scholarly journals Rethinking Religion and Sustainable Development in Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-71
Author(s):  
Prisca A Gobo
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Careful Examination ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Historical Writing ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Islam And Christianity ◽  
African Traditional Religion ◽  
Proper Interpretation

This article suggests religion as a viable option for sustainable development in Africa. The focus will be on the three major religions in Africa, namely, African Traditional Religion (ATR), Islam and Christianity. The crux of this paper is on the areas of strength and similarities in the three religions which could foster development. Approaching this topic from within the African and African diasporic context, the nexus between the religions will be established. We will be historical in our interrogation of facts. By analysing the different historical sources and adherents of these religions, proper interpretation would be given to this topic using the interdisciplinary approach to historical writing. Conclusions would be drawn after careful examination of the facts which would clearly indicate that religion could aid sustainable development in more ways than one.

African Traditional Religion and Law-Intersections between the Islamic and non-Islamic Worlds and the Impact on Development in the 2030 Agenda era

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Bakibinga-Gaswaga
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
The Body ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Law And Development ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
The Law ◽  
African Traditional Religion ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Indigenous Heritage

AbstractReligion, law and development intersect in a number of ways. Almost one-third of the world’s Muslim population resides in Africa. With a focus on Africa and taking into account Africa’s triple heritage as envisioned by A. Mazrui, a product resulting from three major influences: an indigenous heritage borne out of time and climate change; the heritage of Eurocentric capitalism forced on Africans by European colonialism; and the spread of Islam by both jihad and evangelism, this paper seeks to review the impact that African Traditional Religion (ATR) as a component of the indigenous heritage, have on the development and enforcement of law in Africa. This paper seeks to address the impact of religion on state formation, examining how colonialism, the Fulani jihads and migration have impacted on the body of law in Africa by introducing Islamic and Judeo-Christian tenets and constructs in the administration of secular states and theocracies. ATR presents itself as a lived reality, regulating the way of life, business transactions, etc. inter alia. There is close proximity between law and religion in Africa and also in the Islamic world. The practice of Islam in Africa is not static and is constantly being reshaped by prevalent social, economic, and political conditions. Generally, Islam in Africa often adapted to African cultural contexts and belief systems forming Africa’s own orthodoxies. The paper also examines how concepts of ATR have found place in the body of law through the inclusion of customary norms and usages in the law applicable, mainly through constitutional endorsement. It addresses the relevance of religion, culture to the development of the law (the intersection between religion and the law) and how the resultant body of law impacts on implementation of the law for development. The paper examines the role of the resultant body of law as a bridge and at times as a distraction to transactions between the Islamic and non-Islamic worlds for development. The paper concludes with recommendations on how the intersection of religion, law and development can better be utilised to foster sustainable development, most especially the Sustainable Development Goals premised in Agenda 2030, among others.

Notes sur le Culte des Orisa et Vodun: Pierre Fatumbi Verger and the Study of “African Traditional Religion”

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 275-294
Author(s):  
Alessandra Brivio
Keyword(s):  
New World ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Middle Passage ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
African Religions ◽  
African Context ◽  
African Traditional Religion ◽  
Two Sides ◽  
Methodological Position

AbstractThis article examines Pierre Verger’s Notes sur le culte des Orisa et Vodun à Bahia, la Baie de tous les Saints, au Brésil et à l’ancienne côte des esclaves en Afrique and aims to investigate his position in relation to the study of religion, Vodun in particular, in the African context, and his contribution to the construction of an “African traditional religion” paradigm. In Notes sur le culte des Orisa et Vodun, Verger intended to make a comparative analysis of “African sources” and “Brazilian remnants” in order to ascertain what had survived the middle passage. This article seeks to highlight the innovative perspectives Verger introduced to the study of religions in Africa, perspectives that included a wide use of historical sources and a deep involvement in field research, and to point up his different methodological position on the two sides of the Atlantic. In Africa he sought pure tradition, while in Brazil he emphasized the modernity of the African religions that proved able to survive the Atlantic passage and resist the hegemonic powers of the New World.

African Traditional Religion and Trans-Saharan Migration from Ghana

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Seth Tweneboah ◽  
Edmond Akwasi Agyeman
Keyword(s):  
Family System ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Livelihood Strategy ◽  
East Region ◽  
The People ◽  
The Family ◽  
Youth Migration ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
African Traditional Religion

Abstract This paper interrogates an unexamined component of the religion-migration nexus in Ghana. Using African Traditional Religion as a case in point, the paper examines the function shrines play in sustaining youth migration to Libya and across the Mediterranean to Europe. The paper relies on interviews and fieldtrips to migrant sending communities in the Nkoranza area of the Bono East region of central Ghana. The paper gives an account of the daily realities of prospective migrants, returnees and their families. Among other key findings, it is shown that there is an intricate connection between youth migration, the family system and the deities in sustaining the trans-Saharan migration. This migration, we observe, has become a livelihood strategy, the perpetuation of which reassures the survival of not only the people, but their gods as well.

scholarly journals The Burning Bush (Ex 3:1–6): A study of natural phenomena as manifestation of divine presence in the Old Testament and in African context

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
David T. Adamo
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Religious Tradition ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Natural Phenomena ◽  
Divine Presence ◽  
African Christianity ◽  
African Context ◽  
African Traditional Religion

The purpose of this article is to attempt to sketch a new reading of Exodus 3:1–6 in African context. After the analysis of the text and various interpretations of the burning bush, this article attempts to survey the various uses of the word fire/lightning/thunder in the Old Testament and in African indigenous religious tradition (Yoruba tradition). In this case, the legends of Sango, the Yoruba Divinity, are important examples of interpreting the existence of fire/lightning/thunder as a sign of God’s presence. Although the meaning of fire/lightning/thunder in the Old Testament and African traditions is very similar, the author does not subscribe to the notion that African Christianity and African traditional religion are the same. However, the similarity has some important implications for African Christianity despite the differences.

scholarly journals Design Thinking for Sustainable Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1363-1368
Author(s):  
Mara Zeltina
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Project Work ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Undergraduate Study ◽  
Sustainable Products ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

The complexity of environmental and sustainability challenges has created an ongoing need for innovative and integrated approaches to address them. Design disciplines have a long history. The method “design thinking”, originally applied in architecture, engineering and business, has led to new and creative problem solving, thus creating much potential for use in sustainable development planning. While principles of good design are well established, there has been limited integration of design thinking with environmental science, sustainable development planning and education. This research was focused on how a sustainability approach can be merged with design thinking to develop socially responsible and environmentally sustainable products and services. The case study has been carried out in the master’s study course Sustainable Development Planning. Some of basic principles and stages of design thinking, such as empathy, creativity, collaboration, responsibility and interdisciplinary approach have been tested by using students project work evaluation regarding certain criteria and survey after the study course. The first results of approbated design thinking principles and methods, significant advantages and disadvantages and the perspective of using this method have been analysed and discussed. As the result from this study proposals for the improvement of the content of this study course and related study courses (a study course on sustainable development issues is compulsory in all undergraduate study programs in Latvia) and for the specification of test tasks have been developed, considering also future needs to provide the study course remotely.

scholarly journals Islam and Traditional Titles in Contemporary Lagos Society: A Historical Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 42-49
Author(s):  
Hakeem A. Akitoye
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Muslim Community ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
African Traditional Religion

Lagos, an area basically inhabited by the Yoruba speaking people of South Western Nigeria and by extension some other parts of West Africa where Islam, Christianity and the African Traditional Religion are still being practised side by side till date with the Africans still being converted to the new faiths without dropping their traditional religion or cultural affiliations. This ideology is very common to the average African who still believes in his culture which has always tainted his way of life or as far as his religion is concerned should not interfere with his culture as the religion as not tacitly condemned some of these practices. This paper intends to examine the extent to which the Yoruba Muslims have been involved in syncretism especially as regards the introduction of the conferment of titles into the Muslim community.

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