This book offers a bold re-examination of how African spirituality and religion are understood, challenging centuries of misrepresentation shaped by colonial and Abrahamic thought. It argues that describing African religions through any form of modified monotheism, whether "implicit," "diffused," or "accommodated", distorts their true nature and philosophical depth. Critiquing both colonial and postcolonial scholarship, the author shows how figures such as John Mbiti, Bolaji Idowu, John Bewaji, Thaddeus Metz, Motsamai Molefe, and Kirk Lougheed remain confined by Abrahamic categories that obscure African metaphysical perspectives.
Drawing on the ritual systems and spiritual knowledge of six major Afro-religious traditions (Kemet, Yorùbá, Anlo-Ewe, Igbo, Akan, and Shona) the book advances panentheism, a non-Abrahamic monotheistic framework, as the most accurate model for understanding African religions. Combining philosophical analysis with ethnographic insight, it redefines the conceptual vocabulary for African religious scholarship, resolving long-standing debates and demonstrating the value of thick description for studying African religiosity. An original contribution to African philosophy, religious studies, and decolonial theory, this book reshapes how African spirituality is to be studied and understood.
This book refutes the use of any shade of modified monotheism for describing African spirituality and religious practices. Contemporary scholarships that attempt to rebut what was poor, and biased portrayal of African spirituality, by colonial discourses offered very little improvement primarily because they do not realise where the propaganda lies – Abrahamic monotheisms versus non-Abrahamic monotheisms. This oversight is redolent in John Mbiti, Bolaji Idowu, John Bewaji, Thaddeus Metz, Motsamai Molefe, and Kirk Lougheed who exerted much commerce on making African spirituality an appendage to Abrahamic monotheisms.
Drawing on ritual practices and spiritual knowledge of six distinct Afro-religious cultures: Kemet, Yorùbá, Anlo-Ewe, Igbo, Akan, and Shona, the book settles for panentheism – a non-Abrahamic monotheism as the most accurate concept for African religions. With the evidences unpacked, the book brings the debate on the concept for African religions to an end. Ultimately, it challenges the dominant narratives and suggests the use of thick descriptions via ethnography for engaging with African religiosity.
Emmanuel Ofuasia is a Decoloniality Research Associate at the Department of Philosophy, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
“This book makes a significant contribution to the philosophy of religion by rethinking how African Traditional Religions are best understood. Moving beyond the familiar categories of polytheism and monotheism, it advances panentheism as a more fitting framework and draws illuminating connections with process theology. Ofuasia provides an important step toward globalizing the philosophy of religion.” – Yujin Nagasawa, Professor of Philosophy and Kingfisher College Chair of the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, University of Oklahoma, USA
“This book explores a wide range of ideas on God, with a style that rewards the author’s quest for novelty and authenticity in African thought…A good addition to the body of works in African philosophy of religion” – Hasskei Mohammed Majeed, AHP Fellow, American Council of Learned Societies, University of Ghana, Ghana.
