2007/2008 COURSE CATALOGUE

NAIROBI, KENYA

Course: MARY AFST 582: African Traditional Religion: Major Beliefs, Practices and Contemporary Forms

Course Overview:
An in-depth study of the rich heritage of African Religions with emphasis on how they continue to influence and mediate the experiences of contemporary Africans. The course centers on aspects of African Religion including afrotheism (God), ontology (human) and cosmology (nature).

Course Description:
The course is designed to introduce students to an African world view and African religious heritage. The purpose of the course is to teach about religion as a social and cultural factor. The students will be exposed to different theories, both from the traditional African societies and to those originating from the upsurge of the twentieth century. The course will also seek to see how African religious traditions can and must be a springboard for any religious dialogue with Africans. The students will be required to compare and contrast what they learn in class and what they observe going on in community. The students should try to answer questions like: what does African traditional religions have to contribute to the whole humanity today? What role does religion play in African society today? Must Africans always look for proofs and justification for their existence?

COURSE OUTLINE:

PART ONE

1) Introduction to African Traditional Religion.
2) Methodology of African Traditional Religion.
3) Sources for the study of African Religion.
4) Religious Concepts in African cosmogonies.
5) African Worldview.
6) Man in African Worldview.

PART TWO

1) God: character.
2) God: works.

5) Consequences of evil doing 
6) Worship in African Religion.
7) Ancestor veneration.
8) Kinship systems.
9) Rites of Passage: Pregnancy, birth and naming.

PART THREE

1) Rites of passage; Initiation.
2) Rites of passage: Marriage.
3) Rites of passage: Death.
4) Religious Functionaries.
5) Mystical powers.
6) Spirit realm in African Religion.

7) Evil 

8) Prayers, sacrifices and offerings, Divination

9) African Traditional Ethics

10) Social change in modern Africa 

11) Cultural and religious change in Africa 

12) The future of African Religion 

13) World-status of African Religion 

14) Conclusion 

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Bourdillon, M. (1990). Religion and Society: A Text for Africa. Harare: Mambo Press. 

Byaruhanga-Akiiki, A.B.T. (Ed.) (1995). African World Religion: Grassroots Perspectives. Gaberone: Printworld Ltd.

____________. (1982). Religion in Bunyoro: Nairobi: Kenya Literature Bureau.

Fuchs, Stephen. (1975). Origin of Religion: Introduction into the History of Religion. Kerala: Pontifical Institute Publication No.19. 

Forde, D. (1999). African Worlds. Munster-Hamburg: LIT Verlag. 

Idowu, Bolaji.(1975). African Traditional Religion: a Definition. New York: Orbis. 

Idowu, B. E. (1994).Olodumare: God in Yoruba Religion. New York: Wazobia. 

Kenyatta, Jomo. (1978). Facing Mount Kenya: the traditional life of the Gikuyu. 1938; Reprint; Nairobi: Heinemann. 

King, Noel Q. (1970). Religions of Africa: A Pilgrimage Into Traditional Religion. New York: Harper &Row. 

King, Noel. (1986). African Cosmos: an introduction to religion in Africa. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company.

Kirwen, Michael. (1987.)The Missionary and the Diviner. New York: Orbis Books. 

Magesa, L. (1998). African Religion: Moral Traditions of Abundant Life. Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa

Mair. L. (1969). Witchcraft. London: World University Library. 

Mbiti, John S. (1970). Concepts of God in Africa. London: S.P.C.K., 

Mbiti, John S.  (1969). African Religions and Philosophy. London: Heinemann.

Mbiti, John. (1992). Introduction to African Religion. Second Revised Ed. Nairobi: East African Publishers. 

McVeigh, M.J.  (1974). God in Africa: Concepts of God in African traditional religion and Christianity. Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Cloud Stark.

Mugambi, J.N.K. (Ed.). (1990). Comparative Religion. Nairobi: University of Nairobi. 

p'Bitek, Okot. (1970). African Religions in Western Scholarship. Kampala: East African Literature Bureau.

Olupona, Jacob K. (Ed.) (1991). African Traditional Religions in Contemporary Society. New York: Paragon House. 

Onwuejeogwu, M. Angulu. (1975). Social Anthropology in Africa: An Introduction. London: Heinemann.

Osabutey-Aguedze, Isaac D. (1990). The Principles Underlying African Religion and Philosophy. Nairobi: Mailu Publishing House. 

Parrinder, E. G. (1968). West African Religion: A study of the beliefs and practices of Akan, Ewe, Yoruba, Ibo and Kindred peoples. Third Ed. London: Epworth Press.

Ray, Benjamin C. (1976). African Religions: a symbol, ritual and community. Eaglewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall Inc. 

Shorter, Aylward. (1974). East African Societies. London: Routledge & Kegan. 

__________. (1975). Prayer in the Religious Traditions of Africa. Nairobi: Oxford University Press.

Smith, Edwin W. (1966). African Ideas of God. London: Edinburgh Press.

Van Gennep, A. (1960). Rites of Passage. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 

Westerlund, David. (1985). African Religion in African Scholarship: a preliminary study of the religious and political background. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell International Stockholm. 

Williamson, S.G. (1965). Akan Religion and the Christian Faith. Accra: Ghana Universities press. 

Zuesse, E. (1985). Ritual Cosmos. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press. 

ATTN: This is a required course for students registered in the Master degree programs. However the courses African Traditional Religion Interprets the Bible or Moral Teachings and Practices of African Traditional Religion can substitute for this course.