Myths

We find the beliefs of African religions primarily in mythic narratives, which contain essential teachings. All religions, as we learned in Chapter i, have a mythic component. African religions are no exception, and most have a very rich mythic heritage.

In most African religions, myths have been part of an oral tradition and have been passed from one generation to the next through the spoken word. Today, however, many myths also exist in written form. In many African cultures, elders or religious leaders are responsible for maintaining and disseminating the teachings of myths to others. Although all members of a culture may be familiar with basic mythic narratives, elders and religious specialists often know more details and deeper meanings.

The myths of many African religions are most often concerned with this world—the world of humanity—rather than the greater universe. Myths most often tell stories about the origins of the earth and of human beings and about human social life and social organization. Myths often convey moral lessons. When African myths contain stories of gods and other supernatural beings, the stories frequently focus on the way in which these beings interact with or relate to humanity.

Among the Dogon people of Mali and Burkina Faso, in West Africa, myth has been part of the oral tradition for generations. The Dogon are primarily farmers, and although some Dogon are Christians or Muslims, most still follow Dogon religion. Dogon religious experts know far more about myths than the average person and are therefore responsible for preserving, understanding, and passing on the myths. Dogon mythology is intimately related to religious and social life. It involves complex explanations of the origins of the world and human beings and the way in which human beings should live on the earth, such as explanations for farming practices. Throughout this section of the chapter, we will consider various myths from different African religions, including the Dogon, as we learn about the beliefs and teachings of African religions.