African spirituality and Christianity : revisiting clashing worldviews

Abstract

Black people in Africa have practiced spirituality for a long time, years before colonialism took over Africa. The African people had a very special relationship with ancestors and relating to the worship of God with the acknowledgment of ancestors. When missionaries came to Africa with the movement of colonial Christianity, they abolished African Spirituality and its practices as this was seen as worshipping idols and disregarding “God”. As a result, many Africans abandoned their spiritual practices and adopted the Christian faith. This research aims to explore the similarities and differences between African spirituality and Christianity. Often African spirituality is misunderstood and demonized by the Christian faith, however, comparing the two will expose the similarities that occur between the two movements, and investigating its origins and practices will shed some light on why both can co-exist. As such, this research aims to compare clashing worldviews of Christianity and African Spirituality, with an attempt to clarify any misconceptions that exist when it comes to African Spirituality.