The Palgrave Handbook of African Traditional Religion

Description

The Palgrave Handbook of African Traditional Religion interrogates and presents robust and comprehensive contributions from interdisciplinary experts and scholars. Offering a range of perspectives and opinions through the prism of understanding the past about African Traditional religions and, more importantly, capturing their dynamics in the present and projecting their sustainability and relevance for the future, this volume is an essential resource for knowledge and understanding of African Traditional religions in the global space of religious traditions.  Acknowledgments Contents Notes on Contributors Chapter 1: Introduction to Handbook of African Traditional Religion Part I: Basic or Essential Features of African Traditional Religion Part II: Contemporary Interactions: Contents and Discontents Part III: On Pedagogy, Research, and Foundation Scholars Part I: Basic/Essential Features of African Traditional Religion Chapter 2: Origin, Nature, and Structure of Beliefs System Introduction Origin and Nature of African Traditional Religion Characteristic Features Belief in the Supreme Being Belief in Divinities Belief in Spirits Belief in Ancestors Belief in Magic and Medicine Minor Beliefs in African Religion Belief in the Hereafter Belief in Morality Belief in Worship and Veneration Sources of Information on African Traditional Religion Oral Traditions Myths Proverbs Names of People Prayers Non-oral Sources Artifacts Wooden Masks Sacred Institutions African Traditional Religion Status in Contemporary and Future Global Religious Space Chapter 3: African Traditional Religion and the Sociocultural Environment Introduction Belief in the Supreme Being Belief in Divinities Belief in Spirits Belief in Ancestors Belief in Medicine and Magic Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory Social Interactions The More Knowledgeable Other Zone of Proximal Development Language Conclusion Chapter 4: Metaphysical and Ontological Concepts Introduction Metaphysics and Ontology Metaphysics Ontology An Expose of Some Metaphysical Concept God Vital Force(s) Causality Witchcraft Reincarnation Death and Immortality (After-Life or Life-After Death) Freedom and Determinism Mind-Body The Person (Personhood) An Exposé of Some Ontological Concepts Conclusion Chapter 5: The Concept and Worship of the Supreme Being Introduction The Idea of the Supreme Being in Africa Aondo: A Tiv Concept of the Supreme Being Akombo(deities): Between the Supreme Being and Man in Tiv Conclusion Chapter 6: Beliefs and Veneration of Divinities Introduction The Place of Divinities in African Traditional Religion Identities and Functions of the Divinities Categories of the Divinities Worship of the Divinities Objects of Worship, Sacred Abodes, and Religious Personalities Relationship of the Divinities to the Supreme Being Conclusion Chapter 7: Beliefs and Veneration of Ancestors Introduction Criteria for Admission into Ancestorship Evaluation Conclusion Chapter 8: Beliefs and Practices of Magic and Medicine Introduction Good Magic Bad Magic Contagious and Homeopathic Magic Medicine Practice of Magic Divination Contemporary Beliefs of Magic and Medicine Integrated Healing Socio-political Conditions Globalization Influence of Nollywood Pentecostalism Conclusion Chapter 9: Cosmological and Ontological Beliefs Introduction Cosmological and Ontological Beliefs Myths in African Traditional Religion African Cosmological Myths: The Creation of the Universe African Ontological Myths: Origin, Nature, Status, and Stages of Human and Divine Relationship Conclusion Chapter 10: Liturgy, Rituals, Traditions, Sacrifice, and Festivals Introduction Social Mobilization Theory Conceptual Clarification Liturgy Rituals Ritual in African Perspective Ritual and Its Categories Sacrifice The Preventive Sacrifice Theories of Sacrifice Traditional Festivals in the West Africa Harvest Festivals Exodus Migratory Festivals War Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Two Events Religious Purification Innovative Ones Conclusion Chapter 11: African Circle of Life God: The Foundation of Circle of Life Cosmology of African Circle of Life Metaphysics of African Circle of Life Contemporary Mindset on Reincarnation/Circle of Life Conclusion Chapter 12: Death, Burial Rites, and After-life Existential Dread of Death African Cultural Attitude to Death Death Untimely Death Voluntary Death/Suicide Natural Death The Significance of Burial Rites Ancestral Belief/Transition Theology of Ancestors Belief in the Hereafter Paradigm Shift of African Indigenous Belief Conclusion Chapter 13: Reincarnation and Eschatology Beliefs Introduction Reincarnation: Definitions and Universal Applications Origin and Some History of Concept of Reincarnation Reincarnation: Meaning and Types in African Ethnic Groups The Yoruba Typology The Illa Typology Eschatology in African Traditional Religion and Culture Reincarnation as Prism of Eschatology in African Traditional Religion: The Implications Chapter 14: Religious Leaders: Priests/Priestesses, Medicine Professionals, and Kings Introduction Leadership: A Definition Religious Leadership Religious Leaders Among the Yorùbá People of Nigeria The Kings and Chiefs Medicine Professionals Religious Leaders in African Traditional Religion in Contemporary Times Conclusion Chapter 15: Illnesses and Cures Introduction African Traditional Religion Worldview Beliefs About Illness in African Traditional Religion Causes of Illness Evil Eye Curse Displeasure of Ancestors Witchcraft Taboos Elements of African Traditional Healing Diagnostic Curative Preventative Causative Traditional Healers in the Age of Modern Medicine Magical Worldview Two-Tiered Missionary Worldview Witchcraft Beliefs Dualistic Orientation Cost Holistic Healing Traditional Illness and Cures in Contemporary Society Conclusion Chapter 16: Secret Societies: Fraternities, Witches, Wizards, and Sorcerers Introduction Cleansing Conceptual Cobwebs Secret Societies-Fraternities Witches, Wizards Sorcerers The Reality or Fiction of Secret Societies in African Religio-cultural Beliefs The Role of Secret Societies-Fraternities, Witches, Wizards, and Sorcerers in African Societies The Functional Role of Secret Societies in African Societies The Effect of Secret Societies, Witches, Wizards, and Sorcerers on the African Society Mitigating the Menace of Secret Societies-Fraternities, Witches, Wizard, and Sorcerers on African Societies Conclusion Chapter 17: The Role of Women in African Traditional Religion Introduction Roles and Status of Women in African Traditional Religion Goddesses in African Traditional Religion Yemoja Oya Oba Otin Aje Modjadji Nana Buluku Conclusion Chapter 18: Arts, Music, and Aesthetics Introduction Music in African Traditional Religion Arts in African Traditional Religion Conclusion Chapter 19: Oral and Non-Oral Sources of Knowledge in ATR: Orality and Secrecy Ethos in the Yoruba Traditional Religion within the Latin American Diaspora Introduction A Word on Yorùbá Traditional Religion Oral History and the Foundation of Yorùbá Traditional Religion in the Latin American Diaspora Candomblé, Sango, and Santería Orality, Knowledge, Secrecy, and Power in the YTR Traditions of the Diaspora Selective Writing, Knowledge, Secrecy, and Power in the Initiation Process: os cadernos de fundamento Material and Non-material Objects in the Transmission of Knowledge: indumentárias, colares, emblemas (opaxorô, adja, ipele, ojá, alákàá) Knowledge Acquisition Through Myths, Tales, and Music: suyere, rezos, cantos, oriquis, and patakines Part II: Contemporary Interconnections: Contents and Discontents Chapter 20: African Traditional Religion and Religious Ethics Introduction As a Method—Disruptions Ethics, Logics, and Power Imagines in Empire The Fallacy of Mission Civilisatrice Tradition Versus Modernity and Comparative Religion Chapter 21: Traditional Religion, and Morality in Society Introduction African Indigenous Cosmology and African Ethics Supernatural Origin of African Indigenous Morality Humanist/Social Constructivist Grounding of African Ethics in Local Cultures Greetings and the Respected Positions of Elders African Communication and Interaction: Respect, Impartiality, and Reciprocity Courtship, Marriage, Procreation, Surrogacy, and Family Conclusion: Changing Trends in African Ethics Chapter 22: African Traditional Religion and African Philosophy Introduction A Labyrinth of African Traditional Religion (ATR) A Maze of African Philosophy ATR as a Practical Manual for an African Philosophical Discourse Conclusion Chapter 23: African Traditional Religion, Gender Equality, and Feminism Introduction Theoretical Framework Status of Women in African Society: An Overview Struggle for Gender Equality in African Traditional Religion African Traditional Religion and Gender: Benefits for African Women Conclusion Chapter 24: African Traditional Religion, Sexual Orientation, Transgender, and Homosexuality Introduction Redefinitions and Clarifications Concerning Religions and Gender in Africa Restating the Issue Sources for African Traditional Religions Origins of Gender and Sexuality A Few Remarks Chapter 25: African Traditional Religion, Conflict Resolution, and Peaceful Societal Co-existence Introduction Conceptual Issues Review of Relevant Literature Theoretical Framework Features of Conflict Resolution Mechanisms in African Traditional Religion Methods of Conflict Resolution in Selected African Traditional Religions Effects of Traditional Religious Conflict Resolution Mechanisms on Peaceful Societal Co-Existence Conclusion Chapter 26: African Traditional Religion and Democratic Governance Introduction Constitutional Provision Traditional Religions: Manifestations and Expressions Libation: State Spaces and Political Places Festivals and Ceremonial or Working Visits Threats and Redressing of Grievances Conclusion Chapter 27: African Traditional Religions and Economic Development Introduction Component of Educational Curricula Land: Religious Resource in Development Projects Traditional Religions, Health, Wellness, and Productivity Taboos, Prohibitions, Productivity, and Natural Regeneration Marketing of Religious Artifacts Conclusion Chapter 28: African Traditional Religion, Social Justice, and Human Rights Introduction Ethical Framework of Social Justice and Human Rights in ATR The Instrumentality of ATR in Social Justice and Human Rights Supernatural Beings Agency Communitarianism The Struggle for Social Justice and Human Rights in Post-colonial Africa Conclusion Chapter 29: African Traditional Religion and Contemporary Functionalism: Divination Introduction Cosmological Function Governance Function Health Function Mental Health Conclusion Chapter 30: African Traditional Religion and Contemporary Functionalism: Medicine Introduction Conceptual Clarification African Traditional Religion and African Traditional Medicine: Birds of the Same Feathers The Impact of Change on African Traditional Medicine African Traditional Religion and Contemporary Functionalism: Medicine Challenges of Traditional Medicine Suggestions Conclusion Chapter 31: African Traditional Religion and Contemporary Functionalism: Festivals Introduction Festival: The Concept Theoretical Framework and Methodology Ndau Festival of the Arts (NdaFA) NdaFA as a Social Identity Indicator NdaFA as Social Cohesion NdaFA as an Education Tool NdaFA as a Potential Tourism Attraction Conclusion Chapter 32: African Traditional Religion and Diaspora Transplantations: Nature and Formats Introduction Social Action Theory and Symbolic Interactionism African Traditional Religion and Sources The Supremacy of Olodumare in African Traditional Religion Santeria Candomble Internationalization of African Traditional Religion Through the Academia The Inseparability of Yoruba Language, Culture, and African Traditional Religion Conclusion Chapter 33: African Traditional Religion and Sustainable Cultural, Social and Economic Dynamics Introduction African Traditional Religion (ATR) as a Misnomer? Is it African Religions or African Religion? Characteristics The Plural Context in “Doing” African Religion What Is Sustainability? Modern Application Features of African religion Conclusion Chapter 34: African Traditional Religion and Sustainability: The New Indigenous Religious Movements Introduction Religions in Nigeria Anatomy of Traditional Religion in Nigeria’s Multi-religious Heritage Transformation of Traditional Religion in Nigerian Religious Space New Religious Movements: Ijo Orunmila Adulawo Ijo Orunmila (Ato) Ijo Orunmila and Sustainability of ATR Conclusion Chapter 35: African Traditional Religion and Christianity in Contemporary Global Religious Space Introduction Osun Osogbo Festival Olojo Festival in Ile-Ife Ojude Oba in Ijebu Ode Eyo Festival Conclusion Chapter 36: African Religion and Islam in Contemporary Religious Space African Traditional Religions Interaction of Islam with African Traditional Religions African Muslims in the Contemporary Space West African Muslims in America The Nation of Islam Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the N.O.I., and the Globalization of Islam in America African Traditional Religions Go Global African Traditional Religions in the Contemporary New World The Relationship Between Islam in America and African Traditional Religions Conclusion Part III: On Pedagogy, Research, and Foundation Scholars Chapter 37: ‘Outsider’ and ‘Insider’ Study of African Traditional Religion Introduction ‘Outsider’ and ‘Insider’ Dichotomy African Traditional Religion: From an Object to a Subject Concluding Remarks Chapter 38: Codification, Documentation, and Transmission of Knowledge in African Traditional Religion Introduction Historical Review of Forms of ATR Knowledge Documentation Codification and Documentation by Mythologies Documentation of Proverbs in ATR Knowledge in Egungun Poetry (iwi) Songs as Documentation of Knowledge Religion Knowledge in Festivals Literary Knowledge of ATR Challenges Facing Documentation of Knowledge in ATR Process of Documentation Language as a Barrier to Documentation Ownership Dispute/Claim Media of Knowledge Transmission Formats: Oral and Written Advantages/Disadvantages of Oral Form of Knowledge in ATR Chapter 39: African Traditional Religion and Indigenous Knowledge System Introduction Communal Ownership Holistic Oral Form The Belief in Ancestral Reincarnation Knowledge and Veneration of a Transcendental Being The Belief in a Guardian Spirit Knowledge in Abiku Knowledge in Ifa Literary Corpus Taboos as Knowledge Vocations as Sites of Knowledge Knowledge in Medicine ATR Knowledge in Surgery Knowledge in Incantations Charms as Powerful Knowledge Ritual as Knowledge The Belief in Sacrifices as a Link to the Deities ATR Knowledge in Traditions and Customs Philosophies as Knowledge Chapter 40: Gnostic and Epistemological Themes in African Traditional Religion Introduction Traditional African Religious Cosmologies Oral Religious Discourse and African Epistemology Conclusion Chapter 41: African Traditional Religion in African and African Diaspora Scholarship Introduction African Traditional Religion in African Scholarship Attempts at Appropriate Methodology for the Study of ATR African Traditional Religion in African Diaspora Scholarship Chapter 42: African Traditional Religion in Global Scholarship Bibliography Chapter 43: African Traditional Religion in the Context of World Religions: Challenges to Scholars and Students Introduction What Is a World Religion? Challenges of African Traditional Religion to Deal with in Scholarly Inquiry Wrong Missionizing Approach A Lack of Religious Literacy The Preparatory Idea Complex Diversity Secrecy and Drive Membership Conclusion Chapter 44: African Traditional Religion Scholarship: E. Bolaji Idowu and John S. Mbiti Introduction E. Bolaji Idowu: The Father of Reconstruction and Decolonization of African Traditional Religion Who Was Bolaji Idowu? Interaction and Engagement of Idowu’s Book—Olodumare: God in Yoruba Belief Reinterpretation and Decolonization of Foreign Writers on African Religion John Samuel Mbiti John Mbiti’s Academic Prowess in the African Religion Chapter 45: African Traditional Religion and Humanities’ Scholarship: The Contributions of Edward Geoffrey Parrinder and Kofi Asare Opoku Introduction African Traditional Religion in its Pristine Form Parrinder’s Life and Career Early Life: 1910–1933 Missionary and Academician 1936–2005 Contributions to the Study of African Religion Books Kofi Asare Opoku Contributions of Kofi Opoku Asare Appraisal of E. G. Parrinder and K. A. Opoku to the Scholarship of African Religion Conclusion Chapter 46: Scholarship in African Traditional Religion: The Works of Joseph Omosade Awolalu and Peter Ade Dopamu Introduction Joseph Omosade Awolalu The Concepts of African Traditional Religions, African Traditional Religion, African Religion, and African Indigenous Religion Yorùbá Beliefs and Sacrificial Rites Sins and its Removal Peter Ade Dopamu Magic, Medicine, and Religion The Right Nomenclature for African Traditional Religion Esu God Here and God There: The Relativism of the Concept of God in African and Western Cultures Conclusion Index