IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY ON ANCESTRAL VENERATION AMONG BENIN PEOPLE OF EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This study examined the impact of Christianity on Ancestral Veneration among the Benin People of Edo State. The roles of the ancestors in African society are obvious, they act as intermediaries between the Deity or the divinities and their own children. They also act as guardians of traditional morality as well as serve as factors of cohesion in African society. However, in spite of the important roles ancestors play in the lives of the traditional Africans, some people still nurse the idea that the beliefs, practices and relevance of ancestral veneration are now irrelevant, outmoded and something properly fitted into the era of barbaric primitiveness. Those who champion this view claim that only a handful of the traditional Africans - a very insignificant remnant - still believe, practice, and worship their ancestors. They claim that the practice will soon die a natural death because the practice can no longer withstand the influence of Christianity and Western education. However, the traditional Africans do not agree with them, they strongly believe that ancestral veneration is a time-honored custom which will persist and continue to be practiced as long as man exists on this planet Earth. In view of this argument, the researcher carried out a research work on the beliefs, practices and relevance of ancestral veneration among Benin people of Edo state with a view to determining the truth or falsity of their assertions. The researcher also examined the impact of Christianity on ancestral veneration which enabled the researcher as well to ascertain the extent Christianity and Western civilization promoted or retarded ancestral veneration among the Benin people of Edo state.