African Traditional Religion Stands the Test of Time!

Using specific examples from the readings and the video, critically discuss what stands out as most significant about African traditional religions in the face of European imperialism.  How did African spiritual culture impact Christianity, Islam and other parts of foreign culture that came to Africa? What examples dispel the myths and misconceptions of African traditional religion?

            “When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.”  This quotation by Desmond Tutu is somewhat puzzling since Tutu is a cleric himself.  This is the contradictory nature of African Spiritual culture and the relationship with the major religions of Christianity and Islam.  As the videos about South African soccer players and their mix of both traditional and other faiths show, that European imperialism did influence indigenous Africans toward Christianity and Islamic religions, but Africans have not forgone the traditional faiths and practices of their forefathers. 

The misconception and myths that surround traditional religious practices are held by some Africans as well as outsiders.  However, as chapter 22 of Africana Studies indicates many of these missionaries held strong alliances with the colonizers (as with the Portuguese and the Catholic Church) and held fast to racist ways and beliefs.   Although successful in ridiculing or degrading indigenous beliefs, they were commonly practiced in communities and homes away from the watchful eyes of those whom deemed them primitive.

As shown on the videos, these beliefs have stood the test of time.  Most of the players in this updated South African version appear to welcome both beliefs openly.  However the misconceptions are depicted by the South African Sangamo (or Spiritual Adviser) as she states that many look at these practices in a negative or primitive sense without the appreciation of the contextual place that this Faith has provided for centuries.  As she and the players described in the video, many looked at traditional faith for protection and consultation from their elders.  The Sangamo also described many of the concoctions were herbal healing remedies that addressed both medical and non-medical issues.

Without the veil of barbarism, traditional healing, spiritual advisers and other traditional religions, have found their way into many different cultures as those African diaspora have interspersed traditional cultural beliefs with those countries in which they are now living (such as shown in the African-Brazilian population).  Even as African-Americans practice their faith in many denominations, the African influence is palpable.  The lively upbeat tempo in the Pentecostal church compared with the solemn rituals in a white catholic church is reminiscent of the lively African traditional ceremonies in many countries.

African influence in music - a review of 4 artists!

1. In reviewing interviews and music videos as presented on the AfroPop world wide website there are four artist and their interviews that were of interest for their music or introspection offered throughout their interviews. To support a better understanding of this music, chapters 14 and 15 in the text African Studies provided terminology in which to add perspective to a genre of unfamiliar music. What is common to these artists are their roots in Africa and their eventual migration to a different country.

1. Amadou et Mariam Folila are a blind couple that originated their music in Mali and Côte d’Ivoire that migrated to Paris. They are talented pair that typifies the term “ethnomusicology”. This term is described in the cultural significance to help understand the music. Amadoe et Mariam Folila, have been described as true to their roots by utilizing a “call and response” methodology in their songs that is common in African music. In one video, this couple’s methods are featured in conjunction with a song featured in the popular movie “Twilight”. It and features a style continuum that incorporates both a traditional call response, nicely blended with a folk song feel provided by the partnering with the group “The Magic Numbers”.
2. Mamadoe Diabate is called a storyteller and uses a traditional instrument made just for him called a “Kora”. As you listen to his light melodious music, one is reminded of the influence this type of music has to jazz as it follows an improvised melody that is common in African-American jazz.
3. KG Omulo is an artist that is described as “Afro-urban. Listening to his song “moving train appears to be a blend of Reggae, R & B and without the expertise of an African musical history, but from a novice interpretation seems to be moving away from a traditional African sound.
4. The interview by Angelique Kidjo was by far the most interesting in that her influences such as Miriam Makeba and the intentional ethnomusicology in her performance embrace African music. As with the other artist she too moved out of Africa, but is heavily involved in provided the cultural context within her music. In the interview she speaks of “mother Africa” and how seeing the beauty in the continent is reflective of the beauty inside those who embrace it.

The artist that I chose with the exception of KG Omulo, tend to either feature a visual or musical link to African traditional African music. They all tend to blend both influences from other genres such as reggae and pop but still use African languages in many songs.