At the beginning of the twentieth century, Christianity was predominantly a white Euro-American religion with 83 percent of all Christians living in the Global North. Today, it is a global religion... Show moreAt the beginning of the twentieth century, Christianity was predominantly a white Euro-American religion with 83 percent of all Christians living in the Global North. Today, it is a global religion where over two-thirds of the world’s Christians are non-Westerners, who live in the Global South. Christianity is on the rise in Latin America, Asia and especially Africa: a trend that is predicted to continue in the second half of the twenty-first century. I will explore explanations for the appeal of Christianity, and Pentecostalism in particular, for contemporary Africans. Pentecostalism is a form of Christianity that is predominantly popular in those African countries with the fastest population growth. Alongside Catholicism, it is the most rapidly growing religion on the African continent. Show less
In this article the author concentrates on the use of Indigenous Religion among the Akuapem in Ghana for the construction of their group identity. She discusses the way in which the Akuapem make... Show moreIn this article the author concentrates on the use of Indigenous Religion among the Akuapem in Ghana for the construction of their group identity. She discusses the way in which the Akuapem make use of the celebration of an annual indigenous religious festival (Odwira) to strengthen their cultural identity by self-identification, differentiation and the perception of other cultural groups. Her specific focus is on the common Ashanti-Akuapem history, the foundation of the Akan Golden Stools, akom dancing and the Odwira festival procession and Durbars. She concludes that Indigenous Religion should not be left out in the study of the construction of group identities in the social sciences. Show less
