@realafricastories: Most people know the word animism, but few know where it came from. Why were hundreds of different African religions grouped under one label? In this video, I explore the history behind the term, from Edward Burnett Tylor and Victorian anthropology to the debate that continues today. Watch to the end and let me know what you think in the comments. #AfricanHistory #Animism #HistoryTok #AfricanReligion #LearnOnTikTok
yet Christianity has holy spirit, so they are Animists
2026-07-30 17:24:03
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Architect Ekiyakunzire Ndungu :
Animism is the worldview that non-human entities—including animals, plants, rocks, and rivers—possess a spiritual essence, soul, or personal agency. Derived from the Latin word anima (meaning breath or soul), it is often considered the oldest and most fundamental framework of human spirituality.
2026-07-30 18:13:54
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user9367180882513 :
IT'S SAD WHEN YOUR WHOLE EXISTENCE IS SHAPED BY WHAT OTHERS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE THROUGH THEIR TWISTED LENSES.
2026-07-30 16:54:01
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Elicia Brown :
“PRIMITIVE” 🙄 And I just KNOW he meant that in the most demeaning way, possible 🥴🤦🏽♀️🤣
2026-07-30 16:22:15
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SioniKel21 :
I personally believe historians use certain words to depicts facts based on their own perspective. The words used to expand on these hiszorical facts can be either deliberately misleading to achieve preconceived ends or, maybe, innocently out of ignorance. So, unfortunately, when colonizers wrote African people history, they lumped various traditional cultures into groups, for example bantus, soudanese, nilotics, pygmees, etc. In doing so, they also lumped our religious beliefs under common name such as "Animism" due to our common belief of continuous spiritual connection with our departed ancestors. That belief goes way back to ancient Egypt.
2026-07-31 19:50:21
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@Kentimes Tv :
The Way The Other Side of World , European and Asia See Africa and Describe Africa is Very Different from the Way We Know Ourselves and Believe in Ourselves, Actually We Are Very Different From the Perspective The World See Us, Our Inner Self Is Still Unknown, Actually Africa Is Still a Mystery To The World though The World Thinks It Knowns Africa .
2026-07-31 01:05:10
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lewisdajuan :
BLACK🇺🇸DUDE IN THE HOUSE. Well the answer is easy, even though there are differences in various different African spiritual science systems. They have something in common the veneration of nature? And actually, we already have a word to describe the so-called three major religions in that word = ABRAHAMIC FAITH SYSTEM. And that word, ABRAHAMIC fits just beautifully because these religions share similar religious characters. but viewed quite differently in the religious text
2026-07-30 22:41:29
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tonyamiro :
I don’t like grouping them all together as ATRs. I don’t like the way sub-Saharan Africa is grouped together as if it’s a country instead of individual countries. I’ve been trying to learn about ATRs but i think there’s probably a few mainstream ones but I really have no idea.
2026-07-30 17:48:20
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⁀➷MMARTA ⋆。°✩ :
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are already called abrahamic
2026-07-30 16:35:50
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markmcstill :
some words describe things better. some are derogatory, intentionally or unintentionally. as an intellectual, just avoid controversial words unless the word itself is the subject. every religion is based on belief in spirits. as a religion becomes more knowledgeable, it becomes less spiritual.
2026-07-31 07:51:49
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Amaze E :
Defiling propaganda
2026-08-11 06:50:01
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James :
For something to be a official religion im pretty sure it needs to meet certain criteria such as a certain freshold of believers.
2026-07-30 23:37:01
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Dr. Remi Douah :
Brilliant analysis!!
2026-08-14 23:19:33
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سليمان :
areligion should have an initial starter like moses,Jesus,budha, Krishna, confecius, Muhammad (sa) while afracans have no one
2026-08-12 04:44:44
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kizitomutebimirro :
We must wake up
2026-08-13 20:30:25
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noisefxgamer :
me am on your side😅😅am just thinking the way you just explained it
2026-07-30 18:29:46
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bovril113 :
You have a great exposition of the idea. All religions believe in spiritual principles at the highest level.
2026-08-09 17:19:00
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haddad :
animism the greatest spirituality
2026-08-03 23:06:01
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kemet33 :
may be we as black people say Christian animism and Islamic animisn to counterbalance the label.
2026-08-02 22:13:04
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Strength65 :
thank you for that breakdown. I had assumed that the word came from Animate, so I wasn't far off because we definitely need breath to live 🙏🏾
2026-08-15 13:19:42
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Archie Gitonga :
Interesting perspective. Minimising us even in language!
2026-08-09 14:39:31
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Toti :
short answer: animism is a derogatory term said to persuade away those who are said to be practicing such belief
2026-08-09 12:35:35
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Ngarama Karanu :
good concern.
2026-08-14 06:35:07
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Simply Tr. Ng'ang'a :
Is there any religion that doesn't BLV in Spirits ??
2026-07-30 19:07:21
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