Традиционные культы

Unlike world religions, an African traditional cult, as a rule, does not represent a coherent and very logical religious system. Every ethnic group may have its own cults, but the cults of the neighbors are not rejected as wrong. Rather, they are compared with one’s cults in order to find out whose idols are more powerful. The adepts of the traditional cults regard Islam and Christianity from the same viewpoint: the main question is not “is the religious doctrine right or wrong?” but rather, whose God, Muslim or Christian, is more powerful and more effective as a protector, and is it stronger than pagan idols and deities?

When studying traditional religious views, cults of masks, fetishism, animism, totemism, and other kinds are distinguished. However, these types of cults are not opposed to each other, rather, they are components of one single world vision. Certain groups have an idea of a supreme deity; some scholars think that this idea results from the influence of great universal religions, but it is difficult to verify. In any case, in his everyday life a man does not address the supreme deity, he passes rather via idols and masks. It is believed that they will pass his request on to the right destination, if they find it appropriate.

Another peculiarity of African traditional cults is that, with rare exceptions, they have no class of priests. Sacrifices and other sacral actions can be performed by any person. Although, it can be admitted that some people do it better than others…

Dwelling of spirit.  Guinea. The Maninka.  O. Yu. Zavyalova. 1999.		Baobab is a totemic tree of the Kanuri people. Bauchi, 2005 Bondarev D.		“Sacral hut” is one of few houses in the village covered with  a metal roof. Yaloba, Perekhvalskaya E., 2007.
Gole, a mask for entertainment. A young man with a horn is the “mask’s wife”. Kounahiri, Vydrin V., 2002.		A member of the Traore family shows  a twin fetish. Nyagasola, Zavialova O., 1999		Among Muslims, mothers of twins often beg near mosques. God helps those who give them money. Abidjan, Erman A., 2007