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Difference between revisions of "African diaspora religion"
African diaspora religion (view source)
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Afro-American religions tend to involve ancestor veneration and include a creator deity along with a pantheon of divine spirits such as the Orisha, Loa, Vodun, Nkisi, and Alusi, among others. | Afro-American religions tend to involve ancestor veneration and include a creator deity along with a pantheon of divine spirits such as the Orisha, Loa, Vodun, Nkisi, and Alusi, among others. | ||
In addition to the religious syncretism of these traditions, many also incorporate elements of [[Christianity]], including reverence of Catholic [[saint]]s. Other major influences include: Native American religions, Spiritism, and [[shaman|Shamanism]] (sometimes including the use of [[recreational drug|entheogens]]). | In addition to the religious syncretism of these traditions, many also incorporate elements of [[Christianity]], including reverence of Catholic [[saint]]s. Other major influences include: Native American religions, [[Spiritualism|Spiritism]], and [[shaman|Shamanism]] (sometimes including the use of [[recreational drug|entheogens]]). | ||
Various "doctoring" traditions also exist, such as Obeah and Hoodoo, which focus on spiritual health. | Various "doctoring" traditions also exist, such as Obeah and Hoodoo, which focus on spiritual health. | ||
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However, some belief systems are more transactional, with individual clients only going to priests/practitioners for [[divination]] and [[ritual magic|rituals]] to correct a problem or to create a path for growth and opportunity. | However, some belief systems are more transactional, with individual clients only going to priests/practitioners for [[divination]] and [[ritual magic|rituals]] to correct a problem or to create a path for growth and opportunity. | ||
[[Amulet]]s and [[talisman]]s are often important artifacts used by worshippers in their daily lives. For example, [[Ngongo Lutete]], a soldier who fought for the Congo Free State wore | [[Amulet]]s and [[talisman]]s are often important artifacts used by worshippers in their daily lives. For example, [[Ngongo Lutete]], a soldier who fought for the Congo Free State, wore an enchanted necklace which prevented him from being executed. | ||
Others are also communal, and have ceremonies and festivals that include singing, drumming, and dancing. | Others are also communal, and have ceremonies and festivals that include singing, drumming, and dancing. | ||
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African religions were based on oral traditions, which facilitated their spread across the Atlantic Ocean. Enslaved Africans carried their belief systems orally to the New World without relying on printed texts or doctrine provided by a centralized leader. This allowed new forms of worship to develop quickly as newly-arrived slaves mixed their own traditions with those of the local indigenous peoples. | African religions were based on oral traditions, which facilitated their spread across the Atlantic Ocean. Enslaved Africans carried their belief systems orally to the New World without relying on printed texts or doctrine provided by a centralized leader. This allowed new forms of worship to develop quickly as newly-arrived slaves mixed their own traditions with those of the local indigenous peoples. | ||
Pressures to conform to the | Pressures to conform to the standards established by Christian and Muslim slave owners caused many enslaved Africans to outwardly adopt the tenants of organized religion, while secretly continuing their traditional practices. This simultaneous resistance to and acceptance of [[Abrahamic religion]] led to the creation of new syncretic belief systems. | ||
===Criminalization and rebellions=== | ===Criminalization and rebellions=== | ||
[[File:Voodoo Altar.jpg|400px|thumb|Example of a typical voodoo altar]] | |||
Colonial elites disapproved of African traditions and introduced laws to prohibit them, using the term ''Obeah'' as a general label for these practices. Fearing that Obeah practitioners might incite rebellions, European authorities increasingly saw Obeah as a threat to the stability on their plantations and criminalised it. | Colonial elites disapproved of African traditions and introduced laws to prohibit them, using the term ''Obeah'' as a general label for these practices. Fearing that Obeah practitioners might incite rebellions, European authorities increasingly saw Obeah as a threat to the stability on their plantations and criminalised it. | ||
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===Modern era=== | ===Modern era=== | ||
[[File: | [[File:Zé Pilintra Shrine.jpg|400px|thumb|Shrine to [[Zé Pilintra]] on the streets of Rio.]] | ||
Historical persecution of African religions has resurfaced in the 21st century in the form of both state and private discrimination. As extremist sects of Evangelical [[Christianity]] gain more influence in the Americas, these groups focus on attacking African diaspora religious communities. Most of this physical violence has occurred in Haiti and Brazil, although the Brazilian government has made some effort to combat violence against Afro-Brazilian religions, despite the government officials themselves being complicit in these attacks. | Historical persecution of African religions has resurfaced in the 21st century in the form of both state and private discrimination. As extremist sects of Evangelical [[Christianity]] gain more influence in the Americas, these groups focus on attacking African diaspora religious communities. Most of this physical violence has occurred in Haiti and Brazil, although the Brazilian government has made some effort to combat violence against Afro-Brazilian religions, despite the government officials themselves being complicit in these attacks. | ||
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There are numerous African diaspora religions and their practices vary widely from country to country and religion to religion. These religions are extreme minorities in the Americas, with official populations often too small to be featured on the national census. | There are numerous African diaspora religions and their practices vary widely from country to country and religion to religion. These religions are extreme minorities in the Americas, with official populations often too small to be featured on the national census. | ||
== | In Brazil, it is estimated around 1% of the population (2.2 million people) are devoted adherents to Afro-Brazilian religions, while as much as 20% of the population occasionally engages in traditional practices or participates in rituals. | ||
==Examples of African diaspora religions== | |||
===Caribbean=== | ===Caribbean=== | ||
* [[Voodoo]] (including Cuban Vodú, Haitian Vodou, Dominican Vudú, and Vodunu) | * [[Voodoo]] (including Cuban Vodú, Haitian Vodou, Dominican Vudú, and Vodunu) | ||
* Santería | * [[Santería]] | ||
* Rastafari | * Rastafari | ||
===South America=== | ===South America=== | ||
* [[María Lionza]] | * [[María Lionza]] | ||
* Candomblé | * [[Candomblé]] | ||
* Quimbanda | * [[Quimbanda]] | ||
* [[Umbanda]] | |||
* Santo Daime | * Santo Daime | ||
[[Category:African diasporic religions]] | [[Category:African diasporic religions]] | ||
[[Category:Featured Articles]] | [[Category:Featured Articles]] | ||
[[Category:Religions]] | [[Category:Religions]] | ||
[[Category:Awesome Articles]] | |||