Essay On African Religion

To believers, the African religion is strong and steadfast – possessing the power to help those in need, and provide strength to the weak. The tools of Ogun and Ocosi are powerful representations of the religion, and its meaning within the lives of believers. Ogun, the god of blacksmith, is a strong, muscular, and serious spirit symbolized by iron, whereas Ocosi is the god of hunting. Ocosi is a just, ambitious, and familial spirit symbolized mostly by a bow and arrow. The tools of these gods symbolize the African religion because they represent the strength each god possesses. These African religions, such as Vodou And Santería, are the primary source of strength for many of its believers. While the religions are strong, they are also just – such as Ocosi is – they serve justice when …show more content…
While Ogun and Ocosi are strong gods, the tools they’re represented by resemble more of farming tools rather than war like tools. The farming tools shown – such as a ho or rake – symbolize that the strength and powers of these gods have no limitations. The gods of the religion not only provide physical strength, but they provide strength in whatever aspect it’s needed, whether it is physical strength, or strength in terms of agriculture and crops. Within Mbiti’s African Religion and Philosophy it tells of how the gods were able to give a yard of crops the strength it needed to survive a locust invasion – which is a difficulty invasion for crops to survive. While it may seem odd that the gods provide strength to agriculture when necessary, it is important to remember that once you’re a believer the gods provide for you in anyway necessary, whether you need physical strength, financial strength or agricultural strength. Within Mbiti’s story, a locust invasion came and destroyed the crops of an entire village, except for one yard that was protected by the