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Basic 4 · Religious and Moral Education · Religious Worship

Traditional Worship and Its Purpose

In this topic you will describe forms of worship in African Traditional Religion and their purposes.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Name forms of Traditional worship
  • Explain the purposes of Traditional worship
  • Respect all forms of worship

What you already know

  • The purpose of worship

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Religious Practices
Sub-strand
Religious Worship
Indicator
B4.2.1.1.2 – State the purpose of worship in the three main religions

Introduction

During festivals, chiefs and elders pour libation to thank God and the ancestors. African Traditional Religion has its own forms of worship.

1. Forms of Traditional Worship

Traditional worship
FormDescription
libationpouring drink while praying to God and the ancestors
offerings and sacrificesgiving food, drink or animals
prayerscalling on God (e.g. Onyankopɔn), deities and ancestors
festivalscommunity celebrations like Odwira, Homowo and Aboakyer
drumming and dancingworship through music

2. Purposes of Traditional Worship

Purposes
PurposeExample
thanksgivingthanking God for a good harvest
protectionasking for safety from disease and danger
blessingfor children, health and success
purificationcleansing the community
remembering ancestorshonouring those who came before
An elder pouring libation from a calabash at a festival
Figure 1: Pouring libation Draw a libation scene.Photo: Fquasie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Remember: We must respect the worship of every religion.

New words

libation
Pouring drink while praying.
ancestor
A family member who lived long ago.
deity
A spirit or lesser god in Traditional Religion.
sacrifice
Something offered to God or the spirits.
purification
Making clean or holy.
Odwira
An Akuapem purification festival.

Summary

  • Traditional worship includes libation, offerings, prayers and festivals.
  • Worshippers call on God, deities and the ancestors.
  • Purposes include thanksgiving, protection, blessing and purification.
  • We respect all forms of worship.

Class activity: Festival Talk

  1. Look at photographs of traditional worship.
  2. Name the form of worship in each.
  3. Explain its purpose.

You need: Bible, Qur’an, Prayer mat, Printed photographs of traditional Ghanaian worship

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Pouring drink while praying is…

    • A. Libation
    • B. Baptism
    • C. Fasting
    • D. Hajj
    Show answer
    Answer: LibationIt is Traditional worship.

  2. 2. Making clean or holy is…

    • A. Purification
    • B. Pollution
    • C. Celebration
    • D. Migration
    Show answer
    Answer: PurificationOdwira is a purification festival.

  3. 3. A spirit or lesser god in Traditional Religion is a…

    • A. Deity
    • B. Prophet
    • C. Pastor
    • D. Imam
    Show answer
    Answer: DeityThat is a deity.

  4. 4. Festivals are part of Traditional worship.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThey honour God and the ancestors.

  5. 5. Traditional worshippers do not believe in God.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseThey believe in a Supreme God.

  6. 6. A family member who lived long ago is an ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: ancestorAncestors are honoured.

  7. 7. Name three forms of Traditional worship.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any three: libation, offerings, prayers, festivals, drumming and dancing.These are Traditional forms.

  8. 8. Why do communities hold harvest festivals like Homowo?

    Show answer
    Answer: To thank God and the ancestors for food and remember past hardships.Thanksgiving is a purpose.

Homework

  1. Ask an elder about a festival in your area and its purpose.