WELCOME!Pretend you are a person that was recently captured from West Africa. You are traveling on the Middle Passage to reach the New World and will soon be sold into slavery. Describe your conditions. How do you feel about your situation?
West African Religions – Animism
Before the introduction of Islam and Christianity, Africa had a very developed system of religion.
It was called Animism, which cannot be minimized to a specific set of beliefs, but most ethnic groups believed in:
One supreme god Several other gods Belief in spirits of ancestors Sacrifice (child or animal) to secure protection Need to undergo a Rite of Passage which is a
“coming of age” ceremony or ritual
Animism
Animism is also the belief that every natural thing has a spirit or soul. For example, humans, animals, rocks, thunder, mountains, and other natural entities are believed to have spirits.
Many traditional West African tribes had medicine men for spiritual and physical healing as well as rainmakers which would bring rain to an area
Animism
Medicine Man
Islam in West Africa
Islam was introduced to West Africa in three different stages: Containment Mixing Reform
Islam in West Africa - Containment Islam was introduced to West Africa
through trading systems with Eastern and Northern Africa
North African people would trade horses, camels, fruits and salt for West African gold and food.
West African leaders forced Muslim merchants to stay outside of the cities so that their religion would not spread.
Islam in West Africa - Mixing Eventually, the merchants were allowed
to integrate with the city, spreading Islam to the people of W. Africa
Many people tried to mix both animism with Islam, creating a fusion of both religions
Islam in West Africa - Reform Due to the mixing of both animism and
Islam, Muslim extremists carried out jihads, or holy wars, on the people of West Africa
The first jihad was in Mauritania The purpose of the jihads were to purify
Islam in West Africa, ridding the people of animism and to carry out the Sharia, or the Islamic law in West Africa.
Islamic Mosque in Ghana
Christianity in West Africa
Although Christianity was first introduced to Africa in Egypt in the 1st century, West Africa was not really exposed to Christianity until Europe colonized Africa
Traditionally, Europeans believed that Africans did not have a religious belief system (even though they practiced Animism) so many European churches sent missionaries to Africa to spread Christianity
Christianity in West Africa
Some European countries used Christianity and the need for sending missionaries as justification, or another reason, for taking over land in West Africa
Today, Christianity is the most practiced religion in Africa
Church in Nigeria
Syncretism in West Africa
Similar to the introduction of Islam in West Africa, people tried to fuse Christianity with Animism.
The mixing and fusion of two or more religions is called syncretism
