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Xhosa Heritage - African Traditional Religion
You are here: Nalane - Xhosa Heritage - Religion - Contents - Creation MythThe Creation Myth
African Traditional Religion has no founder. It is believed to have been divinely revealed to the first generation which is believed to have been directly created by the Supernatural Power or God. As Africans are communal from creation, it is not believed that God created indipendent human beings. It is believed that God created a community without any individual preferences because what is divinely created is equal in love. The first generation, as a community, was given all the laws and observances in order to live in harmony with the Creator, other human beings and nature.The death of that generation meant the beginning of intercession between the living and the Supernatural Power as the first generation is believed to have joined the spiritual world where the resides. In other words, the death of the first generation marked the beginning of ancestors. The ancestors, then, are the messengers of the Creator, they are the supervisors of the physical world. The ancestors look after the welfare of the living, mainly through the elderly, who in turn teach the youth both orally and through rituals, and the process continues from generation to generation.
Because one is born into Arican Traditional Religion, a person becomes part of the clan(family circle) which includes the living and the departed. From childhood to maturity, the person participates in all ritual practices and performances. At home among the clan the child receives primary religious education. The child, therefore, is always a religious practitioner under supervision. Adapted from "African Traditional Religion: An introduction for beginners" - by Nokuzola Mndende, Icamagu Institute.
Adapted from "African Traditional Religion: An introduction for beginners" - by Nokuzola Mndende, Icamagu Institute.
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