ipl-logo

Religion In African Culture Essay

1352 Words6 Pages

Introduction
John S Mbiti asserts religion as being an ubiquitous element of African culture, such that it "colours their [African peoples] understanding of the universe... making life a profoundly religious experience" (Mbiti 1969: 4). As opposed to Abrahamic faiths, African religions are concerned more so with orthopraxy than orthodoxy - with participation, as manifest through rituals for example, being stressed upon in terms of devotion to ensure good fortune in the life of this world. As such, it serves as a function for both society at large and individuals - thus aligning with Milton Yinger's definition of religion as being "a system of beliefs and practices by means of which a group of people struggle with the ultimate problems of human life" (Milton Yinger 1970; 33).

Gender, on the other hand, constituting of socially desirable behaviours associated to the male and female sexes - according to some has been described as arriving to Africa "only recently"(Cole, CM, Manuh, T, & Miescher 2007: 3). This is exemplified in African languages, such as Yoruba and Swahili, being …show more content…

Zar cults of affliction , however, are commonplace in Ethiopa , Somalia, the Sudan, where in Hofriyat it is pronounced zahr which can be translated as "he became visible" (Janice Patricia Boddy 1989, 132) - as well as in North Africa, namely Egypt. Zar cults incorporates both indigenous belief of misfortune with the Islamic element of ghaib (the unseen) as manifest through a pantheon of possessive jinn. The symbiosis between the two provides a culturally appropriate explanation of why bad things happen, in that causality lies within the 'other' spirit world - in this case, with malevolent jinn. A further synergy is cited by Muslim adherents in that ultimately zar and the afflictions that come with it are amongst the creation of

Show More
Related

  • Dbq Essay On African Civilizations

    1217 Words  | 5 Pages

    African civilizations were transformed through trade. This allowed art and government for new developments and changes. As civilizations changed, aesthetics advanced based on the geography and new cultural aspects, along with new governing influences. These African civilizations thrived on their own by using leadership and other ideas from neighboring trade countries. Trade modified aspects of certain kingdoms from religion to social structures.

    Read More

  • Ap World History Research Paper

    748 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the 1880’s, Christianity have play an important role in African activities, most of the African people do not follow their ancestor custom. At this time people dressed like the European and the people also have access to modern

    Read More

  • Religion In Colonial America Essay

    776 Words  | 4 Pages

    Religious ideas played a central role in the way people understood and reacted to the world around them in colonial America. The colonies were founded by various religious groups seeking freedom to practice their faith without persecution. Religion influenced many aspects of colonial people's daily life, from politics and social order to economic practices and daily life. Religious ideas were not only important but often the cause of antagonism and violence in colonial America. One example of religious antagonism in colonial America can be seen in the Salem witch trials of 1692 (American YAWP, 3.5).

    Read More

  • Ap Euro Dbq Essay On Religion

    848 Words  | 4 Pages

    Eighteenth-century Europe witnessed multiple actions taken upon religion. Revolts against, as well as in support of religion were contrasted simultaneously in a period of time, parallel to one-another. With these factors in motion, multiple individuals were subjected to a change in their lifestyle which, in that time, was greatly influenced by religion. In the later years of the eighteenth-century, the French Revolution arose, and the Roman Catholic Church was greatly challenged. Moreover, Enlightened thinkers greatly criticized religion as it would impede progression and innovation, particularly the sciences and new ideas.

    Read More

  • African American Religion

    1143 Words  | 5 Pages

    People generally agree that the religious life of African American forms the foundation of their community life. However, in the 1770s, less than 1% of African Americans were connected to a church. Was the church/ Christianity force upon African Americans while enslaved? Scholars estimated that about 30% of African Americans that came to the United States as slaves were Muslims while 70% practiced indigenous forms of worship. Today, in the 21st century, more than 87% of African Americans identify as Christian and claims that religion plays a major role in their everyday life.

    Read More

  • Civilizing Africa Dbq Essay

    1520 Words  | 7 Pages

    Throughout time diverse regions have considered other societies to be barbaric, causing them to have the desire of “civilizing” them. Many individuals accept the rule of a higher and civilized region as they believe that their alterations will benefit them. Although, by enabling a higher power to acquire authority in another foreign nation, will diminish that regions culture and individuals will not truly possess respect, ultimately causing them to rebel against that foreign power after they comprehend their true nature. Likewise, after the Berlin Conference, which set certain rules for the partition of Africa, numerous European powers desired in colonizing Africa and obtaining control during the early 1800s, which was known as the Scramble

    Read More

  • Essay On Africa Before 1500 Ce

    1199 Words  | 5 Pages

    Africa before 1500 ce was a time where many events happened that changed the civilization of Africa forever. Africa invented trades, cultures, traditions, and so many other things that affected Africa in many ways. There is a huge timeline that explains all the events that happen in Africa, what year they happen, and why they happen in the first place. Africa along with other certain continents had major events happened before 1500 ce. Since I chose Africa I will be explaining what was Africa before 1500 ce.

    Read More

  • Essay On Religion In Popular Culture

    1079 Words  | 5 Pages

    Believe it or not, religion, which is “the service and worship of God or the supernatural” (Webster) is far more common than the average Joe notices on the surface. A large amount of people wouldn’t see religious aspects in their everyday life except for those they practice and even then, most are limited to a single day if even that. With the proper lens it is possible to gaze deeper into everyday occurrences and see factors such as subliminal meanings and blatant themes that have religious values to accompanying them. This theme of religion in popular culture can be seen popular aspects of everyday life. Many religious institutions see media within popular culture as an avenue to communicate to the mass their message and/or vision.

    Read More

  • Religion Thesis Statement

    594 Words  | 3 Pages

    Week Outline Preliminary Thesis Statement: Religion is an essential constituent of any civilization with a unique spiritual pathway. Main Point: Religious spirituality establishes the framework for human social and cultural development. 1. Topic Sentence:

    Read More

  • African Diaspora Essay

    1404 Words  | 6 Pages

    Kacie Lee 1/14/17 Tomasetti AP World P.6 ID #16 1. African Diaspora (428-430) The African Diaspora was the dispersion of Africans and their kin. The majority of African slaves went to plantations in the western hemisphere.

    Read More

  • Essay On Religion In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    846 Words  | 4 Pages

    Religion in Things Fall Apart Religion is the belief in a greater power, which shapes the way someone lives their life. Religion can bring people together, or it can pull them apart. The novel Things Fall Apart, a work by Chinua Achebe, is about a man named Okonkwo and how he and his village deal with the colonization of Christianity. In the end, it pulled Okonkwo away from his people, leading him to his death.

    Read More

  • Definition Essay On Religion

    1183 Words  | 5 Pages

    South Africa has a vast range of religious groups. To list a few of the many religions we will be briefly discussing, are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and African Culture. However there are many more. Every religious group serves a significant purpose to promote oneself as being spiritually motivated, with each individual possessing unique moral teachings, a code of conduct, values and norms.

    Read More

  • The Igbo Religion

    1632 Words  | 7 Pages

    All throughout history, religion has had an enormous influence on writing. Many memorable authors––Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, and Chinua Achebe, to name few––have displayed their religion and the religion of their country in their writing. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote about the Christian religion of London in The Canterbury Tales, while William Shakespeare incorporated Catholicism and Protestantism into his plays Hamlet and Macbeth. Chinua Achebe wrote about Christianity, as well as the Igbo beliefs and customs, in Things Fall Apart. Many people that lived in London during the 1300s were Christians and prayed to several different saints for help and guidance (“What was life like in medieval London?”).

    Read More

  • Essay On Culture And Religion

    1514 Words  | 7 Pages

    Culture and Religion seem to be working hand in hand in society, when looking at culture we look at characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, food, social habits (things that are done natural e.g. saying please and thank you), music and arts. With religion people often use the word to mean the worship of a god or gods. However, some religions do not have gods. One thing that all religions have in common is that they help their believers to find meaning and comfort in the world by using some aspects from that particular religion. With culture and religion playing a big role in our everyday and life choices contraceptives go against a lot of cultural and religion choices and

    Read More

  • Essay On African Literature

    1473 Words  | 6 Pages

    African Literature contains traditional oral and written literatures in Afro-Asiatic and African languages merge with the Africans works in European languages. Traditional written literature limits to a small geographic area than oral literature. Oral literature is the most characteristic of sub-Saharan cultures and it participates in the cultures of Mediterranean. In particular, they write literatures in both Hausa and Arabic languages. It creates by the scholars of Northern Nigeria and the Somali people produces a traditional literature in written form.

    Read More

More about Religion In African Culture Essay

Open Document