Posted by Chester Morton / Wednesday 12 April 2023 / No comments
Why is it important for people to study West African Traditional Religion today?
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO STUDY WEST AFRICAN TRADITIONAL
RELIGION TODAY?
Definition
West African Traditional Religion (WATR) in the simplest definition
refers to the indigenous religion practiced by the locals before the arrival of
non-native West Africans to the area. The religious practices that existed long
before the arrival of Islam, Christianity and any other form of religion.
It is practiced in countries like Ghana, Benin, Sierra
Leone, Togo, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Mali, just to mention a few. It
originates from the West African Sub-region. It was not brought or introduced
into the region by missionaries like in the case of Christianity and Islam.
The adherents of West African Traditional Religion believe
in many gods and goddesses and many other spiritual bodies. They venerate their
ancestors and consider them as part of the living.
Like John Mbiti said in his book African religions and
philosophy, “The African is notoriously religious”. West African Traditional
Religion is still practiced today by many people in West Africa, and has also
been adopted by some people in the African diaspora. 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. The percentage is skewed against traditional religion in many other countries
of West Africa. If this is the reality, and many people have moved to join
religions other than those practiced by their ancestors, why bother to study it
in the first place?
The study of West African Traditional Religion in modern
times is important for many reasons.
To provide insights into the religion
One of the reasons why it is important to study West African
Religion is that it provides insights into the culture of the people. With the
coming of Islam and Christianity, many, especially, young people are unable to
appreciate the value of West African Traditional Religion to the adherents.
This lack of insight makes people who do not understand the culture of the
people, the things that bind them together socially, and the influence of the
religion over their political dynamics, to look down on the religion. It is the
belief that a knowledge of the religion will give the needed deep understanding
and appreciation of the world around them, the linkages between them and the
world in which they live.
Studying West African Traditional Religion is again
important because it makes it easier to understand the thinking of the people and
how they behave. It is difficult to understand people if you do not know the principles
upon which their behaviour is based. The ways of a people are determined by their
religion and the indigenous West African are not different. Their ways are
shaped by the principles that underpin their religion. It is important, therefore, to study West
African Traditional Religion so that we can understand the people who practice
that religion and their world.
Adjust policy to suit the thinking of the people
Some policy initiatives in West Africa have not worked as
smoothly as was envisaged on the drawing board. Policy failures may have been
due to several reasons, including the misunderstanding of the religious beliefs
of the people. The Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, do not accept blood
transfusion and do not donate either. This doctrine is well documented.
A study of West African Traditional Religion is important so
that policy makers can understand the rationale behind their beliefs, customs
and practices to be able to initiate policies that take these nuances into
consideration in the planning and subsequent implementation of government policies
directed to them.
Political parties, using knowledge about WATR to carve
messages directed to the adherents of the religion. Business entities like
insurance companies could also use their knowledge about WATR to design
insurance policies that cater for their needs. Marketing companies may also use
that knowledge to design messages directed to that segment of the market.
Like many other religions, West African Traditional Religion
has some moral teachings which were used, in the past, to control social
behaviour. Some of those moral teachings may still be relevant to modern
society. A study of West African Traditional Religion would, therefore, help to
adopt ways for applying those moral principles in their daily lives and how
they relate to people and the environment.
Help people to understand and appreciate the indigenous
beliefs of the people
Knowledge among many people today about West African
Traditional Region is scanty. Many people see it as a very bad religion,
associating it with devilish activities. A deeper study of the religion may
help people to know about the religion, understand the underlying practices.
With this knowledge, the people can appreciate the indigenous beliefs of the
people.
Promote coexistence with people of other religions
There are three main religions in many of the West African
countries; we have Christianity, Islam and West African Traditional Religion
(WATR). The first two have overtaken WATR in popularity and size though it was
the major religion before the coming of the first two. All the three have
existed for a while now, though there have been some clashes. It is important
to study West African Traditional Religion in order to encourage the three
religions to co-exist for lasting peace to reign.
Promotes a better appreciation of other religions
Today, we live in global village and the power of the
World-Wide World, unites us though we live miles apart from each other. A study
of WATR would give a better knowledge of the culture and religious traditions
of the various regions of the world. This would throw more light on the
understanding of the world.
Some questions to ponder over:
1. Analyze the rationale for the study of West African Traditional Religion.
2. Explain why the educated African should study West African Traditional Religion.
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