African Veneration
Veneration of ancestors in classical Africa consists of ancestral cults whose
members had superhuman powers. These members are of direct bloodline to the
living members and watch over them. They lived in fear of offending their
ancestors and lead moral lives (by African standards) in order to be
remembered like one. It was said that if an ancestor was forgotten
then his entity would cease to exist.
members had superhuman powers. These members are of direct bloodline to the
living members and watch over them. They lived in fear of offending their
ancestors and lead moral lives (by African standards) in order to be
remembered like one. It was said that if an ancestor was forgotten
then his entity would cease to exist.
These deceased kin were thought to be the special bridge between the living and the supreme being (although many African tribes were polytheistic animistic).
They were said to dwell in places of preference such as trees, graveyards
and shrines. They were also known to become angered when disregarded by their living kin though easily appealed by food offering and prayer.
They were said to dwell in places of preference such as trees, graveyards
and shrines. They were also known to become angered when disregarded by their living kin though easily appealed by food offering and prayer.