Sub-Saharan diversity
Sub-Saharan Africa was a vibrant mosaic of cultures rooted in indigenous traditions and spiritual ways of thought long before the arrival of Christianity, Islam, or any other organized religion. Societal groups venerated ancestors, nature, and spirits, embedding their beliefs into artistic, musical, and Nar.
According to Statista, in 2020, Christians accounted for over 60% of the Sub-Saharan African population, while Muslims made up roughly 30%. This statistic highlights that there were almost 650 million Christians in the region, a figure expected to exceed one billion by 2050. Christianity makes up the majority in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conversely, Islam dominates North Africa, accounting for over 90% of the population in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya. Growing up Protestant in Zimbabwe, I witnessed firsthand the interplay of religious traditions, including those that predate Christianity and Islam. This article explores these pre-Christian and Islamic beliefs, specifically in the context of Sub.
Monotheism in Indigenous Sub-Saharan Beliefs
Long before the arrival of Muslim and Christian missionaries, monotheism was already a belief system common in Sub-Saharan Africa. For instance, in Southern Africa, the Shona and Ndebele people viewed God as the source of creation and all-powerful. For the Shona, he was known as “Musikavanhu,” translated as the creator of humankind, and to the Ndebele, “Umkulumkulu,” meaning the almighty. The Ndebele name is derived from the Zulu name “UNkulunkulu” since the Ndebele people came out of the Zulu Kingdom. In West Africa, the Yoruba people of Nigeria also had a monotheistic belief system, referring to God as Olurun, meaning the owner of the heavens. Yoruba culture credits Ọlọrun with creating the universe and all living creatures. People often portray Ọlọrun as a caring being who protects its creatures. They believe it to be omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
Veneration of Ancestors
Having discussed monotheism, Ancestor veneration is another belief widespread across Africa and is a cornerstone of many indigenous religions. This practice often coexists with the belief in a supreme deity, where prayers and sacrifices are directed to ancestors who act as intermediaries between the divine. The Seereer people of Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania practice a fat Roog, which is the Seereer religion. It venerates the pangool which are old Seereer saints or ancestral spirits. In addition to that, veneration of ancestors is common throughout Madagascar. Approximately half of the country’s 20 million people practise traditional religion, which emphasises the relationship between the living and the razana (ancestors). The worship of ancestors has resulted in a widespread history of tomb building, as well as the highlands practice of the famadihana, in which a departed family member’s remains are unearthed and regularly re-wrapped in fresh silk shrouds before being re-interred in the tomb. People known as spirit mediums are the ones that are responsible for communicating with these ancestral spirits. They act as intermediaries similar to a priest in Catholicism, or as the druids in ancient Celtic cultures.
Ritual Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa
Furthermore, African religious practices emphasize community continuity and harmony with divine forces over strict theological adherence. Rituals serve as a means of maintaining balance with ancestors, spiritual forces, and nature. These practices are deeply woven into social life and often mark significant life transitions such as puberty, marriage, or death. Shrines and altars dedicated to divinities are central to these rituals. These structures are typically modest and can be as simple as a plaque in a courtyard. Offerings, prayers, and sacrifices—sometimes involving blood—are common methods to honor ancestors and seek blessings. For example, in Benin, human sacrifice was historically practiced to appease divine forces and ensure prosperity. Rites of passage, like those led by the Sande secret society of Mande-speaking peoples, are pivotal. The Sande society, spanning Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea, educates girls about household skills, sexual propriety, and the theological meaning of womanhood. Their sacred mask, Sowo, symbolizes the relationship between women and water spirits, underscoring the creative power of women. Masks in African rituals often depict ancestors, gods, or cosmic principles, reflecting their cultural and spiritual significance.
Circumcision and Genital Mutilation as Initiatory Rites
To further emphasize rituals, Initiation is a common ritual, which usually involves circumcision for boys and clitoridectomy for girls. While both practices are deeply rooted in cultural identity, they are controversial due to the physical risks and ethical concerns surrounding female genital mutilation (FGM). These rituals are perceived as ways to affirm cultural gender roles by removing physical markers associated with the opposite sex. Despite modern objections, these practices remain integral to some traditional communities.
Conclusion
In examining the ancient religious practices of Sub-Saharan Africa, there is no doubt that throughout the region, multiple populations deeply experienced a spiritual view of the world based on worshiping a supreme deity with ancestors and natural agencies. Such systems embodied a profound respect for the connectedness of life and moral and societal taboos frequently grounded in religious precepts. Far from being uniform, these beliefs reflected the diversity of cultural and spiritual expression within the zone. Their impact continues reverberating, providing essential comments regarding the identity and resistance of Sub-Saharan African societies despite historical change.
Sean Mazhindu
Photo: Pexels – Stijn Dijkstra