Christianity and African Traditional Beliefs

9780962648700

0962648701

This book is a collection of four lectures given at Trinity College, Ghana, West Africa by the distinguished Nana Oseadeeyo Dankwa III, Omanhene (Paramount Chief) of Akropong, Akuapem traditional area. This particular work focuses on Christianity which was brought by the Europeans & missionaries to Africa to convert & civilize this great race of people who gave to the world Monotheism, Mathematics, Science, Philosophy, Art, Ethics & Writing. In Ghana, which was once part of a great African empire, can be seen the major effect Christianity & European missionaries had on the socialization of the people. During the colonial period the missionaries set up the school systems, & in order to become educated, & hence, to acquire the trappings & material commodities of Europe, the people of Ghana had to give up all evidence of traditional customs, & all manifestations of the culture in which they were born & bred. Today Christianity still has a major impact on the customs & beliefs of Ghana. In fact, the traditional beliefs uninfluenced by Christianity are held by a very small minority of its population. In this book Nana Dankwa lectures on the dichotomy between Christianity & African Traditional Beliefs & also focuses on the myths & superstitions attached to some aspects of African customs.