wfn.org | African Traditional Religion an Expression of Harmonious Co-Existence

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Religion Has Great Influence on the African People

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 28 October 2002 (LWI) - The more than
100 people in the hall turned their attention to the lady dressed
in a white robe as she entered the room. The day's morning prayers
and meditation would be offered by a representative of the African
Traditional Religion, among participants in the first
inter-religious peace summit in Africa, organized by the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF) from October 14-19 near the South African
city of Johannesburg.

At the podium, Lorato placed three candles and three containers on
the floor. Then she went down on her knees and began her
meditation. After a while, she clapped her hands again, the
prayers had come to an end. Her teacher, Ntate Kgalushi Koka, head
of the Johannesburg-based Karaites Institute for Africology
explained the meaning of Lorato's morning prayer: It symbolized
the very distinctive fusion of the spirit, soul and body with the
ancestors. Koka was on the national steering committee of the
Inter-Faith Peace Summit in Africa, hosted by the National
Religious Leaders' Forum of South Africa.

A plan of action by the summit, aimed at defining the practical
role of religious leaders in resolving violent conflict in Africa,
underlined the need to incorporate African traditional methods of
conflict resolution and mediation techniques in peace making. The
main focus of a panel discussion following Lorato's meditation was
African traditional methods of conflict resolution and
reconciliation as well as religious co-existence in Africa.
Different speakers expressed the wish for peaceful co-existence
and joint action in the form of an "African Renaissance"
envisioned in a new united Africa.

The Rev. Dr. Sam Kobia of the Geneva-based World Council of
Churches said, "Religion has enormous influence on the lives of
Africans." He noted that the African Traditional Religion,
Christianity and Islam have a great impact on the African people.

Lorato professes unity, convinced that religions belong together -
under one roof. She reflects on her own two traditions - a
Christian and at the same time traditional healer, a "Sangoma."
Pastor Motea Rafapa from Johannesburg, and a member of the
summit's steering committee, expects to see the incorporation of
African traditional religion in church life. He experienced an
increased spirituality at the peace summit.

Lorato has found her destiny. The Johannesburg-based 48-year-old
mother of three recalls the years' long search for her vocation.
Her father, a teacher, and mother, a nurse, were both Anglicans.
But in the end their daughter followed her own convictions and
dreams. Today, she stands for the unity of faith communities. Her
call to the Inter-Faith Peace Summit: It is not possible to bring
all religions together if the spiritual female followers and women
are excluded.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now
has 136 member churches in 76 countries representing over 61.7
million of the 65.4 mllion Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on
behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as
ecumenical relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human
rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and
development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted,
material presented does not represent positions or opinions of the
LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article
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