Religion has always been central to people's lives
in Africa. Although the majority of Africans are now Muslim or Christian, traditional
religions have endured and still play a big role. Religion runs like a thread
through daily life, marked by prayers of gratitude in times of plenty and prayers
of supplication in times of need. Religion confirms identity on the individual
and the group.
There are a huge number of different religious practices on the continent. They
share some common features: a belief in one God above a host of lesser gods or
semi-divine figures; a belief in ancestral spirits; the idea of sacrifice, often
involving the death of a living thing, to ensure divine protection and generosity;
the need to undergo rites of passage to move from childhood to adulthood, from
life to death.
In the history of the continent, religion has had a powerful effect on political
change: spirit mediums have led revolts against European and African rulers, ancestral
spirits have commanded acts of destruction and called for the overthrow of rulers
and chiefs. People have sought the help of priests and medicine men to achieve
power and wealth.
 Listen to Traditional Religions, the fifth programme in the 大象传媒 landmark radio series The Story of Africa, presented by Hugh Quarshie
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