African Indigenous Religion and Its Ancient Model Reflections of Kongo Hierarchical Monotheism

Luyaluka, Kiatezua Lubanzadio

doi:10.1177/0021934716681153

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Although significant variations may exist, the belief to consider or attach spiritual meaning to mountains, hills, et cetera among the practitioners of African religion correlates with the practices in animism. However, the indigenous religion of Africa cannot be exclusively cornered to this belief system in light of the shreds of evidence on monotheism (Awolalu 1976;Ekeke & Ekeopara 2010;Luyaluka 2017;Mbiti 2015;Negedu 2014;Parrinder 1970).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental determinant of religious names: A study of Úgwú and naming among the Nsukka-Igbo people of Nigeria

Agbo

Opata

Okwueze

2022

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

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This article makes a contribution towards understanding the correlation between Úgwú (hill or mountain) and personal names among the Igbo people of Nigeria. Sacralisation of the natural environment which include hills or mountains is a belief that cuts across religions. Among the Igbo, the perceived sacred value placed on such natural environment prompted a series of socio-cultural changes. Personal names are usually drawn from deified entities such as the earth, sun, rivers, and so on. Studies on Igbo personal names portrayed the environmental determinant for personal names in different Igbo-subcultures. However, the pattern of Nsukka-Igbo names, influenced specifically by Úgwú has hardly gotten any scholarly attention. This study, therefore, provided evidence that Úgwú is the single most environmental element that shaped the culture of naming among the Nsukka-Igbo people with its psycho-social and economic implications. Drawing from the theory of sacralisation, which stresses on placing religious values on objects, this article showed that the deified Úgwú environment influenced an unprecedented frequency and exclusive nature of Úgwú personal names in the study area. Documentary research, observation and interview methods were used to collect and analyse secondary, as well as primary data for this study. The article drew attention to the increasing influence of Úgwú on personal names in Nsukka-Igbo, and its effects which include the conservation of the environment occasioned by the deification of Úgwú.Contribution: This article shows that the deification of natural environment of Úgwú influenced the increasing frequency of Úgwú personal names and its associated variants among the Nsukka-Igbo people of Nigeria.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental determinant of religious names: A study of Úgwú and naming among the Nsukka-Igbo people of Nigeria

Agbo

Opata

Okwueze

2022

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

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“…The same feature is seen in Sumer where, according to Noah Kramer (1981), “the soul flies from Dumuzi’s body ‘like falcon flies against another bird’” (p. 297). This perception of the soul demonstrates that these ancient civilizations were evolving in solar epistemology; this led to the demonstration of the solar nature of their religions (Luyaluka, 2017a).…”

Section: On the Naturalized Epistemology Of Aikmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…after death, a position tantamount to the rejection of the solar epistemology based on the freedom of soul. Jesus and his disciples countered this trend by saying “the dead are raised.” (Luyaluka, 2017a, p. 501)…”

Section: Grecian Influence On Christianity and Islammentioning

confidence: 99%

The Theory of General Devolution: A Call for an African Solar Renaissance

Luyaluka

2018

Journal of Black Studies

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Through its theory of general devolution, this article shows that as African holistic epistemology was pushed at the fringe of cultural and scientific practices, Africa lost the advances it enjoyed in precolonial time in the domains of equality of the genre, ethical norms, medicine, textile, astronomy, and so on, because African scholars could not defend the scientific validity and superiority of the holistic epistemology on which these traditional values are based. For the solution to this general devolution, solar renaissance is urged as the reintroduction of solar religion which will practically result in the parallel reintroduction of the initiatory education with its accompanying development of the potential for the freedom soul, a powerful tool against "epistemological obstacles." The demonstrated scientific validity of African holistic epistemology will thus lead to the revalorization of our original cost-efficient and cost-effective traditional technologies.

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“…1, 2022 such as Obatala and Oduduwa, are imperative in Yoruba shrines and rituals. Similarly, Luyaluka (2017) acknowledges the Congolese belief whose figurines, heads and busts are common among the Mbuti, Mayombe and Zande peoples. Rabie (2011) exploits rich ancient Egyptian sculptural representations of their indigenous gods such as Osiris, Isis, Anubis, and Seth.…”

Section: Art and Objects In The Wangoni Beliefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Art, Objects and Belief Systems Among the Wangoni of Tanzania

Makukula

2022

Tanzania Journal for Population studies and Development

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This article is from a study that investigated the interplay among art, ritual objects, and belief systems through which the Wangoni people worshipped their God prior to missionary and colonial interventions. The study focused on the significance and implication of art on paraphernalia such as household tools and personal belongings as ritual objects that were commonly evoked during worship or ritual activities of the Wangoni. The ritual theory informed the study’s framework including its methodology, data collection, analysis and presentation, and the discussion of the findings. Using document analysis, interviews and observation to collect data, the study found that artistically-made objects or tools had a special place in the traditional religious practices and lore of the Wangoni. The Wangoni employed personal belongings and objects of deceased family members to establish contacts in the ancestral realm, as their intermediaries before God. It was also established that in the process of making religious-inspired tools or objects, most Wangoni patrons insisted on the artistic excellence of such objects and tools. It was believed that, firstly, art would increase the uniqueness of the object and signify the status and power it symbolized; and secondly, art would help to inculcate a sense of sanctity of the object or tool depending on its aesthetic outlook associated with the Wangoni’s beliefs in the existence of God in their worship or ritual practices.

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African Indigenous Religion and Its Ancient Model Reflections of Kongo Hierarchical Monotheism

Cited by 9 publications

References 16 publications

Environmental determinant of religious names: A study of Úgwú and naming among the Nsukka-Igbo people of Nigeria

Environmental determinant of religious names: A study of Úgwú and naming among the Nsukka-Igbo people of Nigeria

The Theory of General Devolution: A Call for an African Solar Renaissance

Art, Objects and Belief Systems Among the Wangoni of Tanzania

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