Global Perspective of African Traditional Religion and Culture in the Modern Era
There is abundant evidence in literature that African Traditional Religion (ATR) and culture have faced numerous challenges globally, including by the Africans themselves. The destruction inflicted on African traditions by colonial authorities and even by the African fanatical and overzealous Christians cannot be over emphasized. The producers of Nollywood movies and their defacement of African traditions in their various scripts is another destructive phase of African Traditional Religion and culture. ATR has therefore, been marginalized from the emergence of colonialism and other world religions especially Christianity and Islam. It must be stated that ATR encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices specific to different ethnic groups and these beliefs and practices are deeply intertwined with cultural practices that promote harmonious coexistence with man, nature and the spiritual realm. Today, there is an apparent resurgence of global interest in ATR and acceptance of its cultural significance. Using this as a springboard, this qualitative research, drawing from extensive documented evidence and firsthand accounts attempts to unveil the global perspective on African Traditional Religion and culture in the modern time focusing on some global efforts, including by Africans themselves to showcase the enviable values of African Traditional Religion and culture that enthrone sustainable development even in the modern world. The paper also demonstrates the shift in the global perspective on African Traditional Religion and culture in the recent time. It also raises some challenges facing the eradication of the observed anomaly on the global perspective of ATR. It further examines the relevance of traditional beliefs and practices amidst the forces of modernity, and the influence of other religious systems. The paper concludes with some possible recommendations which include the development of educational channels in championing the true narrative of African Traditional Religion and culture.
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