Indigenous African Religions

Traditional religions in ancient Mali were polytheistic, they did not believe in one single supreme being, and the believed in animism. They believed that all plants, animals and objects had spirits. “Spirits of the land” were also a big part of the ancient civilization’s beliefs and they were taught to ensure the success of their crops. They had no sacred texts to support their beliefs but they thought that the spiritual world and the physical world were connected.

In Native American religions a dance called the Sun Dance is used as the rite of passage for young men. You men would stick a rod though their peck and dance around a pole of three days as a way to become connected with the Spirit World. The pole is used to show strength and the boys would quickly have to get the rod out by dancing. Another rite of passage in Native Americans religions is the Vision Quest. Young boys and girls partake in this to find their spirit animals. They go into the woods mostly naked and sometimes covered in body paint and fast in the woods for days. Eventually a spirit comes to them, most of the time as an animal but it can be in human form, and is said to be their guardian

The first chapter in Boahen’s book is titled “Eve of Colonial Conquest” and this section gives the readers a background of the colonialism in Africa through a look at the fundamental economic, political, and social changes that occurred just a few decades before colonialism took root. Boahen states that the trade of “natural products” is the most significant economic change in Africa by 1880. Just before the trading of “natural products” slave trades were abolished.

They used what is known as a diffused substinance pattern. By this we mean that by using resources available to them lightly as opposed to intensely using the same resources, they were conserving for the future. These tribes would spiritualize nature. In this culture everything was significant. They held reverence for the environment and a strong kinship with nature. Often these people observed respectful guidelines to avoid spiritual retaliation. For instance, the bones of the beaver would be returned to the river where it had been trapped. This was believed to keep the beavers there plentiful.

These groups of humans and the culture that they believe in is very harsh due to all the different rituals and ceremonies that they have. The culture that they believe in also dictates

The cultural diversity and advancements portray the progression developed in African history. The growth of these two subcontinents prove that American and European historians were incorrect on how advanced and civilized Africa was.

They also pray for rain, and administer ordeals which are the ordinary form of trial.” Most of the tribes seem to have a notion of Supreme being, but it's not easy to find whether the word which they use really denotes a personality or striking examples of a superhuman force. For example, the sun, thunder or violent rain. The ethical standard was lower than most including ours today. For example, marriage is as seen as a sale. If you committing a crime such as murder, you are able to pay a fine and have it revoked. Women usually end up doing all the household chores and field work. The family remains strong and the children usually show appreciation to their

The San were greatly influenced by their long-term connection with an ancient past. The San’s society can be characterized by “mobility, sharing, and equality.” Their economic life was mostly controlled by their desire to continue their long-standing customs and very old traditions. Unlike the Chumash’ much larger camps of thousands of peoples, the

Like in any religion the people have certain beliefs. In the african religions there is no single religion. Researchers try to identify similarities in world views and ritual processes across the african boundaries. African Religions are polytheistic; which means they believe in more than one god. They believe in one overall god, but also ancestral spirits. Most African religion’s creation story reveal the creation of humans more than

Bailyn notes, “No less for being invisible, these vital spirits inhered in the heavens, the earth, the seas, and everything within. They drove the stars in the sky and gave life to every bird, animal, and person that existed, and they were active within the earth’s material--rocks, hills, lakes, and rivers--and in the wind, the cold, the heat, and the seasons(Bailyn 1)”. When it came to their beliefs, they believed in nature and how if they were good to the Gods they would be rewarded with good harvests and successful huts to survive. Rituals like food preparation and dancing, dancing around the fire, asking nature for rain, were all actions giving veneration to the spirits of nature. They Believed that everyone was the same no one was better than anyone else, the chiefs of the tribes always tried to maintain order and made sure everyone was as happy and pleased as it was possible.

What is an ‘indigenous’ religion or belief system? When we hear the term ‘indigenous religion’, what comes to our minds? How do we react internally when those words are mentioned? How do adherents of indigenous religions feel about those outside of their social and cultural circles, who know very little of their beliefs and who understand them even less. And how did the term ‘indigenous’ become associated with various belief systems that, in many cases, preceded most modern religions being practiced today?

Africa’s persistent poverty interrogates the continent’s past through institutions, government, demography, economics, colonialism, and the impact of the trading. The colonial era affected the variety of Africa’s historical development for it was quite the game changer since it put a halt to the continuous drain of scarce labor and paved the way for the expansion of land concentrated forms of agriculture, and engaging smallholders, estates, and communal farms. The establishment of the colonial rule over the African interior reinforced African commodity growth in export. The colonial control facilitated the construction induced significant inflows of European

Indigenous religions exist in every climate around the world and exhibit a wide range of differences in their stories, language, customs, and views of the afterlife. Within indigenous communities, religion, social behavior, art, and music are so intertwined that their religion is a significant part of their culture and virtually inseparable from it. These religions originally developed and thrived in isolation from one another and are some of the earliest examples of religious practice and belief. The modern world; however, has taken its toll on these groups and many of their stories, customs, and beliefs have been lost to, or replaced by, those brought in as a result of popular culture and the missionary work of Christians and Muslims.

According to the text, the author talks about their traditional life, origins account, subsistence activities, and religious system. First, the author says

Considering the social trauma associated with colonialism and apartheid the Zulu responded by clinging more tenaciously to their heritage as a means of psychological survival in a society which systematically degraded and disrespected them as a people. Berglund (1976) points out that it is the rituals and symbols of a society which express the relationships between members of that society and makes living in that society a meaningful experience.