INCL 340:
african traditional culture and religion

Professor: Dr. Peter Wasswa Mpagi
Days: Mondays - Fridays

Course Description:

The course deals with an overview of African traditional cultures and religion (ATR) as well as the challenges African cultures pose to Christians in Africa. Topics to be covered will include: the concept of culture, social groupings, ATR, characteristics of ATR, sources of ATR, African world view, basic values, religious leaders, mystical forces, African religious experience, ethics and morality, death and hereafter. Attention will also be focused on specific societies. The changes currently taking place today will also be considered.

Goals:

To help students:

• Know and appreciate the diversity of African traditional cultures.
• Understand the African in the right perspective and use this knowledge as a background to be able to live and work with African peoples more effectively.
• Use this knowledge to analyze modern African societies.
• Use this knowledge as a background to understand the spread and impact of Christianity.

Specific Objectives:

Students will:

1. Perceive the "unity in diversity"? of African society.
2. Understand some of the significant aspects of the African traditional cultures.
3. Understand the basic beliefs and practices in ATR.
4. Learn more about different cultures.
5. Participate in the African culture. (Each student is assigned a local field assistant to help in this regard.)
6. Understand the various aspects of African cultures and the challenges they pose to the Christians in Africa.
7. Understand our world and the world of other cultures.
8. Develop self-awareness and analysis of other cultures.

Course Outline:

Day	Topic
1	African Culture and Religion (before Christianity) The situation in Africa before Christianity and Islam. A brief history of Christianity in Africa with a focus on Uganda. Results of Christianity penetrating Africa.
2	Death and the hereafter Myths of origin The Hereafter Rituals - death and the last funeral rites Clallenges the African concept of death and hereafter pose to Christians.
3	Basic African World View The Supreme Deity Divinities Ancestors The world of man and Spirits
4	Nature, training and role in society of Religious Leaders Priests Mediums Diviners Herbalists Witchdoctors Kings and chiefs* Challenges African traditional religous leaders pose to Christians. *Look at their nature, role, purpose, training and value to society.
5	Sacred places, Traditions and Shrines Shrines, sacred places and religious objects Art and symbols Music and dance Riddles, proverbs and wise sayings Names of people and places Myths and legends/Beliefs and customs The sources of challenges that ATR poses to Christians
6	Field Trip: Visit Ssezzibwa Falls, place of traditional religious shrine and the place of the martyrs'.
7	Practical - Food Preparation and Bananas
8	Rural Visits Begin
9	Rural visits debriefing; discussion lead by questions from students African basic values Marriage and family life: pregnancy, birth and naming Childhood/Education/Initiation The African community/Work and leisure Types of social groupings in African traditional cultures: nation, tribe, community, kinship, clan, lineage, family, the household and the individual. Cultural Theme Field Report #2 due
10	African Traditional Religious experience Worship - Prayer/Sacrifices/Offerings Festivals - Purpose/Benefits of festivals/Singing and dancing Rituals - Meaning and importance/Personal rituals/Professional rituals Challenges African traditional religious experience poses to Chrstians
11	The Unity and Diversity of African Traditional Cultures Common traditional cultural elements Study of selected societies with their particular cultures Discussion, summary and explanation of the covered topics continued
12	Ethics and Morality Meaning and value of morals Individual morals Family morals Community morals Sacred and secular morals Cultural Theme Field Report #3 due
13	African Traditional Religion The nature of African Traditional Religion Significance of African Traditional Religion The challenges African Traditional Religion poses to Africans
14	Finale ATR Cultural Profile/writing class What is culture and religion? Evolution of the African culture
15	Cultural Profile Due before departure for Practicum

Required Textbooks:

• Mbiti, John, African Religions and Philosophy.

Recommended Books:

• Ayisi, E.O., An Introduction to African Culture.
• Mpagi, Wasswa P., African Christian Theology.
• Bahemuka, Judith, Our Religious Heritage.
• Murikwa, Julius, A Study of Kikuyu Culture and the Communication of the Gospel.
• Good, C.M., Dimensions of East African Cultures.
• Kenyatta, Jomo, Facing Mount Kenya.
• Kirwen, Michael, The Missionary and the Diviner.
• Gehman, Richard J., African Traditional Religion in Biblical Perspective.
• Roscoe, The Baganda.
• Magesa, Laurenti, African Religion.
• Imasogie ,Osadolor, Guidelines for Christian Theology in Africa.
• Bolaji, Idowu, African Traditional Religion. A Definition
• Mugambi, Jesse, African Heritage and Contemporary Christianity.
• Onwuejeogwu M.A., Social Anthropology of Africa.

Course Requirements / Assignments:

In order to meet our course objectives the following is required:

1. Regular class attendance and active participation in lecture discussions.
2. Completion of assigned readings for each class lecture. There are sixteen lectures and the course is also expected to meet for sixteen days.
3. A one page hand written summary indicating that one has read the assigned readings. See reading schedule. Reading summaries will be collected unannounced four times. Come to class prepared.
4. One field experience per week. This is expected to take place mid-week except the rural visit which will be Friday-Sunday. There will be at least three field experiences (during this three week period).
5. A one page, typed, double spaced, font size 12 report for each cultural theme field interview. Thus there are three separate reports expected for the field experiences.
1. Cultural Theme #1
2. Cultural Theme #2
3. Cultural Theme #3
6. A ten page research paper to be submitted towards the end of the course profiling a specific ethnic group in Uganda or a topic of particular interest related to this course.

Course Evaluation:

The above mentioned assignments will be evaluated as follows:

1. Class attendance and active participation in lecture
   Discussions = 20 points
2. Reading the assigned texts and a one page summary
   Readings = 20 points
3. Weekly one page report for the three field experiences
   Experiences = 20 points
4. 25-30 page group (3-5 person teams) research paper based on class material, readings, personal reflection and field experiences. Focusing primarily on one theme developed in the course.
   Research Paper = 40 points

Course Grade:

   95 – 100A
   92 – 94 A -
   89 – 91 B +
   85 – 88 B
   82 – 84 B -
   79 – 81 C+
   75 – 78 C
   72 – 74 C -
   69 – 71 D +
   65 – 68 D
   62 – 64 D -
   61 - F