Africa is the oldest continent in the world. When we talk about the early history of Old Africans, our minds begin to think of slavery, crime, and barbarism against black people. Just as Africans had no principles of life, so they had no religious sense and rules. Religion is an important part of a person’s life, but black slaves had no right to life, so how could they adopt a true religion. Before Christianity and Islam, The African people believe in oral traditions and there was no standard set of beliefs. These oral traditions are cultural identities, that have been passed down from one generation to the next. These traditional beliefs were passed on through myths, folk tales, and stories. African Traditional religions have no written works and evidence, they have no founding fathers and Holy books. Traditional Religions originate from customs, superstitions, spiritual issues, and delusions. Traditional religions are derived from the fusion beliefs of different ethnic groups and the power of kings and priests.
Many ethnic groups were living together in Africa some 1500 years ago, these are Hausa, Hutu, Igbo, Kanuri, Nguni, Zulu, Xhosa, Bantu, etc. Each ethnic group has its own culture, customs, religious values, and traditions. Religion and Community are an important part of their lives, they only believe in the command of their ancestors.
Christianity arrived in the continent of Africa in the 1st or 2nd century A.D, before Christianity, there were many Traditional religions in Africa. African people are notoriously religious, religion is present in every aspect of their lives, religion has always been in the lives of Africans, right from birth to death.
Traditional African Religions
- Polytheism
- Worshipping Ancestors; Zulu
Zulu ethnic group also worship their living and dead ancestors. Zulu ethnic group argues that worshipping ancestors bring spiritual pleasure to them. African Traditional Religions (ATR) also include worshipping ancestral spirits. They also slaughter animals and explains it as a way of communication with the dead one. It is a kind of relationship between the spiritual and physical world.
- Bantu Mythology
Bantu Mythology dates back about 7,000 years ago, is another Traditional African Religion. Religion is common among Bantu. They have a strong belief in magic. According to Bantu Mythology, the first man was born from the plant, and the sky was separated from the earth due to disturbance caused by man. Although they believe in God’s supremacy yet undefined and vague in their belief. They associate god with the sun, sky, tree, and other natural things. Bantus also worship the spirit of their ancestors. It is mostly practiced in Central, Southeast, and Southern Africa. Bantu is one of the ethnic groups in Africa, and the people of Bantu are known for their professional skills in pottery making, farming, and iron smelting.
- Dinka Religion
Dinka Religion is practiced by the Dinka tribe, another traditional religion of Africa. The Doctrine of Dinka religion is based on the worship of supreme God through ancestral spirits or another sacred object. Nihalic is the supreme god of the Dinka religion, and they believed that Nihalic creates human beings by blowing them out of his nose. Dinka people are animists, they respect snakes. Dinka people are also believed to be the tallest people in Africa.
- Bushongo Mythology
Bushongo religion is commonly practiced by Bushongo and Songora ethnic groups. It is a common religion of Congo people, who believe in Bumba god. There is a common myth in Bushongo religion about the creation of the world, they believed that the creation of the world took place when Bumba vomited.
- Hausa Animism
Hausa is a large ethnic group of West Africa with 24 million people living in Nigeria, the people mainly believe in magic and spirits. However, Islam is widely spread through the Hausa tribe and the people of Hausa accepted Islam.
- Lotuko Mythology
Lotuko or Otuho is another large ethnic group, and Lotuko people mostly live in south Sudan, with numerous tribes such as Oronyo, Oudo, Langairo, Tirangore, Hiyala, Obira, Abalua, illieu, Ifwotu etc. The main god of the Lotuko people is Ajok, and they believe are mainly on nature and ancestor worship. According to Lotuko mythology, the Ajok god is the creator of everything. People also believe in supernatural and invisible power called Naijok, that could bring death and diseases. They also believe in the myth of the first Rainmaker, that was done by a man name Ibon.
- Mbuti Mythology
Mbuti people mostly live in the forest, and their main god is Khonvoum, called the god of the hunt. African Mbuti lives in Congo and is known as Bambuti. In Mbuti Mythology, Forest is a sacred place for Mbuti people, calling it “mother” or “father”. According to Mbuti Mythology, Tore was the first human being who provides Mbuti People with Fire and Death.
- Lugbara Mythology
Adroa, is the main god in Lugabara Mythology. Lugbara Mythology is commonly practiced by the people of Congo. Adroanzi is a god of nature, who protects rivers, animals, and trees. Lugbara people resemble the Adroa god with human characteristics, such as he is tall, white with one eye and leg. Lugbara people also formed Shrines for Ghosts, Ancestors, and Spirits, in their houses.
Traditional African Rituals
African Rituals are mostly done by African people to form a spiritual relationship between the physical and spiritual world. According to African people, Rituals are means of communication and connection between Man and Spirits.
- One of the traditional African rites is to slaughter animals in praise of one’s ancestors. It revives the relationship between the living community and the spirits of the ancestors. This ancestral ritual is called sangoma or traditional healer.
- Another traditional ritual is done by the Zulu community, the people of the Zulu tribe put the skin of slaughtered animals on their wrist as a symbol of Protection and Good luck.
- In some African Families, cutting Hair is a symbol of a New Beginning.
- In many African tribes such as in Shaangan Families, dances, celebrations, and Drum beating were used to communicate with ancestors’ spirits.
- Bull-jumping is another popular ritual of Hamar Tribe, a boy who succeeds in bull jumping, allows to marry and raise his own children. Every boy must participate in Bull Jumping as it is extremely important for the dignity of the family.
- The girls of the Mursi Tribe wear large pottery or wooden plates in their lower lip. The lower lip of Mursi girl is cut by her mother when she reaches the age of 16, however, its personal choice families don’t force their girls to do so.