RELIGION AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA EXERCISE - Gerald Owusu
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Dec 6, 2023
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MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
HISTORY 350: INTRODUCTION TO THE AFRICAN
DIASPORA FALL 2023
GERALD KWAKU OWUSU
RELIGION AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA – EXERCISE
PROMPT: Religion has played a very important role in the history of the
modern African Diaspora in the Atlantic World in everyday life and in social
relations. Religion has deeply shaped the African peoples scattered by the
transatlantic slave trade. It shaped how they remade themselves under the
conditions of plantation slavery. It helped to transform their new identities. It
contributed to their collective struggles for survival and self-realization.
Africans who were involuntarily brought to the so-called New World (the
Americas – North America, the Caribbean, and South America) by European
slavers did not come with empty heads. Africans carried with them
knowledge of languages, ideas about time, views about death, notions of
beauty, fond memories of their childhood and much more.
An important aspect of the Africans’ worldview was their
cosmologies
and
the religious belief systems embedded in them. In short, Africans brought
their religions with them to the Americas. Having already looked at the
importance of Islam in West African societies and cultures, we now turn our
attention to other African religious traditions. In this interview, Professor J.
Lorand Matory explores the nature of African Diasporic religious ideas and
practices and their historical and contemporary significance.
After listening to the interview (please takes notes while you listen), answer
the following 25 questions. Your answers should be able to fit in the spaces I
have provided between the questions.
1.
Who is J. Lorand Matory? (There is information about him at the start and
at the end of the video) At Duke University, J. Lorand Matory teaches
cultural anthropology. In addition to being the author of Black Atlantic
Religion: Tradition, Transnationalism and Matriarchy in the Afro-Brazilian
Candomblé, he chairs the department of African-American studies at
Duke.
2.
What is Matory’s area of expertise/area of specialist knowledge? Matory’s
area of expertise is anthropology.
3.
What is Vodou? Why does Matory reject the term Voodoo? Which country
is it closely identified with? Vodou is a kind of religion closely identified
with Haiti. Matory rejects the term Voodoo because it has acquired
inappropriate connotations as a result of its exploitation in the American
film industry that projects all evil upon the Vodou religion.
4.
What are the 4 aspects of Vodou? The four aspects of Vodou include
songs, dance, animal sacrifice, and healing.
5.
Where in Africa did Vodou originate? The Vodou originated from the
cultures of Central Africa, and of West Africa.
6.
What are Vodou’s key principles and values? The key principles and
values of the Vodou is that human beings are vessels of spirits. The gods
are usually celebrated through dance, celebrations, and eat together.
7.
What is “spirit possession?” When someone experiences "spirit
possession," they usually interpret it as the inhabitation of a new entity
within their body, replacing the individual and turning their body into the
"vehicle" of the new being.
8.
How does Matory answer the accusation that Vodou discourages personal
responsibility and fosters social mistrust? Matory responds that the
accuser should at least spend some time with Voduism. Matory says that
there are snippets of truth about what the accuser said, but there are
also some snippets of truth about the religion. Matory goes ahead to say
that extensive planning goes into the practice assistance.
9.
What does Matory mean when he argues that “religions of the African
Diaspora are not mere survivals of a primordial past?” When Matory
argues that "religions of the African Diaspora are not mere survivals of a
primordial past," he means that these religions are not static remnants
but living, evolving systems that adapt to changing cultural contexts
while retaining their core beliefs and practices. They continue to shape
and influence contemporary societies.
1
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
HISTORY 350: INTRODUCTION TO THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
FALL 2023
10.
In outlining West African religions, Matory tells us that these religions
do 3 things. What are they?
They honor ancestors and spirits: Ancestor veneration and
reverence for spirits play a significant role in West African religions.
They maintain a reciprocal relationship: These religions emphasize
reciprocity and interconnectedness between humans, spirits, and
the natural world.
They engage in ritual practices: Rituals, ceremonies, and
communal gatherings are essential elements of West African
religions.
11.
Who/what is Yamanja? Yemanja, also spelled Yemaya or Yemoja, is a
significant deity in various African Diaspora religions, particularly in
Yoruba-based traditions such as Santeria, Candomblé, and Vodou. She is
an Orisha, a spirit or deity in the Yoruba religion of Nigeria.
12.
Who/what is Shango? Shango, also known as Sango, is a prominent
deity in Yoruba religion and is revered in various African Diaspora
religions, including Santeria, Candomblé, and Vodou. He is one of the
Orishas, the deities or spirits of the Yoruba pantheon.
13.
Who/what is Obatala? Obatala, also known as Orisha Nla or Orisha
Funfun, is a revered deity in the Yoruba religion of Nigeria and holds
significance in several African Diaspora religions like Santeria,
Candomblé, and Vodou.
14.
Who is a Babalawo? A Babalawo is a priest or practitioner in the Yoruba
religion, particularly within the Ifá tradition. The term "Babalawo"
translates to "father of the mysteries" or "father of the secrets."
15.
What is Santeria or Ocha? Where did it originate? Santería, also known
as Regla de Ocha or Lukumi, is a syncretic religion that developed in
Cuba among descendants of West African slaves, particularly from the
Yoruba people of present-day Nigeria.
16.
What are the examples of Africanisms in the Black Church in the United
States?
Music and Rhythms: The lively music and rhythmic styles in many Black
churches, including gospel music and call-and-response singing, reflect
African musical influences.
Spiritual Practices: Practices like "getting the Holy Ghost" or experiencing
intense emotional and physical manifestations during worship, including
speaking in tongues or being moved by the Spirit, have parallels in
African spiritual traditions.
Symbolism and Rituals: Some symbols and rituals within the Black
Church, such as baptism practices or the use of white robes, can be
traced back to African cultural and religious practices.
17.
Who was Melville Herskovits? What important argument did he make?
Melville Herskovits was an American anthropologist known for his
groundbreaking work in African studies and African American studies. He
conducted extensive research on African cultures, particularly focusing
on the retention of African cultural elements among African descendants
in the Americas.
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18.
What is Candomble? Where did it originate? Candomblé is a religion
practiced primarily in Brazil, particularly in the northeastern region, that
traces its origins to the African diaspora, specifically the Yoruba, Fon, and
Bantu cultures of West and Central Africa. It originated among enslaved
Africans brought to Brazil during the transatlantic slave trade.
19.
Who/what is Eshu? Eshu, also known as Elegba or Legba in some
traditions, is a deity within Yoruba religion and is also venerated in
various African Diaspora religions like Santeria, Candomblé, and Vodou.
20.
How does Matory explain the context of the Brazilian-Nigerian religious
links? J. Lorand Matory, in his research and discussions, often emphasizes
the historical and cultural connections between Brazil and Nigeria,
particularly in the context of religious links found in practices like
Candomblé and Yoruba-based traditions. Matory highlights the
transatlantic slave trade as the pivotal factor that brought Yoruba and
other West African cultures to the Americas, specifically Brazil.
21.
What does African American religion in the United States have to do
with African culture? African American religion in the United States has
deep connections to African culture due to its roots in the experiences of
enslaved Africans forcibly brought to the Americas during the
transatlantic slave trade. Enslaved Africans arrived in the Americas with
diverse cultural and religious practices stemming from various African
regions and ethnic groups.
22.
Why does Matory argue that practices like ritual killing in Africa, which
take place today, should not be seen as either traditional African religious
practices or as uniquely African? Matory's argument stems from a
nuanced understanding of cultural practices and their evolution over
time. He emphasizes that practices like ritual killing in Africa, when
observed today, should not be simplistically categorized as traditional
African religious practices or uniquely African phenomena. Instead, he
points out the complexities and transformations that occur within cultural
practices.
23.
What is the difference between monotheistic and polytheistic religious
beliefs? Monotheism, Monotheistic religions believe in the existence of a
single, supreme deity or god. This one god is considered omnipotent,
omniscient, and the creator of the universe. Examples of monotheistic
religions include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Polytheistic religions,
on the other hand, believe in the existence of multiple deities or gods.
These gods often have distinct powers, characteristics, and domains.
Polytheistic beliefs encompass the worship and reverence of several
gods, each associated with specific aspects of life, nature, or human
endeavors.
24.
What role did religion play in the successful uprising of Haitian slaves
that led to the Haitian Revolution? Religion played a pivotal role in the
successful uprising of Haitian slaves during the Haitian Revolution,
serving as a unifying force and a source of motivation and resilience for
the enslaved population. In Haiti, African religious practices, particularly
Vodou, provided a cultural and spiritual framework that united the
enslaved individuals. Vodou served not only as a religious belief system
but also as a means of resistance and a source of hope for freedom.
25.
How does the Vodou religion view and deal with sexuality and gender
roles? Fluidity in Gender: Vodou acknowledges a spectrum of gender
identities beyond the binary male-female construct. Some spirits within
Vodou, known as "lwa," are considered gender-fluid or have both male
and female attributes. Emphasis on Fertility and Life: Sexuality within
Vodou is often associated with fertility and the celebration of life. Some
rituals may involve dances, music, and offerings that symbolize fertility,
emphasizing the importance of sexuality and procreation within certain
contexts. Respect for Sexual Expression: Vodou tends to be more
permissive and accepting of various forms of sexual expression
compared to certain Western religious traditions. Inclusivity and
Acceptance: Vodou ceremonies and communities often embrace
individuals of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities without
the same degree of stigma or discrimination found in some other
religious contexts.
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