TRADITIONAL AFRICAN WAYS OF WORSHIPING GOD

TRADITIONAL AFRICAN WAYS OF WORSHIPING GOD

• Worship is the means through which human beings communicate with God.
• Worship may be public or private, formal or informal, communal or individual and direct or indirect.

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Places where worship is conducted in African traditional society

• Under sacred trees e.g. Mugumo tree.
• On hilltops and rocks.
• In caves.
• At riverbanks and on the shores.
• In the sacred forests.
• In graveyards
• At crossroads.
• In the homes of some religious specialists.

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God is worshipped through the following ways;​

• Through sacrifices
• Through offerings
• Through singing and dancing
• Through prayers.​

1. Sacrifices

• An animal is slaughtered in honour of God.
• It involves the shedding of blood of human beings, animals or birds.
• Sacrifices are carefully selected, since they are offered to the creator of the universe.
• Animals offered have to be of one color e.g.
  • ​Black.
  • White.
  • ​Brown.
• They are given back to God as a sign of appreciation of what God has provided for them.​

Why sacrifices are made to God, spirits and ancestors

• To appreciate God as the source of life.
• To thank God for the blessings to the people.
• To appease God for the wrongs done.
• To petition God for help during difficult times.
• To invite God to participate in family and community functions.
• To maintain a good relationship
• To avert evil e.g. drought, famine, floods or epidemics.

Occasions when sacrifices where offered

• During rites of passage i.e.   
• Birth and naming.
• Initiation.
• Marriage.
• Death.
• During disasters.
• After a good harvest.
• During installation of leaders.
• During cleansing ceremonies.
• During reconciliation ceremonies.
• Before going to war.

Note

• Sacrifices are offered by heads of families, priests, medicine persons.
• Prayers accompany sacrifices.
• They are acts of humility before their creator.

2. Offerings

• ​It is another way of worshipping God.
• It involves the taking of foodstuffs e.g. milk, water or honey and giving them to God.
• Offerings are carefully selected.

3. Singing and dancing in worship

• Songs and dances are performed during communal worship.
• They are used in praising and thanking God.
• Songs and dances make the worshipers emotionally connected with God.
• Songs and dances are accompanied by clapping of hands, drumming and playing musical instruments.
• They also promote solidarity among the worshippers.

4. Prayers.

• They are verbal communications with God.

• Prayers are mostly short and to the point.
• Prayers are offered during important religious occasions. They pray in different ways e.g. 
  • Kneeling.
  • Standing.
  • Prostrating.
  • Bowing.
  • Facing certain directions.
  • Raising hands.

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5. Invocations

Short formal prayers e.g. “Help me, O God!” or  “O Great God”.

6. Blessings

Blessings by an elder constitute acts of prayer.  It is believed that the person blessing is doing so on behalf of God.

7. Salutations

e.g. “Dear God”.