Course: The Traditional Religions of Sub-Saharan Africa

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Course title The Traditional Religions of Sub-Saharan Africa
Course code KSA/TNSA
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Mildnerová Kateřina, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
Syllabus of lectures: 1. Introductory lecture 2. Research of traditional African religiosity in the field of ethnology 3. Cult of ancestors and secret society 4. Sacral Kingdom (Benin, Dahome, Shiluk) 5. Witchcraft 6. Healing 7. Spirit possession cults 8. Divination systems 9. Traditional African religions region of South Africa (Zulu, Shona) 10. Traditional African religions region of West Africa (Dogoni, Phons, Jorubs) 11. Traditional African religions region Madagascar 12. Afro-Caribbean religions (vúdú, santería, candomblé, umbanda, rastafari) Literature Povinná Literatura: Blakely, T. D., van Beek, W. E. A. and Thomson, D. L. (eds.) 1994. Religion in Africa: Experience and Expression. London: James Currey. Lawson, E. T. 1998. Náboženství Afriky. Tradice v proměnách. Praha: Prostor. Mildnerová, K. 2012. Pití fetišů. Náboženství a umění vodun v Beninu. Praha: Malvern. Ray, B. 1976. African Religions, Symbol, Ritual and Community. London: Prentice-Hall. Doporučená literatura Berglund, A-I. 1989. Zulu Thought-Patterns and Symbolism. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Comaroff, J. 1980. Healing and the Cultural Order: The Case of the Barolong Boo Ratshidi of Southern Africa. American Ethnologist 7: (4): 637 657. Evans-Pritchard, E. E. 1937. Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic among the Azande. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Kramer, F. 1993. The Red Fez. Art and Spirit Possession in Africa. London: Verso. Mildnerová, K. 2015. From where does the bad wind blow? Spiritual healing and witchcraft in Zambia. Berlin: LIT Verlag. Moro, P.; Myers, J. (eds). 2012. Magic, Witchcraft and Religion: A Reader in the Anthropology of Religion. 9th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education. Zahan, D. 1979. The Religion, Spirituality and Thought of Traditional Africa. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the results of ethnographic research of traditional African religiosity in the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial period, especially in the context of the spread of world monotheistic religions on the African continent. The course will focus on the theoretical and practical aspects of traditional, indigenous religions of selected ethnicities in their socio-cultural context - discussing the nature and hierarchization of individual deities, the importance of myths, rituals, and an overview of religious-magical practices. The course will also focus on ancestral cults, secret community activities, interpretations of African witchcraft phenomena, healing and obsession with spirit, as well as divination typology. A separate lecture will be devoted to the religious movements of the African diaspora in the world (candomblé, vúdú, santería, rastafari)
acquiring knowledge in the field of traditional religiosity of non-European nations theoretical and practical aspects of traditional, indigenous religions in selected ethnic groups in their socio-cultural context
Prerequisites
attendance of lectures 75%

Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam

attendance of lectures 75% written test
Recommended literature


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Religion Studies (2019) Category: Philosophy, theology 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Religion Studies (2019) Category: Philosophy, theology 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: -