Patterns of ecodomy in indigenous African religions : four perspectives on ancestry as Foundation for building a safe environment for native Africans throughout the African continent

Abstract

This paper identifies four perspectives on the idea of ecodomy as ancestry in contemporary studies on indigenous African religions. Building on the notion of ecodomy defined by Geiko Müller-Fahrenholz as constructive process in 1995, the paper investigates the works of John S. Mbiti, Issiaka P. Lalèyê, Jacok K. Olupona, and Israel Kamudzandu with specific reference to the role of ancestors in indigenous African religions as well as to their conviction that ancestors have a positive role in promoting peace, prosperity, and security throughout the African continent. Defined as ecodomy, ancestry has therefore a distinct content in each of the four perspectives: remembrance in Mbiti, death in Lalèyê, ritual in Olupona, and mediation in Kamudzandu. Regardless of whether it is part of African religions in particular or African cultures in general, the idea of ancestry is capable of providing African societies with a safe ecodomic environment for all indigenous Africans if ancestors are respected and remembered (Mbiti) for their good life and death (Lalèyê) through proper rituals (Olupona) which can function not only within or in correlation with indigenous African religions but also in mediation with other world religions such as Christianity (Kamudzandu).