Introduction
The misconception that African ancestors were devil worshippers, a narrative that has been woven into the fabric of African Christianity by colonial missionaries, has caused profound cultural and spiritual dissonance. This distorted view, which has shaped much of African religious life since the arrival of European missionaries, was not rooted in biblical truth but rather in a colonial agenda aimed at erasing indigenous identity and culture.
In this paper, I intend to debunk this myth by examining the original role of African spirituality, showcasing biblical precedents for ancestor veneration, and highlighting the scholarly work of African intellectuals who have challenged this colonial distortion. It is time for African Christians to embrace both their faith and their heritage, forging a new path that honors the ancestors without compromising the integrity of their belief in Christ.
The Colonial Distortion of African Spirituality
When missionaries arrived in Africa, they were accompanied by colonial rulers whose primary aim was domination—both physically and spiritually. The idea that Africans worshipped demons and evil spirits was introduced to justify the need for “civilization” and “salvation” through Western Christianity. Traditional African religious practices, which revolved around the veneration of ancestors and the belief in a Supreme Being, were immediately deemed as pagan or evil.
European missionaries, with little understanding of African cosmology, dismissed the spiritual and cultural practices they encountered. They could not reconcile African reverence for ancestors with the teachings of Christianity. African religion, particularly ancestor veneration, was simplified and misrepresented as devil worship. Yet, as John Mbiti (1969) outlines in African Religions and Philosophy, African spirituality was deeply monotheistic and morally centered. The ancestors were viewed not as gods but as intermediaries, a practice that is paralleled in other cultures, including early Jewish traditions.
Biblical Context: Ancestor Veneration is Not Devil Worship
One of the fundamental arguments of the colonial missionaries was based on Deuteronomy 18:10-12, which prohibits practices such as witchcraft, divination, and consulting the dead. While this passage was applied broadly to condemn African ancestor veneration, it was a misinterpretation of both African spirituality and the Bible itself. In African traditions, ancestors are not consulted for future predictions or magical powers but are seen as elders who lived virtuously and are remembered for their guidance.
In contrast to the colonial narrative, the Bible contains numerous passages that emphasize the importance of honoring one’s ancestors and elders. Exodus 20:12 states, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” In Matthew 15:4, Jesus reaffirms this command, placing significant spiritual value on familial respect and continuity.
Early Christians, especially those from Jewish backgrounds, held their ancestral traditions in high regard. Luke 1:50 speaks of God’s mercy extending “to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.” Nowhere in the Bible do we find the demonization of honoring one’s ancestors. This highlights a core inconsistency in the colonial narrative, which sought to erase the dignity of African spirituality by portraying ancestors as evil.
African Scholarly Rebuttal: Reclaiming Our Spiritual Legacy
In the 20th century, African scholars and theologians such as Kwame Bediako and John Mbiti began to challenge the colonial distortions of African religion. In his work Theology and Identity (1992), Kwame Bediako emphasized the importance of recognizing that African Christians need not reject their cultural heritage to embrace Christianity. He argues that the dehumanization of African spirituality was not a biblical necessity but a colonial tool.
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (1958) also illustrates the profound cultural clash between African traditions and Western Christianity. Achebe’s work serves as a powerful narrative of how colonialism not only subjugated African peoples politically but also spiritually. He underscores the communal and moral foundation of African spirituality and how it was tragically misinterpreted by missionaries as barbaric or evil.
These scholarly works have played a crucial role in dismantling the colonial myth of African devil worship. They argue for a balanced African Christianity that honors the cultural roots of the African people without undermining the transformative power of the gospel.
Reclaiming African Spirituality: The Path Forward
To move beyond the colonial distortions of African spirituality, African Christians must begin to reclaim their heritage in a way that respects both their ancestors and their faith in Christ. The first step in this process is to educate African communities about the true nature of their pre-colonial religious practices.
In Romans 12:2, Paul encourages believers to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This transformation must include the rejection of colonial lies that have painted African spirituality in such a negative light. Africans must learn that their ancestors were not demon worshippers, but rather wise men and women who sought to maintain harmony within their communities and with the divine.
Christianity, as it is practiced in Africa today, should not require a complete rejection of African cultural practices. Instead, it should build on the values of community, respect, and reverence for elders that are already embedded in African traditions. In doing so, African Christians can forge a more authentic and meaningful spiritual path that honors both Christ and their ancestral heritage.
Conclusion
For too long, the narrative that African ancestors were devil worshippers has persisted, perpetuated by colonial missionaries and unchallenged by many African Christians. This narrative was not based on biblical truths but on colonial imperatives to erase African culture and replace it with Western ideologies. By examining the Bible, African religious traditions, and the work of African scholars, we can see that our ancestors were not demonic figures but respected elders whose legacy deserves to be honored.
It is time for African Christians to break free from the psychological chains of colonialism and to embrace both their faith and their cultural heritage. In doing so, they can create a new spiritual identity that is both authentically African and deeply rooted in the teachings of Christ.
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Bibliography
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. London: Heinemann, 1958.
Bediako, Kwame. Theology and Identity: The Impact of Culture Upon Christian Thought in the Second Century and in Modern Africa. Oxford: Regnum Books, 1992.
Mbiti, John S. African Religions and Philosophy. London: Heinemann, 1969.
The Holy Bible, New International Version.
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