Divinities in African Traditional Religion

 Divinities are gods
who emanated from Supreme Deity. They have attribute of the Supreme Being and
are in essence His offspring. These divinities render service to the theocratic
government of the world.

Categories of the Divinities

They can be divided into three categories based on
their positions, functions and influence.

1. The Primordial Divinities

These are believed to be the divinities of heaven.
They are believed to be in existence with the Supreme Being before the creation
of the universe. They usually thought of as parking in the work of creation.

2. Deified Ancestors

These are human beings who are deified because of the
extraordinary live they have lived.

3. Personification of Nature and Phenomena

These groups of divinities are spirits associated with
hills, mountains, rivers, lakes or thick forest. Whatever is considered the
abode of spirits becomes a sacred place.

Positions and Duties of the Divinities

The divinities have responsibilities. They are
ministers with portfolios in the theocratic government of God. The belief is
that God has delegated authority to them. They are intermediaries. People
worship God through them. They are worshipped daily through sacrifices. They
have temples, shrines, priests, priestesses and devotees. They are also
semi-autonomous agents. Each of them is the executive head of his department.
Their adherents see them as a means to an end and not an end in themselves.

Worship of divinities

Worship is an expression of man’s attitude towards God
and other spiritual beings. It is an act of communication and communion between
man and the supernatural world. It is a means of strengthening the cord of
relationship between God and man and a mean so restoring broken communion as a
result of sin.

Worship can be regular or occasional. There are also
daily worships to adore God for his protection. The adoration is offered along
new requests. It is not always flamboyant when compared with the communal one.

People can worship under special arrangements.
Preparations are made in line with the need of the occasion. The nature of such
worship depends on the prescription of the oracle. The annual festival observed
in honour of each divinity is very elaborate and in characterized with
merriment.

Objects of worship