Essentials of African Traditional Religions, by Dr. Timothy Tennent

Class Transcriptions

Lecture 1:
Introduction to African Traditional Religion

Discussion of the fundamental similarities in the traditional religions of Africa.

Lecture 2:
African Traditional Religion (ATR) in Practice

A discussion of the Yoruba people and their current religious practices and worldview. The Yoruba are one of the largest religious groups in Africa and their religious system has survived into the modern world.

Lecture 3:
Tier 3: The Role of Ancestors in the Yoruba Cosmology

In the Yoruba version of ATR, the spiritual hierarchy is made up of a deity, divinities, and ancestors. Some ancestors are venerated and have power over the lives of living people.

Lecture 4:
Christian Interaction with ATR

Some features from ATR are carried over into the African Indigenous Churches. As Christians adopt a "global" perspective, we will be better able to encourage and learn from African believers.