The Making of 'African Traditional Religion' in Anglophone West Africa

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Mariam Goshadze
• Subject Area: Religious Studies and Jewish Studies ; African, American and Oceania Studies
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 567209292

African Traditional Religion (ATR) is a term widely used in the academic and popular discourse in Anglophone Africa to describe the continent’s 'traditional' religions as a unified category. While scholars of religion have critically examined concepts like 'world religions' or 'religion' itself, ATR has received less attention. Given the dearth of scholarship on how non-'Western scholars shape religious categories - alongside the persistent marginalization of African religions within the field - there is a significant value in addressing this issue. This project examines how Anglophone West African scholars have developed the concept of ATR in the twentieth century and explores its significance in four key areas: (1) the study of (African) religion(s); (2) histories of decolonization, pan-Africanism, nationalism, and African identity; (3) contemporary public discourse and state policies; and (4) perspectives of practitioners on the structure and practice of their religions. The ATR discourse is unique to Anglophone Africa, as there is no comparable tradition in Francophone and Lusophone contexts. This research focuses on Nigeria and Ghana since scholars from these two countries have played a leading role in shaping and promoting ATR, influencing both academic scholarship and public discourse. With the establishment of African universities and religious studies departments in the twentieth century, religion has been central to postcolonial identity formation. ATR emerged in response to broader socio-political and cultural movements that sought to promote a shared African identity and cultural pride. The interplay of these scholarly and popular considerations provided the foundation for the concept of ATR as a unified system of religions for all of Africa that could also function as a 'world religion'. Despite its influence, ATR has largely escaped critical scrutiny. Existing scholarship has offered only general overviews, overlooking its entanglement with both the history of the discipline and contemporary religious practice. Additionally, the increasing use of ATR discourse by practitioners to assert legitimacy in Christian-dominated contexts remains underexplored. This project addresses these gaps by analyzing the formation of ATR as an academic category, its circulation in public discourse, and its lasting impact on religious practice in Ghana and Nigeria.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants