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Ancestors
Ancestors are those who once lived in human society and, having fulfilled certain conditions, are now in the realm of the spirits. One becomes an ancestor by living and dying in a particular way. In African religion, to become an ancestor, one must have lived an exemplary life, shown devotion to one's own ancestors, respected the elders, and had children. Among various ethnic groups, to become an ancestor, one must have died a good death, that is, one's death must not have been by suicide, accident, or other forms of violence, with the possible exception of heroic deaths on the battlefield. In most societies, those dying of epilepsy, leprosy, and lunacy cannot be considered candidates for ancestorhood. This entry discusses the general importance of ancestors ...
- Ancestral Figures
- Communalism and Family
- Concepts and Ideas
- Deities and Divinities
- Abasi
- Agwe
- Aida Wedo
- Aiwel
- Akamba
- Amen
- Anubis
- Anukis
- Apep
- Apis
- Asase Yaa
- Aten
- Atum
- Ausar
- Auset
- Azaka, the Loa
- Bes
- Bondye
- Chi
- Danbala Wedo
- Divinities
- Eleda
- Eniyan
- Ennead
- Esu, Elegba
- Ezili Dantò
- Ezili Freda
- Faro
- God
- Goddesses
- Hapi
- Hathor
- Heru, Horus
- Ibis, Symbol of Tehuti
- Jok (Acholi)
- Khnum
- Khonsu
- Mami Wata
- Mawu-Lisa
- Min
- Montu
- Nana Buluku
- Ngai
- Ngewo
- Nkulunkulu
- Nyame
- Nzambi
- Obatala
- Oduduwa
- Ogdoad
- Ogun
- Olodumare
- Olokun
- Olorun
- Orisha Nla
- Orunmila
- Oshun
- Oya
- Ptah
- Ra
- Ruhanga
- Sekhmet
- Serapis
- Seshat
- Set
- Shango
- Shu
- Songo
- Sopdu
- Tefnut
- Thoth
- Tibonanj
- Wepwawet
- Woyengi
- Yao
- Yemonja
- Zin
- Eternality
- Nature
- Personalities and Characters
- Possessors of Divine Energy
- Rituals and Ceremonies
- Adae
- Agricultural Rites
- Ceremonies
- Circumcision
- Clitorectomy
- Dance and Song
- Desounen
- Harvest
- Incense
- Initiation
- Invocations
- Lele
- Medicine
- Medicine Men and Women
- Mediums
- Mummification
- Music
- Naming
- Offering
- Ohum Festival
- Opening of the Mouth Ceremony
- Puberty
- Purification
- Rain Dance
- Rites of Passage
- Rites of Reclamation
- Rituals
- Seclusion
- Shawabti
- Shrines
- Societies of Secrets
- Yam
- Yanvalou
- Sacred Spaces and Objects
- Akhenaten
- Altars
- Amulet
- Asamando
- Bata Drums
- Boats
- Bois Caiman
- Cowrie Shells
- Crossroads
- Drum, The
- Flag and Flag Planting
- Govi
- Groves, Sacred
- Ikin
- Ilé-Ifè
- Incense
- Kisalian Graves
- Lakes
- Maroon Communities
- Mount Cameroon
- Mount Kenya
- Mountains and Hills
- Oumfò
- Potomitan
- Pyramids
- Rivers and Streams
- Rocks and Stones
- Sarcophagus
- Sphinx
- Totem
- Vilokan
- Waset
- Societies
- Symbols, Signs, and Sounds
- Taboo and Ethics
- Texts
- Traditions
- Akan
- Asante
- Azande
- Baga
- Baganda
- Bakongo
- Bakota
- Balanta
- Balengue
- Baluba
- Bamana
- Bamileke
- Bamun
- Banyankore
- Banyarwanda
- Bariba
- Barotse
- Bassa
- Basuto
- Batonga
- Bete
- Bobo
- Candomblé
- Chagga
- Chewa
- Chokwe
- Convince
- Dagu
- Dinka
- Diola
- Dioula
- Dogon
- Duala
- Efik
- Ekoi
- Ewe
- Fang
- Fon
- Fula (Fulbe)
- Ga
- Gamo Religion
- Gola
- Gurunsi
- Haya
- Hoodoo
- Hutu
- Ibibio
- Idoma
- Igbo
- Jola
- Kabre of Togo
- KalÛnga
- Kirdi
- Kumina
- Lobi
- Lomwe
- Lovedu
- Lugbara
- Luo
- Maasai
- Mende
- Mossi
- N'domo
- North America, African Religion in
- Nuer
- Obeah
- Okande
- Ovambo
- Palo
- Pedi
- Petwo
- Peul
- Rada
- Santeria
- Sara
- Saramacca
- Senufo
- Serer
- Shilluk
- Shona
- Songo
- Sotho
- Susu
- Swazi
- Tallensi
- Teke
- Tellem
- Temne
- Tiv
- Tsonga
- Tswana
- Tutsi
- Umbanda
- Vai
- Vodou and the Haitian Revolution
- Vodou in Benin
- Vodou in Haiti
- Vodunsi
- Wamala
- West African Religion
- Winti
- Wolof
- Xhosa
- Yao
- Yoruba
- Zarma
- Zulu
- Values
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