History Of Religion In Africa
The earliest reference of religion in Africa can be made in Egypt. In 3000 BC, people were worshipping gods like Isis, Horus, Osiris, Ra, and Hapi. Towards southern Africa, the Kushites seemed to have their own religion and worshipped their own gods. This was within Egypt. Outside Egypt, more in West Africa, people seemed to worship one single god like the sky god or the rain god. Monotheism also originated in Egypt in 1300 B.C., and people started worshipping Akenaten. |
After the death of Akenaten, the land of North Africa was taken over by Greeks, Romans and Phoenicians. Each one had brought in their own concept of god. In 300 AD, there was a great change in the religious beliefs of the Africans. The Roman emperor who believed in monotheism which was Christianity was also adopted by the Africans. This is how Christianity found roots into the African population and started spreading through Egypt. At the same time, the Bantu were also expanding into Southern Africa. The Bantu faith believed in Polytheism. They had a firm belief in ghosts and evil powers and how they can affect human life. The ghosts were dead ancestors. Even the ghosts of dead kings and heroes were worshipped.
In 600 AD, another monotheistic form of religion stepped in and that was Islam. Even the fundamentals of Islam had a great influence on Africans. Many people converted to Islam and those who remained Christians fled to Europe because of the communal disharmony and threat to their life.
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