Abu-Nimer, Mohamed 2000. Nomonde, Masina 2000. It is necessary to examine whether there are other peacebuilding strategies that can be adopted to complement existing efforts to promote peace on the continent. In this case, they include men, women, youth and children, babies, and above all God. [12]. In Chad, Niger and Ghana, traditional institutions have been used in the past in order to address the low intensity conflicts that affected these countries. A survey of recent conflicts in parts of Africa is found in Frans Wijsen: Seeds of Conflict in a Haven of Peace, Rodopi, Amsterdam and New York 2007. Its beliefs are centered on the monotheistic acknowledgement of God as the invisible Creator of all things, to whom people pray and give praise names. In all African societies there are covenants that people draw up to cement a wide range of relations, such as marriages, agreements, settling of disputes, adoption of children or other people, admission into ‘societies,’ employment arrangements, borrowing of property, and various promises. Topics in Religious Education which promote self-confidence and self-esteem among ... Other problems affecting girl-child educational advancement besides traditional . (Ethiopia), A quiver placed upside down will drop arrows. (Lesotho), The one who does not fight is an ass; the one who fought and would not reconcile is a devilish person. Let her who is sick, O God; receive from thee health and peace, and her village and her children and her husband. The wisdom of Africa is in the process of dying out with the elders who were familiar with traditions (Murithi & Pain 1999). Indigenous African religions are by nature plural, varied, and usually informed by one’s ethnic identity i.e. It is addressed to God, even if the word God does not appear. 3 And similar to this was the dialogue that took place between Edwin Smith, who had gone out as a missionary to Africa, and Emil Ludwig, an eminent biographer. Graybill, Lyn 1998. Social cohesion is fragmented and the persistence of violence and abductions has thoroughly undermined the levels of social trust and solidarity (Govier 1998). Though not necessarily with success religion, provides for ways of bringing about reconciliation and peace where and when such fights ensue. What do we mean when we refer to building peace? 1, pages 17-32: "Peace and Reconciliation in African Religion and Christianity." An estimated ten million proverbs circulate orally, of which a small portion is available in written form. Here is one out of thousands that take place daily all over Africa. Covenants serve as preventive measures against the potential threat to peace and tranquility. These strengthen the bonds, which the rite and ceremony cement between both parties. Universal Peace Federation is an NGO in General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations We support and promote the work of the United Nations and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals Copyright ©2006-2020 Universal Peace Federation. African traditional religion refers to the indigenous or autochthonous religions of the African people. Again we point out that not every act of peace making is necessarily concluded with either prayers or the pronouncing of curses upon those who break it. Fourth, the blood of an innocent animal is shed to serve as the blood of reconciliation and peace. It is evident then that the guiding principle and values are based on the notion that the parties must be reconciled in order to re-build social trust and maintain social cohesion and thus to prevent a culture of vendetta or feud from developing and escalating between individuals, families and other parts of the society. Only when there is peace can the children grow up well, be integrated, and be able to use their abilities to the full. Africa is a deeply religious continent, blessed with three major religions (African Religion, Christianity, and Islam), and many small ones, in terms of adherents. Some of these are drawn more formally than others. An African proverb describes this well: “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers most.” It is generally the ‘ill word’ which destroys peace, in the family, in the community, in the nation, in the world. Fifth: as in the previous prayer, peace is grounded in a spiritual dimension. 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