Unit Three: Studying Africa through the Humanities

Module Fourteen: Religion in Africa

Teacher's Edition

Overview

The purpose of Module Fourteen: Religion in Africa is to introduce students to the rich diversity of religious traditions in Africa and to the importance of religious belief and practice in most African cultures and societies. Students will be introduced to three broad religious traditions that have historically been and continue to be very important in Africa: Indigenous African religions, Islam, and Christianity. These traditions will not be presented as homogeneous, for within each of these traditions there is much heterogeneity in belief and practice. Special emphasis is placed on the dynamic and adaptive nature of religions in Africa. All religious traditions in Africa are continually subject to change, and they have demonstrated an ability to adapt to changes in the social environment and to adopt ideas and practices from other religious traditions.

Alternative Use of Learning Activities

The narrative discussion on indigenous African religions, Islam and Christianity in Africa is longer than what middle school students may be used to. The narrative is written at a level appropriate for middle school students, but with more detail than is normal in middle school texts. Consequently, teachers may want to try an alternative approach to this module. For example:

1. Engage Activity (creation stories): Entire class
2. Divide the class into three groups and assign each group one of major religious traditions covered in this module: indigenous African religions, Islam in Africa, Christianity in Africa. Each group will be responsible for reading and discussing the narrative on their assigned religious tradition and for completing the learning activities.
3. Each group will be responsible for presenting to the entire class what they consider to be the most interesting about the religious tradition that they studied.

For a brief background on religion in Africa, click here

Or go on to:

Introduction to Religion in Africa
Activity One: Engage (Creation Stories)
Activity Two: Explore (Indigenous African Religions)
Activity Three: Expand (Islam in Africa)
Activity Four: Explain (Christianity in Africa)