Ancestor Veneration In Africa

680 Words3 Pages
A DISCUSSION OF THE IDEA THAT THE AFRICAN ANCESTOR IS ONLY VENERATED BUT NOT WORSHIPED. Introduction The very nature of the African traditional religion, that is its outlook to life, together with the nature of its practices, makes it susceptible to many descriptions which upon a close scrutiny turn up unfounded. One such accusation levelled against the African traditional religion is the claim that it is polytheistic. The thesis of this paper is that this claim is unfounded, and the writer proceeds to explore issues the world view of the African, and the nature of the hierarchy of the invisible world of the African, as a means of exposing how untrue it is that the African ancestor is worshipped. The African’s world view To the African, the world consists of two spheres,- the visible world, and the invisible world. To the African the visible world is the space populated by men, and all material things, such as the flora and fauna. In addition to this visible world, the African also believes in the existence of another invisible world. To the African, it is in this invisible world that one can find the heavenly world, that is, the home of the creators of the visible world, together with the other deities. The African’s belief is that these two worlds overlap, and cannot be taken away from each other. This world view significantly influences the actions of the African, and has fuelled this perception that ancestors are worshipped in Africa. Another reason fuelling this perception is the fact that the African makes provision for the departed ancestor in the daily life experience. For example when at table, the typical African would offer some of the food on the floors for the ancestors to eat. The Ga people for example on the Homowo occasion, sprinkle “kpokpoi”- a meal made of fresh corn meal, for the ancestors before the living eat theirs. Additionally

More about Ancestor Veneration In Africa

Open Document