West African Traditional Religion Waec Syllabus

SECTION A: GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO WEST AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION

1. Introduction to the Study of West African Traditional Religion Nature
   • Characteristics of W.A.T.R
     • Belief in the Supreme Being
     • Divinities, Ancestors, Mystical Powers etc
   • Purpose/Reasons for the study of W.A.T.R
2. Terms Used to Describe West African Traditional Religion
   • Fetishism and Paganism
   • Animism and Ancestral Worship
   • Polytheism and Monotheism
   • Totemism
   • Primitive
3. Sources of West African Traditional Religion
   • Non-Oral Sources
     • Traditional Arts/Crafts
   • Oral Sources
     • Names and Attributes of God
     • Theophorous Names
     • Proverbs/Wise sayings
     • Songs/Dirges
     • Myths / Legends and Drum Language
4. Approaches to the Study of West African Traditional Religion
   • Thematic Approach
   • Comparative Approach
   • Historical Approach
   • Enumerative Approach
5. The Structure of West African Traditional Religion
   • God in West African Belief
   • The Ancestors
   • The Divinities
   • Charms and Amulets
6. Worship in West African Traditional Religion
   • Worship in W.A.T.R – Introduction
   • Main features
     • Prayer/Libation
     • Sacrifice
     • Spirit possession

SECTION B: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMMUNITY

1. Religious Personalities in West African Traditional Religion
   • The concept/types of religious personalities
   • Processes for selecting religious personalities
   • The functions of religious leaders
2. Festivals in West African Traditional Religion
   • Types of Festivals
   • The significance of Festivals
3. Religion and Medicine in W.A.T.R.
   • Religion and Medicine: Introduction

   • Herbal Medicine
   • Traditional and Orthodox Healing
4. Concept of Time, Work and Wealth
   • Concept of Time
     • Definition of time in West Africa.
     • Concept of the Future
     • The Importance of Time
   • The Concept of Wealth
     • Meaning/Attitude towards Wealth
     • Ways of Acquiring Wealth
     • Consequences of Acquiring Wealth
5. Concept of Man and Destiny
   • Concept of Man
   • Concept of Destiny
6. Enemies of Life in West African Traditional Religion
   • Witchcraft and magic
     • Meaning of witchcraft and magic
     • Acquisition of Witchcraft
     • Role of Witchcraft and Magic
   • Malevolent Spirits
7. Religion and Ethics in West African Traditional Religion
   • The main Features of Ethics
   • Sources of Ethics in WATR
   • Moral Values/Virtues in West African Traditional Religion
   • Taboos and Sin in WATR
   • Convenant  in WATR
8. Rites of Passage
   • Rites of passage
     • Description of the stages; Rites of passage: Birth, Naming, Puberty, Marriage and Death
     • Importance of  Rites of Passage

SECTION C:  CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

1. Traditional Political Institutions in West African Traditional Religion
   • Chieftaincy
     • Structure of chieftaincy institutions
     • Process involved in selecting Chiefs
     • Importance of chieftaincy institution
   • Asafo Companies
     • Introduction/Background
     • Importance
2. Religion and Tourism in West African Traditional Religion
   • Introduction
   • Religion and tourism
   • The uses of free/leisure time
   • Sacred personalities and tourism
   • Sacred places and tourism
   • Sacred objects and tourism
3. Religion and Stress Management in West African Traditional Religion
   • Meaning and  types of stress situation in West African traditional society
   • Causes and effects of stress situations
   • Management of stress situations
4. The Role of W.A.T.R. in Conflict Resolution and Management
   • Introduction – meaning/concept of conflict in West African traditional society.
   • Causes of conflicts
   • Effects of conflicts
   • Conflict resolution and management in West African society
5. Religion and Reproductive Health in West African Traditional Religion
   • West African Traditional Religion and Reproductive Health Features:  issues of Hygiene, sexuality and  Promiscuity/Abortion
   • Circumcision Rites and Reproductive Health
6. W.A.T.R. and Modernity
   • The impact of foreign religions on (Christianity and Islam) WATR
   • The impact of West African Traditional Religion on Christianity and Islam.
   • The impact of Science and Technology on West African Traditional Religion.
   • West African Traditional Religion and Conservation of the Environment.
   • The Impact of Urbanization on West African Traditional Religion
7. New Religious Movements (NRM) in West African Traditional Religion
   • Afrikania Missions (Ghana)
   • Godianism (Nigeria)
   • The future of West African Traditional  Religion