes, or dysfunctional families. Blood symbolism in african religion volume 21 issue 3 m. This paper examines the concept and philosophy of african traditional religion from the viewpoint of africans. We think especially of his west african religion 1949, religion in an african city 1953, african traditional religion 1954, african mythology 1967, and religion in africa 1969. The intention of these scholars was to protest against a long history of derogatory evaluations of africans and their culture by outsiders and to. Mbitis african religions and philosophy 1969 has had a wider circulation than parrinder s 1954 survey.
African traditional religion by describing it with some racially motivated terminologies such as. Box 4384400100, nairobi, kenya abstract it is the opinion consensuses of a few scholars that the institution of marriage has continued to. Geoffrey parrinder april 10, 1910 june 16, 2005 was a professor of comparative religion at kings college london, a methodist minister, and the author of over 30 books. This paper is a trawl of literature on african traditional religion1 atr and. Parrinder has chosen to consider three religious systems as having long african his tories. Diviners are responsible for determining the cause of illness, which in some causes are believed to stem from ancestral. This is a 3hour summary lecture on the basic components of african traditional religions. The religious beliefs, practices and the provision of social services of these immigrant religions have impacted on the religious and cultural life of the traditional communities.
Parrinder who has produced several works on african. This implies that there is no tension between the major elements of african traditional religions and. A biblical perspective with implications for church ministry esther j. African religion cannot be separated from daily life. Introduction for many decades, the concept of supreme being god, divinities and ancestors the livingdead in african traditional religious thought has been a controversial and misunderstood concept. African traditional religion by parrinder, geoffrey and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Spirit and spirits in african religious traditions.
A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage. Pdf african traditional religion in contemporary africa. African traditional religion by parrinder, edward geoffrey. It was in this quest for desirable terminology and accurate descriptions of. Mbitis african religions and philosophy 1969 has had a wider circulation than parrinders 1954 survey.
Africa is a massive continent with diverse religious traditions, to the extent that within the same tradition there have been variations. In practice, most of the rituals and day to day religious. The religious beliefs, practices and thehuman characteristics such as love, power, knowledge are transferred to anspeak. As quoted by geoffrey parrinder, african traditional religion, 3. First, it begins by a study of the meaning of religion, which itself is enigmatic and. Shona mwari literally he who is, or ndebele umlimu, is believed to be active in the everyday lives of people. This study attempts and examines what some scholars have written. An appraisal of religious art and symbolic beliefs in the. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions. The likes of the foreign observers include bascom, parrinder and some others. It can be said the worship of god in africa traditional religion is the very soul of african religion. However, views emphasising the pervasive religiosity of african traditional societies and proposing a unified, panafrican view of it began to circulate in liberal theo1 parrinder 1969. Talbot wrote that african traditional religion is made up of four important elements. Parrinder in 1954 and later developed by bolaji idowu and john mbiti see proponents of african traditional religion.
The main characteristics of african traditional religion. In that sense the concept was new and radical when it was introduced by g. Various terms are used to refer to the indigenous religious heritage, including african religion, african tradition. After a few minutes of conversing with her, i saw a funny looking necklace around her neck. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator, belief in spirits, veneration of the dead, use of magic and traditional. Emil ludwig is reported to have asked once when on a visit to africa, how can the untutored african conceive god.
God, divinities, ancestors, african, traditional, religion. Abindon dict of living religions african societies number in millions. The religious beliefs, practices and thehuman characteristics such as love, power, knowledge are transferred to anspeak of african traditional religion we mean the indigenous. It also shows that the worship of god in african traditional religion is through sacrifices, offerings, singing, dancing and prayers. It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of. The ancestors are without question the most prominent aspect of african religion, in fact. It presents the worldview, philosophical nature and foundation of african traditional religion. Nagel who did pioneering work on the nupe religion and e. The religious traditions and beliefs of the african peoples have enough differences to merit a study of each in its own right. African religions this entry presents a brief, general picture of africas traditional religious heritage, focusing on the major beliefs because these underlie the general attitudes of individuals and society and shape their worldview. Tabona shoko analyses the traditional karanga views of the causes of illness and disease, mechanisms of diagnosis at their disposal and the methods they use to restore health, shoko discusses the views of a specific african independent church of the apostolic tradition.
Parrinder 1954 has remarked that the word fetish is a most. List of books and articles about african religions online. African traditional religion african studies oxford. In general, people communicate with mwari through the vadzimu. Not being a revealed religion, traditional african religion can be characterized as a natural religion, a religion that derives from the peoples own reflections on this complex world and their experiences in it. African traditional religion in a globalizing world. In sierra leone, botswana, and burkina faso more than 33 percent follow african religion, although it is not the religion of the majority. Edward geoffrey parrinder author visit amazons edward geoffrey parrinder page. Investigators, especially, foreign, should therefore learn to project african traditional religion as the africans themselves say it in their language, culture and all. Spirit and spirits in african religious traditions springerlink. African traditional religions religion in zimbabwe. Myths make a sacred history of the people parrinder 1967. Nagel who did pioneering work on the nupe religion19 and e. African traditional religion paperback january 1, 1974 by edward geoffrey parrinder author visit amazons edward geoffrey parrinder page.
Before we examine the role of women in african traditional religion, certain methodological issues have to be resolved. African traditional religion, is therefore less sexist in its image of the spiritual world as compared to other world religions. Traditional religion as a source of african theology just as christian theology is. African traditional spirituality as an african heritage must be taken seriously for a. In five of these countriesbenin, mozambique, guineabissau, liberia, and the ivory coastafrican religion is the majority religion. A month or two after the funeral the grieving family slaughters a beast and then goes to the graveyard. When we speak of african traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious. The african religions scholar placide tempels describes every misfortune that africans encounter as a diminution of vital force. Geoffrey parrinders contributions to studies of religion.
Geoffrey parrinder posited that this religion should be given a fourfold classification based on belief in a supreme god, divinities, ancestors, and charms with its accessories. Nevertheless, they also display enough family resemblances for us to be able to delineate their main features and to a very reasonable extent fall on them to represent the whole. Traditional african medicine involves diviners, midwives, and herbalists. This little book is a general description and appraisal of indigenous beliefs and practices with reference to religion and magic in africa south of the sahara. Illness and death result from some outside agent, a person, thing, or circumstance that weakens people because the agent contains a greater life force. Some african religions adopted different views through the influence of islam or even hinduism. African world view, all life is religionfarrington 1998. This little book is a general description and appraisal of indigenous beliefs and practices with reference to religion and magic in africa south. What was the role of diviners in african religions answers. Its adoption and propagation by leading african theologians, like e. However, views emphasising the pervasive religiosity of african traditional societies and proposing a unified, pan african view of it began to circulate in liberal theo1 parrinder 1969.
Parrinder in 1954, but later developed by bolaji idowu and john mbiti in this direction. African religion is traditional for the following reasons. List of books and articles about african religions. The three main religious traditions african traditional religion, christianity, and islamconstitute the triple religious heritage of the african continent.
The purpose of this is to help to orient a person who would like to work in the context of africa. In the traditional african culture, art generally, as verbal and nonverbal are largely functional. Christianity, viewing the continent in its entirety, has an approximate two. The traditional spiritual beliefs of the chewa people of zambia, for example, are humancentered and socially oriented. They are also artistic portrayals of traditional african religion. This reader may have some knowledge of the religions of other continents, especially asia, and know that hinduism, buddhism and islam are great faiths, with a long history. A practice that seems to be disappearing in african urban areas is the homebringing ritual, although it is still observed in some parts of africa. At least one book, what world religions teach us 1968, was considered a bestseller. Traditional african religions generally believe in an afterlife, one or more spirit worlds, and ancestor worship is an important basic concept in mostly all african religions. African traditional religion has grown out of the african soil. Pdf this paper critically examines such terminologies like juju. Pdf operational amplifier characteristics and applications.
Geoffrey parrinders contributions to studies of religion in. Sculptures, songs, dance, myths, incantations, etc are oftentimes expressions of african beliefs and practices. African traditional religion is the common denominator of a rather hetero geneous collection of indigenous beliefs and practices. Biblical perspective with implications for church ministry esther j. Blood symbolism in african religion religious studies. Kibor introduction 151 many years ago, a primary school mate of mine was admitted into a hospital diagnosed with malaria.
A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage and sexuality dr. They speak to the ancestors to allow the deceased to return home to rest. Bolaji idowu 1973 popularised this term, having adopted it from geoffrey parrinder, a western scholar. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. These traditional reads are brimming with spirited characters and positive valuesbut with a little extra excitement and bite, so hold on to your hats. The african metaphysic, to be sure, is a theistic metaphysic. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and.
Atr african traditional religion introduction three religions dominates african continent. The three main religious traditionsafrican traditional religion, christianity, and islamconstitute the triple religious heritage of the african continent. African traditional religion is all about, basically by sampling the opinions of different scholars in this regard. University of cape town the worship of god in african traditional religion. It is this factor which has made it possible for both men and women to perform their sacred functions in the worship of god and his functionaries, the divinities, who incidentally are in both sexes 6. African traditional religion and concepts of development. African traditional religion by geoffrey parrinder, 1954. African traditional spirituality as an african heritage must be taken seriously for a fuller understanding of african christian spirituality, particularly of the african pentecostal churches. It is a matter of perspective, whether one lays emphasis on the supreme being or on the many. Although i consulted the works of some anthropologists and theologians on african religions and.
1420 1112 498 1601 1282 1502 322 673 1379 1400 1509 73 1519 1242 354 352 592 1175 1662 810 1439 941 568 189 1203 892 1203 1017 1163 431 990 1129 1063 696 1424 627