AFRICAN PRIMAL SPIRITUALITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS FROM THE AKAN PERSPECTIVE

COURSE OBJECTIVE

This course introduces participants to the definition of African primal spirituality and consciousness and its importance, sources, and challenges. It aims to introduce the approaches to the study of African primal spirituality and its misconceptions. It involves understanding the African concept of time and showing how it affects the African worldview and the community’s sense of belonging, ownership and worship. Furthermore, it covers understanding the concept of God, spirits and divinities, African religious functions, specialists and mystical powers, and aims to show how the impact of urbanization, modern education, society and religion has impacted the African worldview.

COURSE CONTENT

• Introduction – Definition of African primal spirituality and consciousness, characteristics, importance and significance, problems and sources, the approaches to studying African primal spirituality and consciousness and its misconceptions.
• The African concept of Time – Actual and Potential Time, the concept of human life concerning time and the African concept of time and its implication on their land
• West African Conception of human being/Personality focusing on Akan
• African culture and society
  • Kinship
  • The family, household and the individual
  • Birth and childhood (pregnancy, actual birth, name and nursing children)
  • Initiation and puberty rites
  • Marriage and protection
  • Death ritual and hereafter
• Concept of God and Spirits and Divinities
• Religious functions
• The changing scene
• Christianity and African Primal Spiritual Consciousness – Affinities/Substructure

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students should:

• Convey an introductory knowledge of underlying principles and concepts in African primal spirituality and consciousness as the basis for continuing independent learning
• Be able to perceive the unity in diversity of African society
• Identify the fundamental beliefs in African primal spirituality and consciousness heritage
• Assess the way other religions perceive African primal spirituality and consciousness as a heritage
• Understand the African religious being and their knowledge of God
• Apply primal spirituality, consciousness reflection, knowledge, and skills to demonstrate well-developed religious and practical judgement for identity and ethical responsibility.

MODE OF DELIVERY

Online