Traditional African ReligionsClaire Wilfong & Anjhely Gonzalez

Origins● Come from Bantu-speaking

people● Originate from Nguni

Groups: Zulu and Xhosa● Based on oral traditions,

basic views, myths and tales

● Elders are final authority and wisest

● No real knowledge of when.

Five Beliefs

● Divinities● Magic● Traditional medicine ● Humanity harmonizes with nature● Deities

What is it● Most of them are ethnic religions● Some are hierarchical but other aren’t ● The elders are usually the “leaders” in african

religions

Chart of African Religions Belief Practices

Sacred PlacesThe kingdom of Nri● An ancient city● Located in modern day

Nigeria

The Point of Sangomar● Where the pangool (ancient

saints and ancestral spirits)

Views of Birth and DeathMost believe there life after death they believe that they will travel to another realm. Death is believed to be the beginning to a deeper relationship with all creation.

Birth is believed to be a blessing for a family. The baby doesn’t really exist until the baby is named. In the Akan traditions, after a baby a named, a goat is slaughtered and given to the family as a gift of appreciation to their ancestors.

Major Religion V.S. Traditional Religion Map

Distribution Today

Citationhttp://www.deathreference.com/A-Bi/African-Religions.html "Death and Dying." African Religions. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2014.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_African_religion#Sacred_places

"Traditional African Religion." Wikipedia. N.p., 24 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Nov.

2014.

http://www.africanholocaust.net/ritesofpassage.html"Birth." RITES OF PASSAGE IN AFRICA. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2014. <http://www.africanholocaust.net/ritesofpassage.html>.