eLimu | Christianity and Traditional African Heritage

Beliefs and customs

(Hebrews 1:1,Matthew 5:17,Exodus 34:10-28)

Just like in Christianity, traditional African religion has organised practices.

Both religions believe that God reveals Himself to people through dreams, prophecies and other special events.
Both believe in a supreme God.
Both believe in life after death.
Both pray for forgiveness of sins.
Both have religious leaders or priests who present the people’s requests to God.
Both believe that God is the creator of humankind.
Both have initiation rites into full membership.
Both believe in reconciliation.
Religion is part and parcel of daily life.
Sacrificial meals in the traditional African religion are the equivalent of the Holy
Communion in Christianity.
Both have places of worship. For Christians it’s a church. Africans had shrines they believed God dwelt in. These could be caves, forests, mountains and so on.

(Exodus 20:3-5,Hebrews 10:8-10)

1. Belief in the Trinity

While both Christianity and African religion have a concept of a Supreme Being, Christians believe in a God who exists in three persons.
This is called the Trinity. It is made of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit working together as one. Traditional African religion does not show any belief in the Trinity.

2. Belief in lesser gods

Some traditional African societies like the Yoruba believed in the existence of lesser gods. The Yoruba believe in the existence of the Supreme God called Olurun and the lesser god, Obatala.
They believe that Obatala helped Olurun in creating the world and everything in it. Christians do not believe in the existence of any other god apart from the Supreme Being.

3. Belief in magic and witchcraft

Traditional Africans believed in the power of magic and medicinemen.
They consulted traditional healers who used various herbs and charms to cure diverse illnesses. Witchcraft was also feared and witchdoctors were respected as they had power to curse, make people get sick or end their life. Christians acknowledge the existence of magic and witchcraft.
However, they do not seek the services of magicians or witchdoctors. Christians do not have regard for their powers because they believe that they overcome all evil through the name of Jesus. When Christians are sick they do not go to magicians or traditional healers.
They trust God for their healing. They do so by going to the hospital.

4. Animal sacrifices

A sacrifice refers to an animal that is offered to God, e.g. as a burnt offering.
Traditional African religion advocated for bird and animal sacrifices whenever people went to worship God.
It was believed that the animals’ blood appeased God. Christians do not offer animal sacrifices to appease God.
This is because Jesus already shed His blood on the cross and He was the perfect sacrifice that totally satisfied God. However, Christians can offer animals to the church where they can be sold or reared to give the church income. It is worth noting that these animals are at no time offered as burnt offerings to God.

5. Human sacrifices

Most African communities offered animals and not humans as sacrifices. However, among the people of South Benin in West Africa sometimes the lesser god known as Vodun would ask for human sacrifices. It was believed that Vodun was a representative of the Supreme God known as Mawu. Christianity forbids human sacrifices in worship as it is murder. Furthermore, Jesus is the perfect sacrifice that totally pleased God and there is no need for any other.

6. Image of God

Traditional Africans made images of the Supreme God or other supernatural beings which they worshipped. These images could be of a lion or another animal carved from a tree to represent a god.
In some communities masks were used to represent certain gods or ancestral spirits. Christian teaching forbids making of any kinds of images to represent God. Exodus 20:3-5 tells us not to make or worship images of anything in heaven or on earth.

7. Places of worship

Traditional Africans worshipped in shrines. These shrines were built near waterbodies, next to big trees or near other sacred places.
Today Christians worship God mainly in churches. But as we learnt in Unit One, Christians can also worship Him at their homes or other places. Traditional Africans had to go to specific sacred places for them to worship but Christians can worship God anywhere at any time.

8. Jesus and ancestors

Traditional Africans communicated to God through ancestors. They did this as they offered libation by pouring water or any other drink to the ground. Christians pray to God through Jesus Christ.
They do not offer any libation. When they pray they may kneel down, bow their heads or lift their hands up.

9. Baptism

Christians practice baptism. When one becomes a Christian he/she is baptised. Baptism is by being sprinkled on water or being dipped in water. One is also sometimes given a new name after baptism. Traditional Africans did not practice baptism.

10. The Lord’s Supper

Christians observe the Lord’s supper. They take the communion to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. The cup of wine symbolises the blood Jesus shed and the bread symbolises His body which was broken for us. Traditional Africans did not have this practice.

11.Tithing

Christians give a tenth of all their earnings to God. This is called a tithe. Traditional Africans gave offerings but they did not give tithes.