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Totemism and Christian Religious Practices in Nigeria

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Totemism and Christian Religious Practices in Nigeria SSRG International Journal of Humanities and Social Science (SSRG-IJHSS) – Volume 6 Issue 4 – July – Aug 2019 Totemism And Christian Religious Practices In Nigeria Isaiah Ola Abolarin, PhD Religious Studies Department / College of Post Graduate Studies Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria Abstract institution was one of the most widespread of primitive Totemism is one of the primitive religions. It is society. Some of the places where totemistic life is considered sometimes as an extinct religion but the practiced according to Noss (1956), include Australia, practices are still present in many societies. Christian North and South America, Africa, India, and the South religion overlooks the importance of understanding Sea. Frazer (1934), Palmer, Begley and Coe (2015), in primitive religions because they are considered their own view admitted that totemism is not just an demonic. Totemism has many practices that are carried institution of some places but that it can be found if not over into or are practiced in Christianity. Some of the everywhere, in many cultures and places in the world. basic needs that totemism cared for in people’s lives Studying Frazer‟s work and Tylor‟s work reveal how include getting connected with ancestors, seeking for totemism is practiced in Africa, specifically in West power and protection, dealing with and removing fear. Africa and more specifically in Nigeria (Tylor, 1958; These are some of the basic needs also in Christianity. Sibiri, 2014). The wide spread of totemism implies its Therefore, understanding totemism rather than just influence in many cultures of the world. Therefore, this declare it demonic can serve as opening for study, collated and synthesized information from Christianity to reach people. available resources to present how totemism has influenced Christianity in Nigeria and how Christianity, Keywords: Totemism, Christianity, fear of death, in other hand, ought to relate with totemism. This study ancestor, animal, plants. observed that not many people have written currently on totemism. This may be due to the perception of Introduction many people that totemism is a primitive institution that Totemism was so commonand entrenched in the no longer exist. primitive society and it alone according to Lessa and Vogt (1972) was evidently tied to primitive society by Origin of Totemism. bonds far from casual. Noss (1956), stated that The word totemism according to Shapiro (2015) is totemism identifies the presence of a more or less widely used by anthropologist and popular discourses. intimate relationship between certain human groups and And the term totem is taken from the Ojibwa, which is particular classes or species of animal, plant, or an Algonquin language of the region to the north of inanimate social groupings known as social totemism, Great Lakes of northern America. The word may mean and also in rituals binding the human groups with their “he is a relative of mine” or refer to something kinship- totemic counterparts. A clear understanding of this related (Durkheim, 1965; Frazer, 1934; Levi – Strauss, “institution” is imperative to understand the life and 1963; New World Encyclopedia, 2015). Different thought of primitive people and the relationship this theories regarding the origin of totemism have been have with Christianity in the 21st century Nigeria. proposed by anthropologists, sociologists, Totemism has influenced the development of religion psychologists, and psychoanalysts (Frazer, 1934; and religious practices up to 20th century (New World Goldenweiser, 1972). Frazer (1934) presented the Encyclopedia, 2015). It infers the division of a people theories in profound ways and therefore, his approach is into several totem kin or totem clans, each of the clans adapted in this work. Some of the theories include has one,and in some situations and places, more than doctrine of transmigration of soul which is an indication one totem. Totem is usually a species of animal, and of the relationship of human with, or his/herorigin from sometimes a species of plant, still possibly a natural certain animals or any other totemic objects. These object or phenomenon, seldom a manufactured object animalsor objects areelevated to the position of called sacred objects (New World Encyclopedia, 2015). ancestors, and are revered the same way as other ancestors are revered. This theory was suggested by G. Totemism also dictates even the rules of relationship A. Wilken according to Frazer (1934). Each tribe has, between and among people including marriage “the under the name totem, different animalsor other objects rules of exogamy, forbidding marriage between the kin” which are revered as fetish, and the tribe is named after (Goldenweiser, 1972, p. 271). This totemismas an the animal or the object and the members of the tribe ISSN: 2394 - 2703 www.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 104 SSRG International Journal of Humanities and Social Science (SSRG-IJHSS) – Volume 6 Issue 4 – July – Aug 2019 associate their origin to such animal or object. This women are lodged in the bodies of animals, and that practice may be found among the North America when the animals are killed the men and women die Indians and people of the Indian Archipelago (Frazer, simultaneously. The beliefs that one‟s soul is lodged in 1934). The totemic practice differs from place to place an animal furnish an adequate motive for sparing the but the principle is the same. species of animals with which someone believes his/her own life is indissolubly linked” (Frazer, 1934, pp.54- Another theory by Theal is the reincarnation of the dead 55). Wang (2013) presented this as the spirit inhabiting in the form of animals (Frazer, 1934). In this theory, the a material object. ancestors come back to their people inform of animal to protect, care, defend, and ensure the posterity of the Another theory of origin of totemism considered in this descendants. The animal is therefore considered as paper is conceptional theory. This theory enlightens sacred, that should not be killed but revered. why people in some totemic practice areas abstain from killing and eating their totemic animals and plants or Still another theory is that the establishment of otherwise injuring their totems. The reason given by totemism developed out of personal guardian spirits of Frazer (1934) is that when people identify themselves individuals. In this theory the totem of a tribe is with their totems, they are naturally careful not to hurt basically the guardian spirit or personal totem of an or destroy them. Although totem is protected and ancestor, who acquired it for him/herself in a dream revered, there are some instances where eating a little of when at youth age and through his/her influence and someone‟s totem is considered acceptable as a way of credit succeeded in transferring it by inheritance to bring the totem into your system for power and his/her descendants. These descendants form a clan, protection. This is the reason why some people consider and revere as their totem the species of animals or themselves bound to eat a portion of their totemic plants or other objects in which the guardian spirit of animal or plant. People who live by this theory desire to their ancestor manifested itself. Some of those who held maintain and strengthen their identity and connection this theory according to Frazer (1934) are Franz Boas; with their totem by assimilating from time to time its Alice C. Fletcher; C. Hill-Tout; and A. G. Morice. flesh and blood or vegetable tissues. They desire to participatein the qualities and character of their totem. Another explanation of the origin of totemism was suggested by A. C. Haddon who supposed that each People,for the reason of assimilation, also exercise a primitive local group subsisted chiefly on some one magical control over their totems, in particular as a species of animal or plant, and that after satisfying their power to multiply the totem. People naturally imagine own wants the members of the group exchanged their themselves as devotedto the like power for the superfluity for the superfluities of other neighboring multiplication or control of the species. Because people groups. In this way, each group might come to be believe themselves to be descended from their totemic named by its staple article of diet and of exchange. animals and plants, sometimes when women give birth Thus a “group that lived mainly on crabs and to babies, the women are considered to have given birth occasionally traded in crabs might well be spoken of as to these animals or plants through reincarnation. This the crab-men by all the groups with whom they came in does not just happen but that the totemic animals or direct or indirect contact” (Frazer, 1934, p. 50). This plants or their spirits are believed to have actually approach is an opposite of the totemic practice in which entered into the mothers of the clan and have been born totem is not killed but worshiped. from them in human form. Therefore, the people believe that their totems who are their ancestors have Frazer (1934) stated also that the origin of totemism come back. This sometimes determines the name given might be found in the theory of the external soul. This to the new born child in the particular clan. is in the belief that living people canremove and keep their souls for safe keeping outside of themselves in Other possible theories of origins of totemism include some secure place, “where the precious deposit will be “outward soul” or “bush soul” theory, and “co- less exposed to the risk and vicissitudes of life than operative magic” theory. All these theories explain the while it remained in the body of its owner” (p. 52). origin of totemism. A thorough study shows, according Those who stowed their souls away from the bodies to Frazer (1934) that not all these theories are “are supposed to be immortal and invulnerable so long necessarily valid and not all can be found in every as the souls remain intact in the places where they have place.
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