Knowledge over religion
There has been a divergent view regarding the concept and philosophy of African
Traditional Religion. Some have seen Africans as not having the capacity to reason on the
concept or the philosophy of God. This led them into giving all forms of derogatory names to
African Traditional Religion. This paper examines the concept and philosophy of African
Traditional Religion from the viewpoint of Africans. It presents the worldview, philosophical
nature and foundation of African Traditional Religion. It also shows that the worship of God
in African Traditional Religion is through sacrifices, offerings, singing, dancing and prayers.
The paper also considers the concept of evil, ethics, justice and time in African Traditional
Religion. It concludes that Africans knew God before the coming of the missionaries to
Africa.The religion of these natives [Africans] is their existence and their existence is their religion. It supplies the principle on which their law is dispensed and morality adjudicated. The entire organization
of their common life is so interwoven with it that they cannot get away from it. Like the Hindus they eat religiously, drink religiously and sing religiously. (1966: 429).
This fact of the intertwining of religion and secularity in Africa has created a problem
when trying to understand the thought and reasoning of Africans. This is why the process of
establishing a well thought-out philosophy in Africa for Africa by Africans has taken a long
time in becoming widely accepted, though so many African Philosophers such as Mbiti,
Onyewuenyi, Asouzu, Omoregbe, Wiredu and so many others are doing their best.
Traditional Religion. Some have seen Africans as not having the capacity to reason on the
concept or the philosophy of God. This led them into giving all forms of derogatory names to
African Traditional Religion. This paper examines the concept and philosophy of African
Traditional Religion from the viewpoint of Africans. It presents the worldview, philosophical
nature and foundation of African Traditional Religion. It also shows that the worship of God
in African Traditional Religion is through sacrifices, offerings, singing, dancing and prayers.
The paper also considers the concept of evil, ethics, justice and time in African Traditional
Religion. It concludes that Africans knew God before the coming of the missionaries to
Africa.The religion of these natives [Africans] is their existence and their existence is their religion. It supplies the principle on which their law is dispensed and morality adjudicated. The entire organization
of their common life is so interwoven with it that they cannot get away from it. Like the Hindus they eat religiously, drink religiously and sing religiously. (1966: 429).
This fact of the intertwining of religion and secularity in Africa has created a problem
when trying to understand the thought and reasoning of Africans. This is why the process of
establishing a well thought-out philosophy in Africa for Africa by Africans has taken a long
time in becoming widely accepted, though so many African Philosophers such as Mbiti,
Onyewuenyi, Asouzu, Omoregbe, Wiredu and so many others are doing their best.
