Abstract:

The cult of ancestors is beliefs, acceptances and practices concerning the dead elderly people of the family or the clan. This cult has a great prominence among the communities, especially those who have adopted traditional understanding. Traditional lifestyles enable past beliefs and practices to be kept alive by future generations. In African communitieswhere traditional understanding prevails, Ancestral Cult remains important. Africans believe that the ancestors continued to live among themselves. Ancestors have great importance for the continuity of individual and social life. Ancestors have serious functions for the possession of children and obtaining wealthy products which is both vital for the existence of community. They are also considered to protect people from famine, drought and other natural disasters. In this article we will emphasize the importance and function of Ancestral cult in the life of African communities.

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