Our ways: Reverence To The Deities

Sacrifice is a ritual act in which a consecrated offering is made to a deity to establish, restore or perpetuate a sacred bond between humanity and the divine. In other words sacrifice strengthens the relationship between humans and supernatural beings, offerings may consist of animals, food crops and fruit drinks.

To African traditional worshippers, making sacrifice is an avenue to ‘venerate’ the deities and the deities in return acknowledge and give their assistance in the day to day activities of the people. There are reasons why Africans offer sacrifice; this ranges from protection, healing, appeasement to thanksgiving.

Prescription to a sacrifice is known via divination. In other words divination plays a significant role in the making of sacrifice. When an inquirer brings his/her case to the priest, the priest in turn inquires from the oracle the causes of and the solution to the issue at stake is proffered. Mostly, sacrifice is prescribed and this is normally offered to a deity who is believed to be responsible for the Inquirer’s plight.

It is important to note that sacrifice prescribed and offered is determined by the nature of the issue at stake and the individual or deity involved. This brings us to the types of sacrifices available in different situations or context.

Propitiatory sacrifice is used to appease a particular deity. In this case, what the diviner prescribes as a sacrifice is dictated by the deity. The offerer of this sacrifice does not partake in it and the offering is not shared. It is solely for the deity. This sacrifice is usually made during crisis like outbreak of disease, drought, serious illness or violation which severe relationship between worshipper and the deity is restored.

Preventive sacrifice; it is usually made to prevent an impending disaster. When the danger is detected (through divination), the sacrifice is made before one ventures into something; be it starting a business, embarking on a journey, marriage etc. Most cases an animal is slain and offered to the diety but in some cases fruits, food and drinks are offered.

Substitutionary sacrifice; has an element of propitiation as well as prevention. Often times this sacrifice is when an animal is offered in place of a person who should have suffered death or any other calamity. The purpose of this sacrifice is to appease an angry deity or spirit which has evil plans against a person or people. The animal used is sometimes treated like a corpse and buried at an appointed place it may be immolated and the head covered in palm oil is put into an earthen pot and carried to an appointed place.

Thanksgiving or communion sacrifice; this is a means of expressing thanks to and hold communion with the supernatural being. This sacrifice is always accompanied with feasting in which the worshipper and the deity (though not visible) share a common meal. The sacrifice is made to establish a beneficial relationship between the worshipper and the deity.

Votive sacrifice is not subject to prescription by a diviner. It is presented to a deity as a sign of gratitude. Once the worshipper promises it and his/her request to the deity is granted, it becomes mandatory or else the wrath of the deity falls on him/her. What is offered depends on the worshipper and he/she has to examine him/herself before making a vow. The vow maybe made at anytime but mostly, it is when one experiences hardship and human aid is to no avail.

At this juncture it is surfice to say the African traditional worshipper believe that the deities over see their daily activities. That is why whenever the need arises to make offerings to them no stone is left in turned in ensuring that the required items are got and the sacrifice made appropriately. This is a pointer to the reverence accorded to the deities by their worshipers.

Sacrificial act is a form of non verbal communication between worshippers and their deities. As some scholars have argued, “The forms of sacrificial rituals resemble the structures of human relationships and the rituals are therefore symbolic not only of religious aspirations but also of the dail lives of those who take part in them”. To the African traditional worshippers, the essence of sacrifice is to establish and maintain a cordial relationship between them and the deities.