Posted by Chester Morton / Friday 21 April 2023 / No comments
What is the nature of West African Traditional Religion and what are the specific beliefs in the supernatural
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF WEST AFRICAN TRADITONAL RELIGION?
Definition
West African Traditional Religion (WATR) in the simplest
definition refers to the indigenous religious practices of the people of West
Africa before the advent of Islam, Christianity and any other form of religion.
It is practiced in the West African countries like Ghana,
Benin, Sierra Leone, Togo, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Mali, etc. It was not
a religion that was introduced into the Sub-region by missionaries. It was
practiced by the local people.
Currently, only a tiny fraction of the people of West Africa
have remained adherents of the indigenous practice. In Ghana, according to the
2021 census figures, 3.2% of the Ghanaian population practice traditional
religion. According to the Association of Religious Data Archives in 2020, in
Nigeria, traditional region followers were 7.2% of the total population of
Nigeria.
There are some peculiar features that are used to determine
the nature of West African Traditional Religion, for example, the belief in one
Supreme Being, the worship of many deities, ancestral veneration, etc. These are
outlined in the paragraphs below.
The
belief in one Supreme Being
One
of the major features of West African Traditional Religion (WATR) is the belief
in one Supreme Being or God. This Being is seen as the creator and is called
God. It has a different name among the various peoples. The Yorubas in Nigeria
call him Oluwa, the Igbo in Nigeria call him Chukwu, the Akans in Ghana call
him Nyame, the Gas call him Atta-Naa Nyonmo, the Ewes call him Mawu. The
Supreme being is considered the origin of everything. Every life is believed to
have come from Him. He knows everything, he is all powerful and has authority
over everything on earth.
Belief
in several gods
Aside
from the belief in one Supreme Being, there is also the belief in a plethora of
gods or deities. In other words, WATR is characterized by polytheism. The West
African believes that there are individual gods responsible for different
aspects of their lives. There is a dog responsible for rain, for bumper
harvest, dispute resolution, and social control. There is a god that controls
thunder, a god that protects the village, a god that protects the innocent
against false accusation, there is a god that upholds moral uprightness and
ensures justice. They are not considered as rivals to the Supreme Being. They
are seen more as allies, working below him for the good of humanity.
Ancestral
veneration
Another
key feature is the veneration of ancestors. In WATR, when people die, they are
not seen completely gone. They have just transitioned into another realm where
they continue to be part of the living but in another form and playing a
different role. The ancestor is seen as the spirit version of a family member
who is no longer alive. Not everybody, though, is considered as an ancestor. To
qualify as an ancestor, one must have lived up to a ripe old age, must have
lived a life worthy of emulation and must have played a very significant role
in the lives of the living. You must have died a good death. For example, if
you commit suicide, you cannot qualify to be an ancestor. The ancestors are
honoured for their contribution to the living while they were alive. The living
ask for their protection, they seek guidance to continue to live.
Belief in mystical powers
In
WTR, the followers believe in mystical powers. The people believe that the
spirits of the ancestors can influence and control the lives of the living.
They believe that when certain rituals are performed, it is able to influence
spiritual forces and bring out desired results. They believe there are
spiritual forces that are capable of either harming or helping people.
The
use of charms and amulets
In
WATR, charms and amulets are of essence. The followers of the religion believe
that the charms and amulets bring them luck. They believe it has the power to
bring them protection if they wear them. Amulets bring good fortune and have
healing powers. Many people use charms to treat sicknesses.
Emphasis
on traditional ceremonies
In
WATR, the people place a lot of emphasis on ceremonies. When a child is born,
ceremonies are performed to usher the child into the world. When the same child
attains the age of maturity, a different set of ceremonies are performed to
indicate his/her becoming an adult. At the time marriage, ceremonies must be
performed. When death occurs, ceremonies are performed. Funerals are unique.
They perform certain rites before the dead is buried.
Some questions to ponder over:
1. Outline the nature of West African Traditional Religion.
2. In what ways are the divinities related to the Supreme
Being in West African Traditional Religion?
3. What are the specific beliefs in the supernatural in West Africa Traditional Religion?
