Gods are often known by several names. These similarities are seen in the belief in the existence of a personal and spiritual deity who is the almighty creator, and the all-knowing, protecting provider. That God typically is not attributed a gender but in some cases is male or female; often God is given an immanent and visible aspect as well. Carlisle, UK : OM Publishing. Therefore, we must affirm what is correct in the African conception of deity. Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers. Tozer (1994:11) famously suggests that “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us”. 1980. So the question needs to be posed, “Are there any differences between the God of the Bible and the gods of Africa? It was known and called an a religion. This list also covers spirits and/or deities found within the Afro-American religions—which mostly derives from traditional African religions. No wonder they are rudely disappointed when it turns out their badly-chosen favorites are up to no good. In attempting to answer this question we will examine their similarities and differences, and then we will consider whether African concepts of God¹ are more similar or dissimilar to the God of the Bible. Introduction to African religion. By this he is asserting that God has revealed himself in a general way through what has been created and in that sense he has spoken and continues to speak to every African. Ladies and gentlemen, God Trust Africa If you're watching me and you're seated right there, I want you to tell yourself as an African child right now and say to yourself God loves me as an African. There is a remarkable innocence about the Gods of Africa. Ahí es donde hay la … African - Gods and Goddesses. I'm now back in Africa--in Southern Sudan, working as a nurse, learning and seeking to know God more daily. According to the Wall Street Journal article, when the Swazi king failed to meet with him again in what was perceived as a snub on behalf of the king, Wilkinson decided to depart, stating publicly that his job was done and that God wanted him to leave Africa, but he informed his inner circle that he was "done with Swaziland, done with Africa and done with Dream for Africa." La mayor parte del continente profesa religiones tradicionales africanas, englobadas dentro del impreciso grupo conocido como animista.. El Islam tiene una presencia dominante en el norte, y destacada en el Sáhara, el Sahel, África Occidental y África Oriental. eds. God was African by John Nkemngong Nkengasong. Known as a trickster. While in Kenya, I often saw women carrying huge bundles of wood on their backs, and I often thought of the words: There, but for the grace of God go I.But dare I say it is God's grace that gives me so much privilege and wealth as an American woman. The Supreme Being is likewise good (Mbiti, 1991: 55). From these two beliefs it naturally follows that the Supreme Being is seen as almighty; for he has the power to do anything he desires (O’Donovan, 1995: 41). Indeed, we must affirm that the Bible is correct when it asserts that God’s divinity and power have been plain since the creation of the world (Romans 1:19-20). Vital messages of life and death are entrusted to whichever farmyard animal happens to be passing, and the resulting garble is likely to have profoundly unforeseen — and usually disastrous — consequences... Use our Godbrowser™ to explore the Gods of Africa. As a result, it is the community who is most offended, by these social ills, and it is they who take the responsibility to discipline the offender. This man honors God. God has not left himself without a witness in Africa; no, he has clearly spoken through what has been made. There may be spirits and ancestors floating around, but there’s only one God. God is a man made concept, a man made idea, assumption and claim. Not sure of the spelling? God bless this my customers they are always coming for asoebi, thank u so much for your consistency. The isrealites. Thus everything in the spiritual, and the physical, world is the way it is today as a direct result of his action² (Kato, 1975: 31). Read reviews from world’s largest community for readers. I believe this assertion to be correct and so the question, “How do African concepts of God relate to the God of the Bible?” is most worthy of our consideration. We need to learn from the Western historical-critical method, but also more fully integrate our … Examples of where this difference is manifested are, amongst others, holiness, justice, knowledge and relationship. I am suggesting, however, that verbal communication and personal relationship with the Supreme Being are not a reality for the African. Early missionaries made a complete pig’s ear of their research in this respect and seem to have delighted in cataloging as many ‘heathen’ Gods as they could possibly get away with. Male god Las Mujeres de África Retro baño Cortina de Ducha Impermeable de 3 Piezas Antideslizante Alfombra Alfombra de Asiento de Inodoro Cubierta de la Cocina/baño Cojín (Color : Shower Curtain): Amazon.es: Hogar La religión en África tiene un carácter muy diverso. Not wanting to completely abandon their religious beliefs, the slaves associated their gods and goddesses with Christian saints, thereby masking their beliefs from their masters. NYIRONGO, L. 1997. Thus, in this essay, the only plausible approach is to consider the views which hold a majority. These are belief in God, belief in divinities, belief in Spirits, belief in the ancestors, and the practice of magic and medicine, each with its own consequent, attendant cult.5 On the whole, African Gods don’t like to be pestered, and humans have to learn to be content with their lot. Related Videos. Mami Wata - Goddess of beauty (one of the water spirits); Accompanied by a snake and wealth. God Pops Up in Africa. God loves Africans and the gospel emerged from Africa. Indeed, God promises that he is judging sin now (Romans 1:24) and will do so in a more comprehensive way in the future (2 Peter 3:7). With Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Sami Sabiti, Esmeralda Bihl, Hugh Masebenza. In light of the above it seems that we should affirm the similarities between the biblical God and the African God. The most significant similarity between the African God and the Biblical God is the fundamental belief in a deity. Indeed, they can go no further because, although humans can pray to the Supreme Being in certain situations (O’Donovan, 1995: 42), he never interacts with, or personally reveals himself to, the people of Africa (Turaki, 1999: 160). The S… Is the African concept of God an effective praeparateo evangelica for African Christianity? The Supreme Being is furthermore perceived as being the creator of the world. Even from the beginning. Moreover, the Supreme Being sustains this world; that in the sense that he keeps everything which he made in existence at every given moment, and in the sense that he is seen to be the one who provides and protects this world³ (Mbiti, 1991: 49, 52). Family trees coming soon! God is at work in Nigeria and Africa as a whole...We believe it! Also that he continues to speak to all the tribes of Africa who have not heard the Gospel can also not be denied. Grand Rapids, MI : BridgePoint Books. 1985. Early missionaries made a complete pig’s ear of their research in this respect and seem to have delighted in cataloging as many ‘heathen’ Gods as … Carlisle, UK : Paternoster Press. Copyright © 1999-2020 Godchecker, Inc. All rights reserved. Please do not copy without permission. It is clear that there is much in common between the biblical view of God and the African concept of the Supreme Being. The encounter of Christian faith and African religion. Both are viewed as ways of approaching the Transcendent. Thus, at the point where revelation from the deity becomes re-creation into a new deity, it becomes impossible to see the biblical God as a continuity of the African God⁷ (Turaki, 1999: 160). A God behind the Gods, a Supreme God who created everything. There may be spirits and ancestors floating around, but there’s only one God. 1975. The biblical God says that sin is against him personally (Psalm 51:4), and causes him great offense (Hosea 9:15). O’Donovan (1995: 41) goes as far as suggesting that “there is probably no native-born African who is not aware of the existence of God”. Taking Africa as a whole, there are in reality fi ve important elements that go into the making of African traditional religion. O’Donovan (1995: 41) goes as far as suggesting that “there is probably no native-born African who is not aware of the existence of God”. [web:]. To date, they have seen more than 230,000 people become followers of Jesus. In light of the two points above, there do seem to be major differences between the African conception of the Supreme Being and the Christian conception of God. They seem naive and unworldly, believing the best of everyone and optimistically giving the benefit of the doubt to all and sundry. Theological pitfalls in Africa. Yet the Bible cannot conceive of the One True God like that. 2nd ed. During the years of slave trading, many West African slaves were sent to Cuba and Haiti. The snares of African traditional religion in perspective. The Gods, Goddesses, Spirits and legendary characters of African mythology. Consult Godchecker’s complete alphabetical list of African god and goddess names. African mythology covers a vast area. TRIBES, CULTURES AND PEOPLES COVERED: Abalyia, Agni, Akamba, Alur, Ankore, Asante (Ashanti), Baga, Baila, Bambara, Bantu, Banyarwanda, Banyoro, Barotse, Basuto, Baule, Baventa, Benin, Botswana Bushmen, Bushoong, Dagamba, Damara, Dinka, Djaga, Dogon, Efik, Fon, Hausa, Ibo, Ijaw, Isoko, Kalahari Bushmen, Kalyl, Kaonde, Kavango, Koko, Lele, Lotuko, Lugbara, Lumba, Luo, Luveda, Makeni, Masai, Mbunda, Mende, Nama, Ngombe, Nbandi, Nuer, Nupe, Pygmy, Shilluk, Shona, Shongon, Songhai, Tonga, Tunbuka, Upoto, Xhosa, Yoruba, Zambesi, Zulu. The Mother-in-Israel, Pastor Folu Adeboye, wife of the founder and Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in admitting the supremacy of African spirituality, was quoted in the Guardian newspaper, Nigeria, of July 26, 2009, as follows: “As powerful as African Juju priests are, none of them possess the power to keep the night and stop the morning from coming.” Thoughts on God and Africa Posted here are thoughts which have been tumbling about in my head since my first mission trip to Africa in August of 2005. Most African cultures, if not all, believe in a Supreme Creator in one form or another. Atheistic tendencies in Africa are minimal. Reacting in his 2021 New Year Message on Thursday, the CAN president said the mercy of God made the difference in Africa and in Nigeria. Lastly God is a man made belief system. The most important “spiritual” powers are usually associated… Read More Oxford, United Kingdom: Heinemann Educational Publishers. In contemplating this point Gehman (2005: 320) helpfully states, “Whatever tragedy is experienced is blamed on witchcraft or the living-dead. 1950. Nyirongo (1997: 63) helpfully adds, “The responsibility belongs to those who are physically alive, but more especially to the ancestral spirits who are the custodians of the community”. Return to essay, ⁶ It is worth quoting Nyirongo (1997: 16) on this point at length: “That God revealed Himself to the pre-Christian African generations cannot be denied. Return to essay, ³ However, the dual activities of providing and protecting are not undertaken directly by the Supreme Being. 2001. The Supreme Being is personal in the sense of possessing personhood; therefore deity is referred to as a ‘He’ and not as an ‘it’ or a ‘power’ (Gehman, 2005: 319). ...The problem is not that God did not speak clearly to the African in the past: the problem is rather what the African did with the revelation he received from God. Try entering just the first three or four letters. I have opted to include fewer differences not because there are not many, but because more explanation is required. Traditional African belief is overwhelmingly monotheistic. Thus, Gehman (2005: 316) succinctly states that, “God has no body; he is invisible”. Rather, the Supreme Being commissions other beings in the spiritual hierarchy to undertake these tasks. It seems that we need to heed Turaki’s (1999: 149-150) warning to not violate Africa’s holistic view of the world by interpreting the Supreme Being’s transcendence in absolute terms. The movement in the Horn of Africa continues to make disciples, planting four new house churches every day. If you wish to use our material in your essay, book, article, website or project, please consult our permissions page. The African continent includes so many countries, regions, languages, tribes, cultures and crossovers that the sheer diversity of prevailing Gods would seem overwhelming if there weren’t a few handy shortcuts. Firstly, Africans do know something about God. God of the Moon. For all media enquiries please contact us here. Biblical Christianity in African perspective. Sections of this page. KATO, B. Instead of positively responding to it in faith, he resorted to idols”. Furthermore, due to the nature of the evidence, its scope must be universal; and so we cannot exclude Africans from this knowledge. MBITI, J.S. COUNTRIES AND REGIONS COVERED: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kilimanjaro, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Savannah, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Transvaal, Tunisia, Uganda, Upper Nile, Upper Zambesi, West Africa, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. 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