1. World
Religions
African
Religions

2. Gods & Spirits
• Polytheistic, usually believing that one supreme
deity created the world, then left it for lesser gods to
squabble over
• Ultimately came to feel that the high God was too
distant. Spirits became important
• Earth, sky, seas, and natural events, are believed to
contain spiritual life or force similar to that of humans
and are often worshiped.
• When water is used for worship rituals, it must be
living water from streams, lakes, etc. The water cannot
come from a well or be boiled

3. Ancestors
• Believe ancestors exist in a spiritual world, but still
have interest in the affairs of living persons, often
interfering in the lives of the living
• Veneration of ancestors is a potent part of the
religions. They are feared more than the gods
• They cause droughts, floods, famines, earthquakes,
and childlessness
• Sacrifices are frequent, including animal blood
sacrifices
• Ancestors are believed to communicate with the living

4. Communication with Ancestors
– Communicate mostly through dreams
– Some messages are clear, others are unclear
– When unclear, a diviner is sought out
– Often the message is believed to be given
directly through circumstances or other incidents
Sacrifice
• Daily libations: pouring a bit of drink or tossing a bit of
food – are most common
• Dogs, birds, sheep, goats, and cattle are often
sacrificed, and their blood poured over an altar. This is
prior to battle or when there is drought or illness
• Rarely is human sacrifice practiced.

5. Rites of Passage
Birth
 Births are important and celebrated
 The birth of twins is often considered an evil omen
 Twins indicate that the wife has been unfaithful to the
husband and that the children have two fathers
 Often one or both of the babies are killed
 In some tribes children are not named until after their
first week of life, due to the high infant mortality rate
 After the child is born it is shown to the moon
 Children are instructed in their societal roles
 At puberty this instruction becomes more rigorous

6. Rites of Passage
Birth (cont.)
 Children are taught tribal myths and rituals
 Older boys may undergo whippings and harsh
trials
 For boys, circumcision is often practiced
 For girls, some form of genital mutilation is often
undergone
Death
 Surrounded by much ritual to assure that the dead
do not return to haunt – no judgment
 Women are concerned that husbands do not
return to seal the womb

7. Religious Leaders
• Priests are not needed except at special times
• Witch doctors are relied upon
– This doctor to “the bewitched”
has as his primary responsibility
the discovery of the cause
of evil fortune