RELIGION IN AFRICA: ANTIQUITY TO THE PRESENT New York University/College of Arts & Science Fall Semester 2012 Morse Academic Plan/Cultures and Contexts UA 505 Four Credits Professor Richard W. Hull 53 Washington Square South (Juan Carlos Building) Suite 710 [email protected] Adjunct Instructors: Ebony Jones Tyesha Maddox Shauna Sweeney Beatrice Wayne Course Description The premise of this course is that religion has been a driving force in Africa for centuries and that to fully grasp the problems of contemporary Africa you must have an understanding and appreciation of this fascinating dynamic. This lecture course will be a comparative historical survey of selected religions in sub-Saharan Africa and their impact on specific peoples and cultures. Among other things, students will examine the translatability of African religions. That is, the process and extent of incorporation of African religions into Christianity and Islam and vice versa. Included in this will be an analysis of how African religious systems influenced and enriched each other and the extent of their influence on the religious systems of Africans in the Diaspora, particularly in Brazil and the United States. Students will also explore the fascinating interactions of African religions with political, social, and cultural aspects of life. Special attention will be given to militant religious fundamentalism, especially Islamism , and its implications for Africa’s future. This course will be divided into four units. An brief single-essay exam will conclude each unit. The first unit will explore traditional African religions, with case studies of the Yoruba peoples of Nigeria, who were major participants, and victims, in the Atlantic slave trade. Lectures will be enriched with films, music, and objets d’art. Topics will include Myths of Origin, the Concepts of the Nature and the Situation of ‘Man’ and of the Cosmos, the links between the world of the living and the spiritual world; the role of ancestor veneration and diviners, and the meanings of sacrifice, prayer, birth, maturation, and death. This unit will reveal both the diversity and similarities of ritual forms and expressions of belief in traditional Africa. Students will also discover how music and dance performance add to dimensions of religious experience. We will follow the Yoruba religious system, especially its concept of God, to the New World. We will see how an African religion was transformed to meet the demands of a new environment. Throughout the course, religion as an instrument, or agency, will be assessed. Particular attention will be given to the ways in which religion in the course of African history has been used to both unify and to divide peoples and the ways in which it can serve as a means for generating and resolving conflict

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as well as for defining, empowering, and balancing gender and ethnic relationships. Students should gain an appreciation of how African religions over historical time have demonstrated a remarkably flexible and fluid interaction with the institutional and natural environments in which they have operated. The second unit will examine the topic of Empowerment and how religion, the plastic arts and technology were used, often interchangeably in the exercise of authority in traditional African societies. Here, the emphasis will be upon African masks and masquerades as well as on the fabrication and utilization of iron and gold . The third unit will open with an examination of the issue of religion and prophecy. How have extreme crises and the traumatic experiences of groups and individuals affected religious belief and behavior? Here we will study the fascinating relationships between religion and logic, religion and healing. The second portion of this unit will involve an exploration of the early growth of Judaism and Christianity in indigenous African societies. It will then assess the impact of European Christianity and missionary enterprise since the late 19th century. The role of the American and European missionaries as revolutionary Westernizers and their influence on indigenous social structures will be highlighted. The fourth unit will examine the impact of Islam on traditional African religious systems. It will deal with the spread and assimilation of Islam in selected kingdoms and sultanates of East and West Africa, from the 7th century A.D. to the onset of Christian missionary enterprise in the early 19th century. This unit will focus on Islam’s impact on social, economic, and political institutions. It will analyze the ways in which African leaders resisted and accommodated themselves to Islamic intrusions. The force of Islamic and Christian fundamentalism and extremism in the contemporary world will also be explored. In addition, attention will be given to the threat and challenge of Islamism in contemporary Africa and in the West. What role do the Islamic states of modern Africa play in the promotion, and suppression, of militant antiWestern Muslim movements within their borders?

Goals

The overall goal of this course is to prepare students for a more interesting, exciting, and productive life in an increasingly globalized world. We will focus on Africa because of its geographical and demographic size and its critical importance to the cultural and religious development of the Americas. Also, we will center ourselves on that continent because it is the crucible out of which many aspects of key religions of the world emerged and were nurtured . During the semester, students will be exposed to the various modes or methods of inquiry, they will sharpen their skills in reading critically, thinking rigorously, and writing effectively. The course is broad in scope and multidisciplinary, drawing especially on the academic disciplines of history, anthropology, sociology, and theology. We hope you will gain an understanding of the religious ideas, concepts, and practices that over may centuries have shaped and continues to shape Africa and Africans. We hope you will come to appreciate the dynamics of cultural interactions and influences and the ways in which different cultures and religions have related to each other, peacefully as well as violently. The weekly recitations will discuss ideas generated in the lectures and will help you to develop skills in writing and speaking effectively. In the recitations, students and instructors will enter into dialogue with each other. Out of this interaction, students will be able to place religions in Africa within a wider, global and temporal context.

Requirements Students will take four short single-essay examinations (two of them will be take-home, two inclass). There will be no comprehensive final examination. The exam questions will be based on Prof. Hull’s lectures, your required readings and the films, You will also write a 5-page (1700-word) opinion essay on a topic or issue of your choice which you will defend or argue orally in your recitation section. Students will also be expected to make at least one visit to the African art exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan or the Brooklyn or Newark Museums of Art. You will view their collection of

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masks and statuary and write a brief, 750-word essay on the spiritual aspects of one or more of the pieces you will view. Collectively, the four examinations will count for 60% of the course. The museum artifact essay 10%, the opinion essay 15% and participation in your recitation 15%. Late papers and/or plagiarism will be penalized. More than two un-excused absences from recitations and/or two un-excused absences from the lectures will also be penalized. It is expected that students will attend all the lectures and recitations and will sit for the examinations when they are scheduled. Any scheduling conflicts must be reported at the beginning of the semester. You must call my office (212-998-8649) if you cannot attend a lecture.

Required Core Readings David Robinson. Muslim Societies in African History. Mongo Beti. Poor Christ of Bomba. Sandra T. Barnes (ed) Africa’s Ogun:old World and New. Richard Hull. Jews and Judaism in African History. Richard Hull (course pack available after early October at NYU Book Center) J.B. Peires. The Dead Will Arise. Miriama Ba. So Long A Letter.

. Selected Readings (most of them available in bobst Library)

(students will drawn upon one or more of the following works in composing their opinion essay and possibly their museum essay as well)

A. Journals Islamic Africa (an electronic journal) www.islamicafricajournal.org Aluka (electronic journal) www.aluka.org Journal of African History. Journal of Religion in Africa. (1967-present) African Arts magazine. Journal of Modern African Studies. Africa: Journal of the Royal Africa Society. B. Books Adamo, David T. Africa and Africans in the New Testament. Algar, Hamid. Wahhabism: A Critical Essay. Allman, Jean & Parker, John. Tongnaahb: The History of a West African God. Armstrong, Karen. Islam: A Short History. Assman, Jan. Death and Salvation in Ancient Egypt.

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Asante, Emmanuel. Toward an African Christian Theology. Asante, Molefi & Abarry, A.S. (eds) African Intellectual Heritage. (Part Two). Ayandele, E.A. The Missionary Impact on Modern Nigeria. Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Barclay, John M. Jews in the Mediterranean Diaspora: 323 BCE-117 CE. Barnes, Sandra. (ed) Africa’s Ogun: Old World and New. Ban Ami, Isaac. Saint Veneration among the Jews in Morocco. Blakely, Thomas D. & W.E.A. van Beek (eds) Religion in Africa. Bond, George & Sheila Walker (eds) African Christianity: Patterns. Barrett, David. Schism and renewal in Africa. Bhebe, Ngwabi. Christianity and Traditional Religion in W. Zimbabwe. Baeta, C.G. Christianity in Tropical Africa. Bediako, Kwame. Christianity in Africa: The Renewal. Beidelman, Thomas. Moral Imagination in Kagera Modes of Thought. Booth, Newell (ed) African Religions: Essays. Brain, Robert. Art and Society in Africa. Brenner, Louis. Controlling Knowledge: Religion, Power, Schooling in a West African Muslim society. Brandon, George. Santeria from Africa to the New World. Bravman, Rene A. African Islam. Callaway, Barbara & Lucy Creevey. Heritage of Islam:Women, Religion & Politics in West Africa. Clarke, Peter. West Africa and Islam. Chidester, David. Religions of South Africa. Chidester, David. Savage Systems: Colonialism and Comparative Religion in southern Africa Beattie, J. & Middleton, John (eds) Spirit Mediumship. Cole, Herbert M. Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa. Comaroff, Jean. Body of Power, Spirit of Resistance.

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David, A. Rosalie. Ancient Egyptian Religious Beliefs & Practices. Daneel, Margaret. God of the Matopo Hills. Drewall, Margaret. Yoruba Ritual. Drewal, Margaret & Henry. Gelede: Art and Female Power among the Yoruba.. Forde, Daryll (ed) African Worlds: Studies in Cosmological Ideas. Fisher, H.J. “Conversion to Islam in Black Africa” Africa, 43 (1973) Eades, J.S. The Yoruba Today. Edgar, Robert R. & Hilary Sapire. African Apocalypse: Nontetha:a 20th c. South African Prophet. Ellis, Stephen & Gerrie Ter Har. Worlds of Power:Religious Thought & Political Practice in Africa. Elphick, Richad & Rodney Davenport (ed) Christianity in South Africa. Ephirim-Donkor, Anthony. African Religion Defined: A Systematic Study of Ancestor Worship among the Aka. Erlich, Haggai. Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia: Islam, Christianity, and Politics Entwined. Evans-Pritchard, E.E. Nuer Religion. Fashole-Luke, J. (ed) Christianity in Independent Africa. Fields, K.E. Revival and Rebellion in Colonial Africa. Fisher, Humphrey. Slavery in the History of Muslim Black Africa. Forde, Darryl. (ed) African Worlds: Studies in the Cosmological and Social Values of African Peoples. Fortes, Meyer. Religion, Morality and the Person. Gbadamosi, T.G. Growth of Islam among the Yoruba. Gifford, Paul. Ghana’s New Christianity: Pentecostalism in A Globalizing African Economy. Gillon, Werner. A Short History of African Art. Gray, Richard. Black Christians and White missionaries. Griaule, Marcel. Conversations with Ogotemmeli: Dogon Religious Ideas Groves, C.P. The planting of Christianity in Africa. (4 vols) Guenther, Mathias. Tricksters and Trancers: Bushman Religion and Society.

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Hall Bruce. A History of Race in Muslim West Africa, 1600-1960. Harrow, Kenneth W. Races of Islam in African Literature. Hastings, Adrian. History of African Christianity 1950-1975. Hastings, Adrian. African Catholicism:Essays in Discovery. Harrison, Christopher. France and Islam in West Africa 1860-1960. Harding, Rachel E. A Refuge in Thunder: Candomble and Alternative Spaces of Blackness. Hayward, V.E.W. (ed) African Independent Church Movements. Haynes, Jeff. Religion & Politics in Africa. Hiskett, Mervyn. Development of Islam in West Africa. Horton, Robin. “African Conversion” Africa, 41 (2) 1971. Hunter, Shireen T. (ed) Reformist Voices of Islam: Mediating Islam and Modernity. Idowu, E.B. Olodumare: God in Yoruba Belief. Idowu, E.B. African Traditional Religion. Janzen, John & W. MacGaffey (eds) An Anthology of Kongo Religion. Johnston, Douglas M. Religion, Terror, and Error: U.S, Foreign Policy and the Challenges of Spiritual Engagement. Kalu, O.U. History of Christianity in West Africa. Kane, Ousmane. Muslim Modernity in Postcolonial Nigeria: A Study of the Society for the Removal of Innovation and Reinstateent of Tradition. Kaplan, Steven. The Beta Israel (Falasha) in Ethiopia. Kennedy, Pagan. Black Livingstone: Adventure in 19th century Congo. Kennedy, Hugh. The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam changed the World We Live in. Barbara Kingsolver. The Poisonwood Bible. Kirwen, Michael. The Missionary and the Diviner. Laskier, Michael. North African Jewry in the 20th century: Jews of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria. LaGamma, Alisa. Art and Oracle: African Art and Rituals of Divination. Levtzion, Nehemiah/Randall L. Pouwels. The History of Islam in Africa.

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Listowel, Judith. The Other Livingstone. Martin, B.G. Muslim Brotherhoods in 19th century Africa. Merdinger, J.E. Rome and the African Church in the Time of Augustine. Mudimbe, V.Y. The Invention of Africa. Middleton, John (ed) Gods and Rituals. Lewis, I.M. (ed) Islam in Tropical Africa. Martin, B.G. Muslim Brotherhoods in 19th cent. Africa. Martin, Marie-Louise. Kimbangu: An African Prophet. MacGaffey, Wyatt. Modern Kongo Prophets. McClelland, E.M. Ifa among the Yoruba. Mbiti, John. Introduction to African Religions. Mbiti, john S. African Religions and Philosophy. Morenz, Siegfried. Egyptian Religion. Murphy, Joseph M. & Mei Sanford (eds) Osun Across the Waters: A Yoruba Goddess in Africa and the Americas. Miles, William F.S. (ed) Political Islam in West Africa. Oliver, Roland. The missionary Factor in East Africa. Oduyoye, Mercy & Musimbi Kanyoro. The Will to Arise:Women, Tradition & Church. Olupona, Jacob & Nyang, S. (eds) Religious Plurality in Africa. Pankhurst, Richard. A Social history of Ethiopia. Parrinder, Geoffrey. Religion in Africa. Parrinder, Geoffrey. Witchcraft: European and African. Peel, J.D.Y. Religious Encounter and the Making of the Yoruba. Pelton, Robert D. The Trickster in West Africa:Mythic Irony and Sacred Delight. Petersen, Kirsten (ed) Relig, Development, and African Identity. Quinn, Frederick. African Saints: Saints, Martyrs, & Holy People from the Continent of Africa. Rattray, R.S. Religion and Art in Ashanti. Sanneh, Lamin. (ed) The Changing Face of Christianity: Africa, the West, and the World.

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Sanneh, Lamin. Translating the Message: Missionary Impact on Culture. Sanneh, Lamine. Abolitionists Abroad:American Blacks and the Making of Modern West Africa. Shain, Milton. The Roots of Anti-Semitism in South Africa. Shain, Milton, & Richard Mendelsohn. Memories, Resistance & Dreams: Aspects of the South African Jewish Experience. Shelemay, Kay. Music, Ritual, and Falasha History. Sindima, Harvey J. Drums of Redemption: An Introduction to African Christianity. Simmons, Jack. Livingstone and Africa. Soares, Benjamin F. Muslim-Christian Encounters in Africa. Spear, Thomas & Isaria Kimambo. East African Expressions of Christianity. Springer, Devin R., James L. Reges, David Edger. Islamic Radicalism and Global Jihad. Sundkler, Bengt. Bantu Prophets in South Africa. Tayob, Abdulkadir. Islam in South Africa. Thompson, Robert F. Black Gods and Kings. Tempels, Placide. Bantu Philosophy. Tilly, Charles. Witchcraft and Politics in South Africa. Tishman Collection. For Spirits and Kings (Metropolitan Museum of Art.) Trimingham, J.S. The Influence of Islam upon Africa. Umar, Muhammad S. Islam and Colonialism: Intellectual Responses of Muslims of Northern Nigeria to British Colonial Rule. Vaughan, James & Anthony Kirk-Greene (eds) Diary of Hamman Yaji:Chronicle of A West African Ruler. Westerland, David & Eva Rosander (eds) African Islam and Islam in Africa. Westerlund, David. African Indigenous Religions and disease Causation.: From Spiritual Beings to Living humans. Wilson, Monica. Religion and Transformation of Society. Williams, Walter L. Black Americans and the Evangelization of Africa, 1877-1900. Willis, J.R. (ed) Studies in West African Islamic History. Zuesse, Evan.M. Ritual Cosmos: The Sanctification of Life in African Religions.

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Filmography

The King Does Not Lie: The Intiiation of a Shango Priest. African Religions: Zulu Zion. Imagina (VCA 9870) Trees of Iron. (VCA 5816) Yaaba Sore (VCA 2136) Healers of Ghana (VCA 5699) Sudan: Slipping Back in Time (VCA 11230) Man, God, and Africa (VCA 6220) Forbidden Garden: Kabbalah. The Battle for Souls: Nigeria. Sangoma Sorcerers of Zaire. Ceddo Gelede Life Story of an African Inyanga. Voodoo Kingdom

Course Schedule of Lectures and Exams (Weekly Reading Assignments to follow)

September

4: Introduction: Religions of Contemporary Africa

6: African Foundations of Religious Belief and Practice: Antiquity

11: Creation Myths, Sacrifices, and Comprehending the Mysteries of the Cosmos

13: The Spirits Speak: Communicating with the Ancestors

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18: Coming to Terms with Death in Africa

20: God as Creator, Destroyer, and Protector

25: Religion and Technology: The Mystery and Magic of Iron

27: Spiritual Empowerment: The Arts and Authority

October 2: Spiritual Empowerment: Dealing with the Demons-Sorcery, Witchcraft, spirit possession and exorcism

4: Dealing with Catastrophes and Cultural Dispair: Prophets and Prophetesses

9: Purification and Apocalypse: Milennarian movements

11: Judaism and Christianity: Their Ancient African Roots

16: No class

18: Missionary Christianity, Imperial Conquest and Colonialism 23: Religion and Disease: Faith Healing

25: Christianity, Liberation, and the Nation State

30: The Africanization of Missionary Christianity November 1: Jews and Judaism in Pre-colonial African Civilization 6: Jews and Conversos from the Atlantic Slave Trade to the 20th century

8: Anti-semitism and Zionism: From Atqiquity to the Present

13: The Africanization of Judaism: Ethiopians, Lembas, and Igbos

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15: Islam and Islamism in African History: Rise of the Global Arfro-Arab Empires in Africa and Europe

20: How the Early Spread of Islam Changed Africa

22: No class-Thanksgiving Break

27: Islam in Transition in the Colonial and Post-colonial Eras

29: Islamism, Racism, and Nihilism: Ansar Dine, Boko Haram, al-Qaeda in West Africa

December 4: Women and Men in Religion: Islam and Gender in African cultural and social institutions

6: The Inculuration of African Religions into Islam and Christianity

11: The Future of Religious Belief and Practice in Africa

13: Last class: Religions in Africa-Establishing a Balance Sheet

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