Religious Functionaries (Priests, Kings, Medicine Men, Diviners and Oracles) In Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31150/ajshr.v3i10.1566Keywords:
-Abstract
There are many religious functionaries in African Religion. These include authorities and specialists in various aspects of African life; like priest, king, medicine men and diviners. Broadly speaking, their roles fall into two broad categories, mediators and mediums. A mediator could be roughly defined as a go-between, one who mediates between God and man. In this context, he is a human being, who because of his office, training and skill, or his personal qualities plays the role of a go-between in man’s relationships with the spiritual world. Mediums on the other hand are persons (or objects) whom a deity or spirit uses to communicate his message or benefits on people. In the African scene, mediators are usually priests, kings and medicine-men. Mediums are diviners, spirit mediums and prophets. The roles of these religious functionaries are not mutually exclusive. A priest can also be a diviner or medicine-man, and vice versa. We will illustrate each of these functions with examples drawn from some African societies.
References
Andah, B. (1988). African Anthropology Shaneson Ltd, St. Helier, Jersey Channel Islands, Ibadan.
Arinze, F. (1970). Sacrifice in Ibo Religions. Ibadan University Press.
Busia, A.E. (1980). The Ashanti, African Worlds.
Evans-Pritchard, E.E. and Forles, M. (1994). African Political Systems: London Oxford University Press.
Idowu, E. B. (1974). African Traditional Religion: A definition, London, S.C.M. press.
Ingiabuna, Olumati J.C., Sele, A.P. (2003). Readings in Nigerian Peoples and Culture.
Olumati, J. C. (2004). Understanding African Peoples and Society. An Institutional Approach, Emhai Books, Uniport, Port Harcourt.
Olumati, R. (2012). Elements of African cosmology. A Traditional Legacy of Ikwerre people of Rivers State of Nigeria (EPHA) Ekpoma Journal of Religious Studies Vol. 9, Nos. 1&2 ISSN:0795-2988, 77-99.
Olumati, R. (2012). Symbolism of Ali Deity and its Ritual Forms in Ikwerre of Rivers State, Nigeria: (EPHA) Ekpoma Journal of Religious Studies Vol. 9, Nos. 1&2 ISSN:0795-2988, 177-195.
Owolalu, J. et al (1976). West Africa Traditional Religion. Onibonoje Press, Ibadan.
Rad Cliffe-Brown (1940). African political systems, Fortes and Evans-Pritchard, (eds).
Wotogbe-Weneka, W. O. (2001). Religion and Spirituality, Emhai Books Shopping Center, Uniport.
