RLB242 West-African Religions

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2008
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Dr. Hans Gerald Hödl (lecturer), Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Dušan Lužný, Dr.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
Timetable
each odd Monday 16:40–19:55 G24, each odd Tuesday 16:40–19:55 B32, each odd Wednesday 16:40–19:55 B11, each odd Thursday 16:40–19:55 G24, each odd Friday 15:00–18:15 B31
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course will give an introduction to the history of religious studies in (West) Africa and will focus on exemplary descriptions of the religions on the bight of Benin (Ghana, Togo, benin, Nigeria: Ewe, Fon, Yorùbá), discuss the place of History of West-African religions within a general history of religions and the interaction of Christianity and autochthonous Religion.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the history of the Study of African religions

  • 2. Overview on West-Africa. (2.1.) West-African (Niger-Kongo) languages within the groups of African languages. (2.2.) A short history of West-Africa.

  • 3. The traditional Religion of the Yorùbá: (3.1.) The high-God Olódùmarè. (3.2.) The Orisha. (3.3.) Ifá: the divination system. (3.4.) The cult of the ancestors: Egungun and Gèlèdé.

  • 4. Traditional religion of the Ewe and Fon-speaking people: (4.1.) The cult of the Vodun (tro); (4.1.1.) The Vodu of the Mamy Wata-group; (4.1.2.) The Gorovodu; (4.1.3.) Fa-divination compared to Yorùbá divination system; (4.1.4.) Cult of the ancestors; (4.1.5.) The concept of „bo“ („gris-gris“).

  • 5. The world-view of the Dogon

  • 6. African-derived Christianity: the example of „Christianisme Celeste“

  • 7. Discussing concepts of a general history of religion for labelling african religions: (7.1.) Animism. (7.2.) Totemism. (7.3.) Fetishism. (7.4.) Main features of African religions according to Dianne Stewart.

Assessment methods (in Czech)
The course will take place from 25th of March to 1st April according in four-hour blocks in the rooms reserved for each particular day in the week: 25. 3. from 16:40 until 20:00 in the room B32. 26. 3. from 16:40 until 20:00 in the room B11. 27. 3. from 16:40 until 20:00 in the room G24. 28. 3. from 15:00 until 18:10 in the room B31. 31. 3. from 16:40 until 20:00 in the room G24. 1. 4. from 16:40 until 20:00 in the room B32. At the end of the course students will write a test from the material which will be provided to them by the lecturer.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2008/RLB242