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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

5. Conclusion: Prospects for World Peace from the Perspective of African Traditional Religion and Culture

In a world so full of injustice, so short of harmony among humans as well as between humans and God, the divinities, the ancestors and other beings in the universe; in a world where billions profess faith in God but few have any regard for the divinely established moral order; in a world where human blood flows constantly like steams and so many innocent lives are taken in many ways, some violently and some subtly; in such a world as ours today, what possibilities does African

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

4. Peace: A Religious and Moral Value

In traditional African societies, peace is not an abstract poetic concept, but rather a down-to-earth and practical concept. In ATR peace is conceived not in relation to conflict and war, but in relation to order, harmony and equilibrium. It is a religious value in that the order, harmony and equilibrium in the universe and society is believed to be divinely established and the obligation to maintain them is religious. It is also a moral value since good conduct is required of human beings if

Monday, April 18, 2011

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My Readers, I do hope you’re no t having troubles reading through this site? Please if you do, kindly leave your comment below the post and I’ll make sure it is resolved immediately. You can also visit our sister’s site for more CULTURE Info @ More African Culture

3. The World-View Implicit in African Traditional Religion



While examining the objects of belief in ATR, we have already seen that traditional Africans believe in the existence of God, the divinities, other lesser spirits and the ancestors. Below these beings are humans, animals, plants and other inanimate objects. All these realities are believed to exist in a hierarchical order established by God who is the Source of all. In this

2. The Essential Features of African Traditional Religion

 I would like to group the essential features of ATR under three headings, which may be regarded as the three principal dimensions of religion: belief, worship and morality.[2]

a) Belief
Considering Africa as a whole, the main objects of traditional religious belief are: God, the divinities, spirits and the ancestors. Belief in God, conceived as one Supreme Personal Being seems to be shared by the

Introduction

1. Introduction
It seems quite safe to assume that all human beings desire peace. What is not always very clear is what each person means by peace and how it can be attained and maintained. Religion and peace have been almost natural companions in the minds of humans in different periods of history and in different cultures of the world. This is because, although far too many adherents and leaders of the different religions in the world have

THE MEANING OF PEACE IN AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION AND CULTURE

Prayer
I would like to begin this reflection with a prayer, a litany for peace, from the Kikuyu of Kenya. It is addressed to Ngai, the Supreme Being:

Praise ye Ngai… –  Peace be with us
[Say that the elders may have wisdom and speak with one voice.
Praise ye, Ngai. Peace be with us.]
Say that the country may have tranquillity

Monday, April 11, 2011

'Africa's fatal sexual culture spreads Aids'

Black film-maker confronts the causes of the epidemic killing millions and admits: I lived the way these men are living

Joshua leant forward, raising his voice over the blaring music: 'Myself, when I finish drinking I just go for any girl and have sex with her. I do flesh to flesh. There is no reason of using a condom once I am HIV. I'm dying.'

South Africa and its Culture

South Africa Culture - Curios
Culture in South Africa is about as diverse as it can come. South Africa is a multiracial society and defining distinct subgroups by skin colour only will potentially get you into trouble. Those of Afrikaner and British descent won't be too happy to be confused with one another, and there are several major and many minor groupings in the traditional black cultures.

Friday, April 8, 2011

African Wedding Attire

Unisex African Brocade Pant Set

African weddings are a family affair and involve the combining of two lives, two families, and sometimes even two communities! There are many different wedding traditions in the African continent and no two are exactly alike.  

However, in all the communities the bride plays a very special role and is treated with respect because she is a link between the unborn and the ancestors. A bride might eventually bear a very powerful child, so she is treated with respect. In some areas of East Africa the grooms family would even move to the brides village and set up a whole new house there.

African Weddings

AFRICAN WEDDINGS

African weddings are a family affair and involve the combining of two lives, two families, and sometimes even two communities! There are many different wedding traditions in the African continent and no two are exactly alike. However, in all the communities the bride plays a very special role and is treated with respect because she is a link between the unborn and the ancestors. A bride might eventually bear a very powerful child, so she is treated with respect. In some areas of East Africa the grooms family would even move to the brides village and set up a whole new house there. 

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Bayimba Regional Festival of the Arts: Jinja

Rachel Magoola at the Bayimba Regional Festival of Arts in Jinja
Bayimba Regional Festival of the Arts: Jinja

“What should the audience expect from Rachel”

“This time, it’s different from my usual performances: I am doing a fusion with African Instruments comprised of Students from the Music Department of Kyambogo University and I am very excited about performing in my home Town and I hope they too are eager to watch me perform live” says Rachel Magoola.

Rachel Magoola is one of the artists who will be performing at the Bayimba Regional Festivals of the Arts that starts in Jinja on 26th March 2011 at the Main Street Primary School along side Siraje form Iganga, Inkwanzi and Munaku Kaama Dance Group, Mbikko Brass Band, Dizzoman and Ivulungo who will be performing Live with a Jazz Band.

Festivals in Nigeria

Festivals 
Nigeria has many local festivals that date back to the time before the arrival of the major religions, and which are still occasions for masquerade and dance. The local festivals cover an enormous range of events, fromMada Dancers harvest festivals and betrothal festivals, to the investing of a new chief and funerals. It seems odd to Western ways of thinking to see a funeral as something to be celebrated. But for many of the tribes, death means joining the ancestors, and so the deceased must get a good send-off.
The dances that were once performed by members of each village have now been taken over by professional troupes, who tour villages performing at each local festival.