African Traditional Religions
Ìsìn Àtọwọ́dọ́wọ́
The wisdom of ancestors, harmony with nature, and community bonds.
"The drum speaks the language of ancestors, calling the living to remember, to honor, to dance."
◈ Overview
African Traditional Religions encompass diverse spiritual systems indigenous to Africa, with approximately 100 million practitioners. The Yorùbá tradition of West Africa is among the most influential, having shaped religions across the diaspora including Candomblé and Vodou.
Central beliefs include the existence of a supreme being (Olodumare in Yorùbá), reverence for ancestors, the importance of Orishas (divine forces), and the interconnection of spiritual and physical worlds. Rituals, divination (Ifá), music, and dance are essential practices.
These traditions emphasize community responsibility, respect for elders and ancestors, living in balance with nature, and the importance of character (ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́) in spiritual development.
◈ Wisdom & Perspectives
Explore African Traditional Religions's approach to key life themes
◈ Related Traditions
African Traditional Religions
Ancestral wisdom connecting the visible and invisible worlds through community and nature.
Ancient Egyptian Religion
The divine order of the Nile, where gods walked among mortals.
Ancient Egyptian Religion
Ma'at, immortality, and the divine order of the cosmos.