{"id":675,"date":"2022-04-16T22:25:13","date_gmt":"2022-04-16T20:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/?p=675"},"modified":"2023-09-04T15:51:15","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T13:51:15","slug":"divinities-in-african-traditional-religion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/divinities-in-african-traditional-religion\/","title":{"rendered":"Divinities in African Traditional Religion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Divinities in African Traditional Religion\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OolYGRcSXJk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Divinities in African Traditional Religion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Divinities are gods who emanated from Supreme Deity. They have attributes of the Supreme Being and are in essence His offspring. These divinities render service to the theocratic government of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/sikhism-from-india-all-you-need-to-know\/divinities-in-african-traditional-religion\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-605\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/educom360.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Divinities-in-African-Traditional-Religion.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"Divinities in African Traditional Religion\" class=\"wp-image-605\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Divinities in African Traditional Religion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69d9288a60fbd\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69d9288a60fbd\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/divinities-in-african-traditional-religion\/#Categories_of_the_Divinities\" >Categories of the Divinities<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/divinities-in-african-traditional-religion\/#1_The_Primordial_Divinities\" >1. The Primordial Divinities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/divinities-in-african-traditional-religion\/#2_Deified_Ancestors\" >2. Deified Ancestors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/divinities-in-african-traditional-religion\/#3_Personification_of_Nature_and_Phenomena\" >3. Personification of Nature and Phenomena<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/divinities-in-african-traditional-religion\/#Positions_and_Duties_of_the_Divinities\" >Positions and Duties of the Divinities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/divinities-in-african-traditional-religion\/#Worship_of_divinities\" >Worship of divinities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/divinities-in-african-traditional-religion\/#Objects_of_worship\" >Objects of worship<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Categories_of_the_Divinities\"><\/span><strong>Categories of the Divinities<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>They can be divided into three categories based on their positions, functions and influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_The_Primordial_Divinities\"><\/span><strong>1. The Primordial Divinities<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These are believed to be the divinities of heaven. They are believed to be in existence with the Supreme Being before the creation of the universe. They usually thought of as parking in the work of creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Deified_Ancestors\"><\/span><strong>2. Deified Ancestors<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These are human beings who are deified because of the extraordinary live they have lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Personification_of_Nature_and_Phenomena\"><\/span><strong>3. Personification of Nature and Phenomena<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These groups of divinities are spirits associated with hills, mountains, rivers, lakes or thick forest. Whatever is considered the abode of spirits becomes a sacred place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Positions_and_Duties_of_the_Divinities\"><\/span><strong>Positions and Duties of the Divinities<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The divinities have responsibilities. They are ministers with portfolios in the theocratic government of God. The belief is that God has delegated authority to them. They are intermediaries. People worship God through them. They are worshipped daily through sacrifices. They have temples, shrines,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/blog\/post\/edit\/3718099119877372482\/7045660597758658888#\">priests<\/a>, priestesses and devotees. They are also semi-autonomous agents. Each of them is the executive head of his department. Their adherents see them as a means to an end and not an end in themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Worship_of_divinities\"><\/span><strong>Worship of divinities<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Worship is an expression of man\u2019s attitude towards God and other spiritual beings. It is an act of communication and communion between man and the supernatural world. It is a means of strengthening the cord of relationship between God and man and a mean so restoring broken communion as a result of sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Worship can be regular or occasional. There are also daily worships to adore God for his protection. The adoration is offered along new requests. It is not always flamboyant when compared with the communal one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People can worship under special arrangements. Preparations are made in line with the need of the occasion. The nature of such worship depends on the prescription of the oracle. The annual festival observed in honour of each divinity is very elaborate and in characterized with merriment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Objects_of_worship\"><\/span><strong>Objects of worship<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Each divinity has his or her specific sacred objects which can either be symbols or emblems. The symbols are usually the anthropomorphic images of the divinity while the emblems can be sacred objects set aside as visual representations. The emblems are however kept out of profane gaze and must not be touched by ordinary persons. They are mostly kept in the temple or shrines where the priest and priestesses take care of them daily.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Divinities are gods who emanated from Supreme Deity. They have attributes of the Supreme Being and are in essence His [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":48,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48,83],"tags":[84],"class_list":["post-675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-religious-education","tag-world-religions"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/support.centreforelites.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Divinities-in-African-Traditional-Religion.jpg?fit=600%2C480&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1161,"url":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/divinities-in-african-traditional-religion-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":675,"position":0},"title":"Divinities in African Traditional Religion","author":"centreforelites","date":"March 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0Divinities are gods who emanated from Supreme Deity. They have attribute of the Supreme Being and are in essence His offspring. These divinities render service to the theocratic government of the world.Categories of the Divinities They can be divided into three categories based on their positions, functions and influence. 1.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Religions&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Religions","link":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/category\/african-religions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Divinities in African Traditional Religion","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.culturesofwestafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Shango-Festival-West-African-Religion-Square.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.culturesofwestafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Shango-Festival-West-African-Religion-Square.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.culturesofwestafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Shango-Festival-West-African-Religion-Square.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1164,"url":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/categories-of-sacrifices-in-african-traditional-religions-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":675,"position":1},"title":"Categories of Sacrifices in African Traditional Religions","author":"centreforelites","date":"March 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0Join us as we look at the different Categories of Sacrifices in African Traditional Religions. As far as worship was concerned, God was worshipped in a number of ways among African peoples. \u00a0The first form of worship was the use of sacrifices (when animals were killed) and offerings (the presentation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Religions&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Religions","link":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/category\/african-religions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/HrlEtTIUoHQ\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":672,"url":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/categories-of-sacrifices-in-african-traditional-religions\/","url_meta":{"origin":675,"position":2},"title":"Categories of Sacrifices in African Traditional Religions","author":"centreforelites","date":"April 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HrlEtTIUoHQ&t=178s As far as worship was concerned, God was worshipped in a number of ways among African peoples.\u00a0\u00a0The first form of worship was the use of sacrifices (when animals were killed) and offerings (the presentation of food, animal blood or other items).\u00a0\u00a0These were given to God, the spirits, and the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Categories of Sacrifices in African Traditional Religions","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/support.centreforelites.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Categories-of-Sacrifices-in-African-Traditional-Religions.webp?fit=700%2C420&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/support.centreforelites.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Categories-of-Sacrifices-in-African-Traditional-Religions.webp?fit=700%2C420&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/support.centreforelites.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Categories-of-Sacrifices-in-African-Traditional-Religions.webp?fit=700%2C420&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/support.centreforelites.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Categories-of-Sacrifices-in-African-Traditional-Religions.webp?fit=700%2C420&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":684,"url":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/magic-and-medicine-in-african-tradition\/","url_meta":{"origin":675,"position":3},"title":"Magic and Medicine in African Tradition","author":"centreforelites","date":"April 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Definition Magic is a\u00a0ritual activity\u00a0which influences human or natural events through access to an external mystical force. Thus, magic influence people and events. It involved the manipulation of certain objects to cause a supernatural being to produce or prevent a particular result unobtainable ordinarily. Man bends the forces of nature\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Magic and Medicine in African Tradition","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/support.centreforelites.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Magic-and-Medicine-in-African-Tradition.png?fit=384%2C278&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1160,"url":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/magic-and-medicine-in-african-tradition-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":675,"position":4},"title":"Magic and Medicine in African Tradition","author":"centreforelites","date":"March 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0Definition Magic is a ritual activity which influences human or natural events through access to an external mystical force. Thus, magic influence people and events. It involved the manipulation of certain objects to cause a supernatural being to produce or prevent a particular result unobtainable ordinarily. Man bends the forces\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Religions&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Religions","link":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/category\/african-religions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Magic and Medicine in African Tradition","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2fastlovespells.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sangoma-traditional-healer-900x506.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2fastlovespells.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sangoma-traditional-healer-900x506.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2fastlovespells.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sangoma-traditional-healer-900x506.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1158,"url":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/priesthood-in-african-society\/","url_meta":{"origin":675,"position":5},"title":"How Was Priesthood in African Society?","author":"centreforelites","date":"March 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0The priest is the mediator between man and the gods (God). These are ministers in the temples, shrines, sacred groves and other religious centres. He may be set apart from birth or called to the service of the god. Both men and women are eligible. There are two types of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Religions&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Religions","link":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/category\/african-religions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Priesthood in African Society","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2013\/07\/21\/nyregion\/21BONSAM1_SPAN\/21BONSAM1_SPAN-jumbo-v2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2013\/07\/21\/nyregion\/21BONSAM1_SPAN\/21BONSAM1_SPAN-jumbo-v2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2013\/07\/21\/nyregion\/21BONSAM1_SPAN\/21BONSAM1_SPAN-jumbo-v2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=675"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2069,"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/675\/revisions\/2069"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.centreforelites.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}