Africans Are Worshippers By Nature
The art of worship in African religion and culture is globally acknowledged as natural occurrences. Africans don’t struggle to worship, they just worship. Whatever or whoever they identify as possessing higher order of power or influence, African have the tendency of turning such to an object or subject worthy of worship.
Africa is littered with multifarious, complicated and conflicting religious practices. Once I watched in awe on a fateful Sunday morning, a member of the church I attend, dancing with all his might to the rhythm of music coming from the stable of the church choir. Sure I was dancing too, yet I couldn’t but spy at a fellow who almost was summersaulting in an acrobatic dancing steps.
Without any shadow of doubt, art or act of worship in traditional African religions is always characterized with variation of emotional displays, in dance, in songs and in drumbeats. It also comes along with high enthusiasm of varied colorations, not without the pouring of oblation on the shrines of gods or goddesses and on the graves of their forebears. This they do with much sense of devotion and allegiance their deities.
Growing up, i watched in awe, masquerade, mounting the pillars of a building and before one could say Jackie Robinson, the masquerade (apparently human in customized costume) was already at the roof top, waving and dancing to cultural drumming and intoxicating songs, making him to galvanize more power to leap or hop to the roofs of other houses. In the midst of this euphoria, some people in celebration mood, splash blue powder on one another while others whip one another with whips, yet, worshipping.
On that fateful Sunday morning, I recall commending my fellow brother. “You danced so impressively today” I said, “Oh really? I did more in worship of idols. So, why won’t I do so much more for my God? He smiled.
Well, today is my 57th birthday and I am so happy. I stand in awe of my maker, God. I bend my knees, bowing in reverence and in worship of the Immortal, Invisible, invincible, unquestionable and the Only wise God, has made my life so beautiful and wonderful. He made my tongue the pen of a ready writer and never allowed my ink to run dry. Baba, e ku ise o🙏
– Morack Akin-David is a Biographer and Ghostwriter.
