ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSTIY COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE CENTER FOR AFRICAN AND ORIENTAL STUDIES CHANGES AND CONTINUITY OF AFRICAN INDIGENIOUS RELIGIOUS PRACTICE OF HOODOO: THE CASE STUDY OF NIGERIA BY MARIAMAWIT BEKELE June, 2017 ADDIS ABABA CHANGES AND CONTINUITY OF AFRICAN INDIGENIOUS RELIGIOUS PRACTICE OF HOODOO: THE CASE STUDY OF NIGERIA A THESIS SUBMITTED TO SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES OF ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF ARTS IN AFRICAN STUDIES (AFRICAN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY AND CULTURAL STUDIES). BY MARIAMAWIT BEKELE ADVISOR: DECHASA ABEBE (PHD) ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSTIY COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE CENTER FOR AFRICAN AND ORIENTAL STUDIES June, 2017 ADDIS ABABA ii Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies Thesis Approval This is to certify that the thesis prepared by Mariamawit Bekele, entitled Changes and Continuity of African IndigenousReligious Practice of Hoodoo: The Case Study of Nigeria and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (African Studies) fulfills with the regulation of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. APPROVED BY THE EXAMINING BOARD Internal Examiner _______________ Signature ____________ Date ____________ External Examiner _______________ Signature ____________ Date ____________ Advisor _______________ Signature ____________ Date ____________ iii Declaration I declare that Changes and Continuity of African IndigenousReligious Practice of Hoodoo: the Case Study of Nigeria is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of reference and that the work has not been submitted before at any other institutions. Mariamawit Bekele Gurmu Signature: …………………………… Date: ………………………………. iv Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to thank Almighty God for helping me throughout my life and loved me unconditionally. I am also very thankful to my advisor, Dechassa Abebe (PhD) for the valuable and critical comments. In addition I would like to show my appreciation for Getachew Kassa (PhD) for his kind, benevolence, editing, support, guidance and encouragement throughout the process of my research. I am so grateful for every single deed you have done for me. In addition my special appreciation goes to Samuel Tefrea (PhD) whose advice helped me to organize and conduct myself after proposal defense. And also would like to convey my sincere gratitude to staff members of Nigerian Embassy for their sincere cooperation and warm welcoming specially the Head of Chancery Mr. Mohammed Bagobri. Last but not least, I would like to extend my special gratitude to my beloved families. My precious Mother Saba Zenebe words could not explain how much you mean to me, you are my world. Thank you for sacrificing yourself for my good. My father Bekele Gurmu thanks so much for shaping me ever since my child hood and until the present. My uncle Modi Bakul you are my Hero!!! Lastly my one and only beautiful sister also best friend your unfailing support throughout this process thank you so much, love you so much!!! i Table of contents Contents Page Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... i List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. v ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................. vi ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background of the study ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Objectives of the study .......................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Research Questions ............................................................................................................... 9 1.5 Significance of the Study .................................................................................................... 10 1.6 Delimitation of the Study .................................................................................................... 10 1.7 Limitations of the Study ...................................................................................................... 10 1.8 Conceptual Definitions ........................................................................................................ 10 1.9 Definition of Key Terms ..................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................... 12 2.1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 12 2.2. Indigenous African Religions............................................................................................. 12 2.3 An Overview of Hoodoo ..................................................................................................... 15 2.3.1 Origin and History ........................................................................................................ 16 2.3.2 Defining Features of Hoodoo ....................................................................................... 16 2.3.3 Relational interaction between Hoodoo and Abrahamic religions ............................... 17 2.3.4 Hoodoo vs. Voodoo ...................................................................................................... 19 2.3.5Ritual or sacred tools used during the practice of Hoodoo............................................ 20 ii 2.3.6 Self-Conservation Strategy of Hoodoo Practice: Mechanisms that Hoodoo used to maintain its Existence ............................................................................................................ 21 2.4 Hoodoo in Trans-National/Continental Context ................................................................. 22 2.5 Interactions between African indigenous religion, Islam and Christianity in Nigeria ........ 23 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS ........................................................................... 29 3.1 Research Design .................................................................................................................. 29 3.2. Selection of Study Participants .......................................................................................... 30 3.3. Inclusion Criteria ................................................................................................................ 30 3.4. The Study Setting ............................................................................................................... 30 3.5 Methods of Data Collection ................................................................................................ 31 3.6. The Process of Data Collection .......................................................................................... 32 3.7 Data Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 33 3.8 Ensuring Data Trust Worthiness ......................................................................................... 33 3.9 Ethical Considerations ......................................................................................................... 34 CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................... 35 4. DATA, PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION ................................................ 35 4.1 Socio-Demographic Information of the Research Participants ........................................... 35 4.2 Description of the Embassy of Nigeria ............................................................................... 38 4.3 Definition of African indigenous Religion .......................................................................... 38 4.4 What is Hoodoo? ................................................................................................................. 39 4.5 Relation of Hoodoo with other Religions ........................................................................... 41 4.6 Strategies used to maintain the continuity and practice of the Hoodoo .............................. 44 4.7 Ritual/Sacred Tools used during the Practices of the Hoodoo ............................................ 47 4.8 Hoodoo in Nigeria ............................................................................................................... 48 4.9 Discussion ........................................................................................................................... 49 iii CHAPTER FIVE .......................................................................................................................... 55 CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATION............................................................................. 55