Title:
THE INTER-PLAY OF IDENTITIES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AFRICAN RELIGION AND CHRISTIANITY IN NKEMNGONG NKENGASONG’S “GOD WAS AFRICAN”

Authors:
Lesley Lem Acho (PhD), Cameroon

Abstract:
This study investigates how Africans articulate their religious convictions by practicing Western religion alongside their African traditional religio- cultural heritage. The modern African is caught in a dilemma on how to practice a single religion authentically. He is betwixt and feels lost on where his religious allegiance lies; whether he can only worship his ancestors and gods, only the Christian God or merge if it is possible to merge both worship and belief systems. In such a perplexed situation he either becomes devoted to one religion or resolves to double-deal because it is difficult and almost impossible to break away from either of the religious “entanglements”. From a postcolonial perspective, we investigate how possible it is to harmonize the traditional African religion and Christianity without abrogating especially the African traditional belief systems. We highlight the possibility of a cultural compromise which can preserve identity while merging the positive aspects of each belief system.