Banyang traditional religion 17THc - 1952

Abstract

This work entitled "Banyang Traditional Religion 17thc – 1952" seeks to investigate the traditional beliefs of the Banyang people from pre- colonial to colonial times. It establishes that Banyang cosmology was monotheistic in nature, that is, the worship of one Supreme Being designated as God-Mandem, though there equally existed other entities or intermediaries between God and the people such as Barem, Eja, Ndem, Eburukpabvi just to name a few which the people venerated often when need arise. The B.T.R. was discerned in terms of beliefs, certain ceremonies, rituals, rites and religious officiants. Equally, how the people with regards to their worldview relates with the immaterial and invisible, material and visible, nature, in both the theoretical and practical standpoints were examined. The study further reveals that the practice of Banyang religious cults was carried out by the people through secret societies characterize by rites and rituals which went a long way to mediate their relationship with the ancestors - Bortah. All these traditional religious practices and the beliefs the people attached to it according to our findings were much more active during the pre-colonial era. After this period, the traditional beliefs of the people began facing counter challenges as a result of it coming in contact with other belief systems and cultures, which ended up destroying, adultrating and transforming certain Banyang traditional religious practices. But unfortunately, Christianity on it part failed to completely eclipse the B.T.R. Notwithstanding this fact, this religious blend in the tribe gave rise to what this study team as inculturation, adopted by Christian Missions. Though it gained steem in the tribe by incorporating both the traditional and modern beliefs, more efforts need to be done in order to blend every aspect of the beliefs and culture of the people for it to receive the expected results. Though it may take time for any change to occur, taking into consideration the fact that conversion of a whole people is tantamount to upsetting their culture.