IsChristianity CausingTheFadingOf MasqueradesAnd Other African Cultural Practices?

The African traditional society is homogenous with its unique characteristic features that set it apart from other cultures of the world.

African culture is expressed in its arts and crafts, folklore and religion, clothing, cuisine, music, and languages. Some of our beliefs and practices appear to be evil in contemporary society and, therefore, have been sermonized against by Christianity. One of these practices affected is the African Masquerade dancing.

Masquerades are multimedia events that often include not one but several masked dancers embodying various spirits. For example, Nigeria?s annual Egungun masquerades bring the ancestors back to town dressed in magnificent clothes.

Families own the masquerades, so as many as possible who can afford the cost of the elaborate costumes and other requirements for participating are represented in the week-long festival. The Dogon dama of Mali has at least seventy masks that comprise a visual summary of the Dogon world, from the creation to the present.

In contrast to these large masquerades, Angola?s Chokwe and Congo?s Kuba require only two or three masks to represent their ancestral spirits.

Christianity has in the past had a major impact on Masquerades and African culture and it is still doing so now. Although it has brought in some positive influences or possible effects on African communities, they have also dealt a staggering blow to our social, economic, religious, and political systems.

Christianity has acted as a social revolutionary force in our societies. It should be noted that some of the changes are inevitable because they are a part of the survival strategy. however, others are irresistible in the presence of conquering culture.

African Christian scholars have been singing, like a hymn, the need to enculturate Christian religion in Africa. According to them, the Christian religion that the Western missionaries brought to Africa was packaged in the ?garb?of Western culture and values. One of the African Christian scholars has made recommendations that there should be respect for one?s belief, especially when it?s not illegal and no one gets hurt.

Some Christian leaders will tell you,

"give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give God what belongs to God? In Abuja Nigeria, some lovers of masquerades have called for partnership with governments and the citizens to revive masquerade festivals as cultural entertainment rather than being regarded as a fetish.

The masquerade enthusiasts, who made the call, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said this would stem the rapid fading away of masquerade festivals in the country and encourage Africans to embrace their rich heritage.

IS CHRISTIANITY CAUSING THE FADING OF MASQUERADES AND OTHER AFRICAN CULTURAL PRACTICES?

AFRICAN FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR ETO?OELECTED PRES IDENTOF CAMEROONIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION

Abdel HalimMuhammadaSudaneseEast AfricanserveasCAFpresident from 1968to1972andfrom1987to1988

The former Barcelona and Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto'o has been elected president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot)

The four-time African Footballer of the Year was voted in for a four-year term on Saturday 11th of December 2021, defeating interim president Seidou Mbombo Njoya by 43 votes to 31 in the federation's general assembly.

Samuel Eto?o, a two-time AFCON and three-time Champions League winner with 118 appearances and 56 goals for Cameroon, Eto'o called his election "one of the proudest moments" of his life.

The football star had declared his intention to run for the post on September 22, saying it was time to "launch the reconstruction of Cameroonian soccer" . According to him, his predecessor Njoya, whose election was annulled by the International Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2018, had "failed miserably" as president. Eto?o received endorsements from other presidential candidates, who withdrew their own bids, as well as global leads, such as former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi and Cameroon international Roger Milla.

Irrespective of what some considered as weak credentials because of Eto?os unsuccessful ventures in business, he went on to run a campaign focused on promoting women's football and eliminating corruption in the Cameroonian game.

Against all odds, Eto?o won and there was no honeymoon period in his new role, as Cameroon is set to host the final phase of the African Cup of Nations from January 9 to February 7, 2022. And with the coronavirus concerns that are unlikely to dissipate, it's up to Eto'o, his federation, and CAF, to ensure that both the players and fans are safe.