Supernaturalearth.myfreeforum.org

Helena · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 75 Location: yorkshire, UK

African Religions and Their Derivatives

African and African-Derivative Religions are a large group of beliefs and practices based upon ancient indigenous faiths of sub-Saharan African peoples. Within the last 100 years in Africa (see Table of Statistics) indigenous religion has declined under the influence of colonialism, Western acculturation and proselytizing by Islam and Christianity. In the African Diaspora (mainly in the Americas) African-derived belief systems are in a state of impressive growth.

Within just the last two years the amount of information made available through the Internet is also impressive. Some of the best information comes to us from Italy, Sweden and Brazil. We are no longer dependent upon reports from academia or encyclopedias. There are now numerous websites maintained by the faithful themselves and, while the quality and quantity of information varies enormously among them, one may now hear from practitioners their own statements of faith.

In many, if not most, cases African spirituality has evolved in the Americas. Ancient practices brought westward by slaves became syncretized, more or less, with religious traditions of the slaves' masters. This syncretization is most noticeable in areas dominated by the Catholic faith and where the celebration of saints, votive offerings and other practices found parallels in ancient traditions.

The evolution of African spirituality in the Americas occurred mainly in the Caribbean Islands and in Brazil, and to a perhaps lesser extent in Mexico. Influenced by local cultures (Spanish, Portuguese, French, English and native peoples) a bewildering terminology has arisen such that essentially similar practices, concepts and deities are called by different names in different areas. It is impossible, at present, to point you to a simple source of information to clarify this situation.

For the most part African spiritual traditions in the Americas derived from two or three major cultures in ancestral Africa, the Yoruba culture of Nigeria, Benin and neighboring areas being perhaps of greatest influence. The major faith found among the Yoruba people is called Ifa (it is also a name for God, known also as Olorun or Olodumare). Orishas constitute the pantheon of deities (emissaries of Olorun) in Ifa. On the Internet, websites may speak of Yoruba faith, Orisha worship, Ifa religion. These are, essentially, synonyms for the same thing.

Santeria (Lukumi, Macumba) evolved mainly in Cuba (where attempts at suppression have failed) and is now found throughout the Americas, especially in large metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Miami and New York City. Except, perhaps, for the ritual sacrifice of animals (particularly chickens, which are later eaten), Santeria probably differs little from other Ifa-derived traditions.

Abit further south in Africa in the Congo, Zaire and Angola, the Bantu and other cultures supply the background for another strand of spirituality known in the New World (mainly Brazil and Cuba) as Kongo, Palo Monte, Palo Mayombe, Xango (Shango), Quimbanda, Umbanda and many other names. There are similarities and differences between the Kongo and Yoruba faith systems and, to some extent, each has influenced the other.

Another major strand of African spirituality in the New World is Vodou, also known as Vodun, Voodoo (pejorative), Vodoun and other spellings. This specialization of derived faith has its roots in Benin (where it was formally recognized by the government in 1989) and areas to the west of Yorubaland in Africa. Perhaps to a larger degree than in the case of Ifa and Kongo belief systems, it has been influenced by Roman Catholic traditions as well as by the Spiritism movement espoused in the 1800s, by H.L.D. Rivail (1804-69) in France under the banner of Kardecism (so named after a Druidic spirit).

The expressions of African and African-derived Spirituality in many ways bear remarkable similarities with Native American Spirituality and with Shamanism. There is very little evidence of exclusivism or doctrinal elitism. One gets the sense that most practitioners of these faiths can move comfortably between and among them.

Rastafarianism is included here only as a matter of convenience, since it bears absolutely no relationship to other belief systems stemming from Africa that are here described. Rastafarianism is in large measure an American (Marcus Garvey) invention reaching back to Africa to find history and meaning. It is, in the main, a Bible-based, Christianized, backlash against a white-dominated social structure in which the late Emperor Haile Selassie (Ras Taffari Makonnen ) of Ethiopia is idolized. It is extremely doubtful that HRH Halie Selassie himself had anything to do with this religion.

As always, our standard warning applies; Caveat Lector, let the reader beware.