Panentheism and Concepts of God in African Traditional Religions - A Third-Wave Proposal

This book offers a bold re-examination of how African spirituality and religion are understood, challenging centuries of misrepresentation shaped by colonial and Abrahamic thought. It argues that describing African religions through any form of modified monotheism, whether implicit, diffused, or accommodated , distorts their true nature and philosophical depth. Critiquing both colonial and postcolonial scholarship, the author shows how figures such as John Mbiti, Bolaji Idowu, John Bewaji, Thaddeus Metz, Motsamai Molefe, and Kirk Lougheed remain confined by Abrahamic categories that obscure African metaphysical perspectives.
 
Drawing on the ritual systems and spiritual knowledge of six major Afro-religious traditions (Kemet, Yorùbá, Anlo-Ewe, Igbo, Akan, and Shona) the book advances panentheism, a non-Abrahamic monotheistic framework, as the most accurate model for understanding African religions. Combining philosophical analysis with ethnographic insight, it redefines the conceptual vocabulary for African religious scholarship, resolving long-standing debates and demonstrating the value of thick description for studying African religiosity. An original contribution to African philosophy, religious studies, and decolonial theory, this book reshapes how African spirituality is to be studied and understood.

List of contents

Chapter 1. Introduction.- Part 1: The Precise term for Describing African Traditional Religions: A Very Brief History.- Chapter 2. The Views of Sir Samuel Baker and Sir Richard Burton on Religious Cultures of Africa.- Chapter 3. Two Afro-Inspired Responses to the Concepts of God in Afro-Religious Cultures: The First Wave.- Chapter 4. Reinventing the Concepts of God in Afro-Religious Cultures: The Second Wave.- Part 2: Panentheism and the Third Wave Proposal on African Traditional Religions.- Chapter 5. Exorcising the Spell of Monotheism in ATRs Scholarships.- Chapter 6. African Traditional Religions and the Explanatory Powers of Panentheism.- Chapter 7. Panentheism and the nature of God in Some Afro-Religious Cultures.- Chapter 8. Panentheism and Afro-Religious Cultures in the Global Space of Philosophic-religious Discourses.- Chapter 9. Conclusion.

About the author

Emmanuel Ofuasia received his PhD from Lagos State University in 2023. Before that he taught philosophy at the Philosophy Department of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), FCT Abuja, Nigeria. At the moment, he is a Decoloniality Research Associate in the Philosophy Department of University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. Although he specializes in Process Metaphysics and Philosophical Logic, his research also extends to African Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Arts, and
Ifá
Studies. He is well published in several international journal outlets of repute like
Philosophia Africana, Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, Journal of Africana Religions, Filosofia Theoretica, International Journal of African Renaissance Studies - Multi-, Inter- and Transdisciplinarity, Journal of World Philosophies, History and Philosophy of Logic, South African Journal of Philosophy, Nigerian Journal of Philosophy
, to name a few. In addition to publishing, Emmanuel Ofuasia is also a recipient of local and international grants from organizations and institutions such as: the English Language Support and Travel Bursary Award of the Global Philosophy of Religion Project led by Yujin Nagasawa as well as Culture and Animal Foundation (CAF).

Summary

This book offers a bold re-examination of how African spirituality and religion are understood, challenging centuries of misrepresentation shaped by colonial and Abrahamic thought. It argues that describing African religions through any form of modified monotheism, whether “implicit,” “diffused,” or “accommodated”, distorts their true nature and philosophical depth. Critiquing both colonial and postcolonial scholarship, the author shows how figures such as John Mbiti, Bolaji Idowu, John Bewaji, Thaddeus Metz, Motsamai Molefe, and Kirk Lougheed remain confined by Abrahamic categories that obscure African metaphysical perspectives.


 


Drawing on the ritual systems and spiritual knowledge of six major Afro-religious traditions (Kemet, Yorùbá, Anlo-Ewe, Igbo, Akan, and Shona) the book advances panentheism, a non-Abrahamic monotheistic framework, as the most accurate model for understanding African religions. Combining philosophical analysis with ethnographic insight, it redefines the conceptual vocabulary for African religious scholarship, resolving long-standing debates and demonstrating the value of thick description for studying African religiosity. An original contribution to African philosophy, religious studies, and decolonial theory, this book reshapes how African spirituality is to be studied and understood.

Product details

• Authors: Emmanuel Ofuasia
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 13.04.2026
• EAN: 9783032123947
• ISBN: 978-3-0-3212394-7
• No. of pages: 229
• Illustrations: XXIII, 229 p. 2 illus., 1 illus. in color.
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Other religions; Philosophische Traditionen und Denkschulen, Intercultural Philosophy and Religious Traditions, process theology, Panentheism, African Religions, Monotheism, African traditional religion, African Divinity