NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSE CODE: CTH 821 COURSE TITLE: AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS MYTHOLOGY AND COSMOLOGY 1 Course Code: CTH 821 Course Title: African Traditional Religious Mythology and Cosmology Course Developer: Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael .N. Ushe Department of Christian Theology School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos Course Writer: Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael .N. Ushe Department of Christian Theology School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos Programme Leader: Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael .N. Ushe Department of Christian Theology School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos Course Title: CTH 821 AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS MYTHOLOGY AND COSMOLOGY COURSE DEVELOPER/WRITER: Rev. Fr. Dr. Ushe .N. Michael 2 National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos COURSE MODERATOR: Rev. Fr. Dr. Mike Okoronkwo National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos PROGRAMME LEADER: Rev. Fr. Dr. Ushe .N. Michael National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos CONTENTS PAGE Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………… …...i What you will learn in this course…………………………………………………………….…i-ii 3 Course Aims………………………………………………………..……………………………..ii Course objectives……………………………………………………………………………...iii-iii Working Through this course…………………………………………………………………….iii Course materials…………………………………………………………………………..……iv-v Study Units………………………………………………………………………………………..v Set Textbooks…………………………………………………………………………………….vi Assignment File…………………………………………………………………………………..vi Presentation Schedule…………………………………………………………………………….vi Assessment……………………………………………………………………………...……vi- viii Tutor-marked Assignments………………………………………………………………….vii-viii Final Examination and Grading…………………………………………………………………viii Course marking Scheme………………………………………………………………………...viii Course overview……………………………………………………………………………...viii-ix How to get the most from this course…………………………………………………………….ix Reading section………………………………………………………………………………...x-xi Tutors and Tutorials……………………………………………………………………..……xi-xii Summary……………………………………………………………………………………… …xii 4 Introduction CTH 821 African Traditional Religious Mythology and Cosmology is a one semester, 3 credits unit course. It is available to all students as a course in master degree programme in Christian Theology. The course is also suitable for anybody who is in the theological study of Christian faith and African Traditional religion. The course consists of 21 units, which include introduction to religion, Definition of African traditional religion, the Structure of African traditional religion, the trends in the study of African traditional religion, the methodology for the study of African traditional religion, the theories for the study of African traditional religion and the taboos and totems in African traditional religion, definition of African religious mythology, the nature and origin of African religious mythology. Others include religious concepts in African mythology, African theism and concept of god, the nature and concept of humanity in African traditional religion, mystical powers in African traditional religion, and spirits worlds in African religion. The concept of African cosmology and cosmogony, history of cosmology from ancient to modern times, creation in African traditional religion, worship and sacrifice in African traditional religion, ritual in African traditional religion, rites of passage in African traditional religion and the life after death and final end of mankind in African religion. The material has been specially developed for students in African context with particular focus on African culture. There are no compulsory pre-requisites for the course. The Course Guide tells you briefly, what the course is about and what you are expected to know in each unit, what course materials you will be using, and how you can work your way through these materials. It also emphasizes the need for tutor-marked assignments. There are periodic tutorial classes that are linked to the course. What You will Learn in this Course The overall aim of CTH 821 African Traditional Religious Mythology and Cosmology is to introduce you to the basic issues in African Traditional Religion like myths of creation, 5 origin of human beings, the Supreme Being, death and hereafter, sin, salvation and eschatology, among others. Your understanding in this course will prepare you as a student to understand the beliefs in African for good and profitable interaction. Further, the course will broaden the understanding of the students about African Traditional Religion within the context of Nigeria. Course Aims The aim of the course can be summarised as follow: The course aims at helping the students to understand African Traditional Religion. It also examines the African Traditional Religious mythological, cosmological, and cosmogonic views. Course Objectives To achieve the aims set above, there are set overall objectives. In addition, each module and unit has specific objectives. The modules and units objectives are always included at the beginning of every module and the unit; you should read them before you start working through the unit. You may want to refer to them during your study of the module and unit to check on your progress. You should always look at the module and unit objectives after completing each section. In this way, you can be sure that you have done what was required of you by the module and unit. Stated below are the wider objectives of this course as a whole. By meeting these objectives, you should therefore, know that you have achieved the aims of the course as a whole. On your successful completion of the course, you should be able to explain the following: know the definition of African Traditional Religion, mythology, cosmology, typology of mythology and cosmology, functions of mythology in the society, among others. On successful completion of the course, you should be able to: Explain the concept of African Traditional Religion Discuss the structure of African Traditional Religion State the trends in the study of African Traditional Religion Narrate the mythology, sources and theories of the origin of African Traditional Religion 6 Examine the nature of African Traditional Religious mythology Explain religious themes in African mythology Discuss the mystical powers and spirit forces in African Traditional Religion Examine the concept of cosmology and cosmogony in African Traditional Religion Discuss the African theism and the concept of God Highlight African concept of humanity in relation to the Deity and community Discuss ritual word and action in African Traditional Religion Explain worship and sacrifice in African traditional religion Examine the rites of Passage in African traditional religion Discuss the concept of death and after life in African traditional religion Working through the Course To complete the course, you are required read the study units, read recommended books and other materials. Each unit contains self-assessment exercises, and at some points in the course, you are required to submit assignments for assessment purposes. At the end of this course is a final examination. Below you will find listed all the components of the course and what you have to do. Course Materials Major components of the course are: 1. Course Guide 2. Study Units 3. Textbooks 4. Assignment File 5. Presentation Schedule In addition, you must obtain the materials. Obtain your copy. You may contact your tutor if you have problems obtaining the text materials. 7 Study Units There are fifteen study units in this course broken into 3 modules of 5 units. They are as follows: Module 1 Unit 1 Introduction to Religion Unit 2 Definition of African Traditional Religion Unit 3 Structure of African Traditional Religion Unit 4 Trends in the Study of African Traditional Religion Unit 5 Methodology for the Study of African Traditional Religion Unit 6 Theories for the Study of African Traditional Religion Unit 7 Taboos and Totems in African Traditional Religion Module 2 Unit 1 Definition of African Religious Mythology Unit 2 Nature and Origin of African Religious Mythology Unit 3 Religious Concepts in African Mythology Unit 4 African Theism and Concept of God Unit 5 Nature and Concept of Humanity in African Traditional Religion Unit 6 Mystical Powers in African Traditional Religion Unit 7 Spirits Forces in African Traditional Religion Module 3 Unit 1 Concept of African Cosmology and Cosmogony Unit 2 History of Cosmology from Ancient to Modern Times Unit 3 Creation in African Traditional Religion Unit 4 Worship and Sacrifice in African Traditional Religion Unit 5 Ritual Symbolism in African Traditional Religion Unit 6 Rites of Passage in African Traditional Religion Unit 7 Concept of Death and after Life in African Traditional Religion 8 Each unit contains a number of self-assessment in general terms. These self-assessment test questions on the materials you have just covered are to be of help to you in your relationship to the traditionalists and it is meant to help you to evaluate your progress and to reinforce your understanding of the materials. Alongside with your tutor-marked assignments, these exercises will assist you in achieving stated learning objectives of the individual units and of the course. Textbooks Awolalu, J.O. and Dapamu, P.A. (1979). West African Traditional Religion, Ibadan: Onibonoje Press and Book Industries (Nig) Ltd. Idowu, E. Bolaji (1973). African Traditional Religion: A Definition,