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Traditional African religions also have elements of totemism, shamanism and veneration of relics. [20] Traditional Vodun dancer enchanting gods and spirits, in Ganvie, Benin. Traditional African religion, like most other ancient traditions around the world, were based on oral traditions. These traditions are not religious principles, but a ...
Like Hinduism, the traditional African religion recognizes the presence of one supreme deity as well as the existence of God in multiple aspects. [3]Traditional Igbo doctrine of reincarnation and connection to the spiritual mortal identity of the culture, themes about spiritual instrumentality based on the traditional Igobo beliefs and practices with the Hindu mantra, specifically the doctrine ...
Today, the continent's various populations and individuals are mostly adherents of Christianity, Islam, and to a lesser extent several traditional African religions. [2] In Christian or Islamic communities, religious beliefs are also sometimes characterized with syncretism with the beliefs and practices of traditional religions. [3] [4] [5]
Christianity in Africa arrived in Africa in the 1st century AD, and in the 21st century the majority of Africans are Christians. [1] Several African Christians influenced the early development of Christianity and shaped its doctrines, including Tertullian, Perpetua, Felicity, Clement of Alexandria, Origen of Alexandria, Cyprian, Athanasius and Augustine of Hippo.
African theology is engaged to shape Christianity in an African way by adapting and using African concepts and ideas. [16] African theologians such as Charles Nyamiti, Bolaji Idowu, John Mbiti, and Kwesi Dickson have given an analysis and interpretation of the African traditional religion and point to its relation to the Christian faith.
While adherence to traditional religion in Africa is hard to estimate, due to syncretism with Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, practitioners are estimated to number over 100 million, or at least 10 percent of the population of the continent. African diasporic religions are also practiced in the diaspora in the Americas, such as Haitian Vodou.
Some scholars argue that independent churches or religious movements demonstrate syncretism or partial integration between aspects of Christian belief and African traditional religion. Often, these churches have resulted from a process of acculturation between traditional African beliefs and Protestant Christianity and have split from their ...
The blending of traditional African religions and global mega-religions has existed since colonization, as the arrival of Islam and Christianity never erased the practice of traditional faiths. [11] Moreover, the polytheistic tradition has been common across the continent, which has been conducive to the rise of religious pluralism. [11]