Studying for exams without proper guidance is like heading to a farm without agricultural tools – unproductive.
In this blog post, we will delve into the syllabus for West African Traditional Religion, which serves as a roadmap for exam preparation.
Understanding this subject is crucial for gaining insight into traditional religious beliefs, their impact on people’s lives, and how they can be applied in daily life. So, let’s begin our journey into the fascinating world of West African Traditional Religion!
General Aims:
The study of West African Traditional Religion aims to achieve several objectives:
- Gain insight into and appreciate traditional religious beliefs and practices and their impact on people’s lives.
- Find practical ways to address challenges faced by West Africans using traditional moral ideas and principles.
- Understand the application of traditional principles in daily life.
- Analyze the major traditional religious factors influencing the political, social, and economic aspects of West African life.
Scheme of Examination:
The West African Traditional Religion exam consists of two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2, to be taken in one sitting.
- Paper 1: This section consists of fifty multiple-choice objective questions, to be answered within 50 minutes, carrying a total of 40 marks.
- Paper 2: Divided into three sections (A, B, and C), candidates are required to choose at least one question from each section and answer a total of four essay-type questions. This section carries 60 marks and has a time limit of 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Detailed Syllabus:
Now let’s explore the syllabus in detail, section by section, to get a comprehensive understanding of West African Traditional Religion.
Section A:
General Introduction to West African Traditional Religion
- Introduction to the Study of West African Traditional Religion, covering its characteristics and the reasons for studying it.
- Terms used to describe West African Traditional Religion, such as fetishism, animism, polytheism, and totemism.
- Sources of West African Traditional Religion, including oral and non-oral sources like traditional arts/crafts, names and attributes of God, proverbs, songs, myths, and legends.
- Approaches to the study of West African Traditional Religion, including thematic, comparative, historical, and enumerative approaches.
- The structure of West African Traditional Religion, focusing on the belief in God, ancestors, divinities, and the use of charms and amulets.
- Worship in West African Traditional Religion, covering prayer/libation, sacrifice, and spirit possession.
Section B:
The Individual and the Community
- Religious personalities in West African Traditional Religion, their types, selection processes, and functions.
- Festivals in West African Traditional Religion, their types, and significance.
- Religion and Medicine, exploring herbal medicine, traditional and orthodox healing.
- Concept of Time, Work, and Wealth, discussing the importance of time, attitudes towards wealth, ways of acquiring wealth, and the consequences of wealth acquisition.
- Concept of Man and Destiny, understanding the concept of man and his role in the traditional belief system, and the concept of destiny.
- Enemies of Life in West African Traditional Religion, including witchcraft, magic, and malevolent spirits.
- Religion and Ethics, examining the main features and sources of ethics, moral values/virtues, taboos, sin, and convenants.
- Rites of Passage, detailing the stages of birth, naming, puberty, marriage, and death.
Section C:
Contemporary Society
- Traditional Political Institutions, focusing on chieftaincy and Asafo companies.
- Religion and Tourism, exploring the relationship between religion and tourism, including the uses of free/leisure time, sacred personalities, places, and objects in tourism.
- Religion and Stress Management, discussing stress situations in West African traditional society, their causes, effects, and management.
- The Role of West African Traditional Religion in Conflict Resolution and Management, understanding conflicts, their causes, effects, and how they are resolved in traditional society.
- Religion and Reproductive Health, covering hygiene, sexuality, promiscuity/abortion, and circumcision rites.
- West African Traditional Religion and Modernity, examining the impact of foreign religions (Christianity and Islam), science and technology, conservation of the environment, and urbanization on West African Traditional Religion.
- New Religious Movements in West African Traditional Religion, such as Afrikania Missions and Godianism, and the future of West African Traditional Religion.
Conclusion
This blog post has provided a simplified overview of the West African Traditional Religion syllabus for exam preparation.
By following this syllabus, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject, enabling you to excel in your exams.
