Reclaiming Our Identity: Restoring African Culture in Our Faith Walk

Religion and culture are deeply intertwined. Historically, the spirituality of a people has always been a reflection of their way of life. Unfortunately for us Africans, we have not carried our culture along with us in our spiritual journey (and I am not referring to idolatry). The westernization of our faith has created a deep gap, disconnecting us from our roots. This did not happen by accident; it was a deliberate and systematic attempt to rob us of our identity and history and in many ways, it has succeeded.

This is a sensitive topic that many avoid, but I believe the time has come for an open conversation about how to hold on to ourselves while practicing a “borrowed faith.” I am constantly frustrated by the way some sermons from the pulpit desecrate and demonize our forefathers and their way of life. This narrative continues to grow in the psyche of Africans, making us shy away from our origins and our native traditions.

As a Christian, I have always felt uneasy about the rapid erosion of our culture, which has contributed significantly to the identity crisis and confusion of today’s generation. Many of the sermons preached are tailored to disrespect us, portray us as evil, and elevate other cultures above our own. How does an African travel to Jerusalem or Saudi Arabia to pray at a wailing wall or a black stone, yet look down on their own ancestors for pouring libation on a stone? There is, in truth, no difference, as both acts are expressions of prayer to a deity.

The truth is, I may not agree with everything our forefathers practiced, nor do I approve of every cultural tradition. But to blindly label our culture as evil without seeking to understand it is both disrespectful and ignorant. Preachers must learn to reveal God through our culture so that we do not continue to see ourselves as chickens when, in reality, we are eagles. If you feed an eagle with chicken feed long enough and constantly tell it that it is a chicken, it will eventually start behaving like one. This is exactly what is happening on the African continent. We have been fed European values and beliefs to the point where we have lost touch with who we are.

We are Africans, and nothing can change that. However, being born in Africa is not enough to make you truly African. You must value your culture and hold it in high esteem. There is power in our culture, and those who distance themselves from it are like a prince who has forgotten the way to his royal home and ends up settling among slaves.

- Richard Tawiah