Introduction
On a typical morning, there was a show on the radio (Metro FM), and the guests had a deep and moving conversation about “What it means to be African”. The guest was a practicing Sangoma who spoke profound truth: colonialism didn’t just steal our land and labour; it also demonized our culture and spirituality. Everything associated with being “black” or African was portrayed as wrong, dangerous, or evil. This conversation reopened an important dialogue about how much of ourselves we have been conditioned to reject.
Delegitimization of African Spirituality as a Tool of Control
Colonialism imposed a powerful narrative that delegitimized indigenous African spiritual systems. By redefining ancestral reverence as “witchcraft” and herbal medicine as “sorcery,” colonizers systematically dismantled the moral legitimacy of African belief systems. Drumming, rituals, and initiation ceremonies were cast as idolatry, while European traditions were glorified as civilized and divinely inspired. This was not an accident, it was strategic. By convincing Africans that their spirituality was demonic, colonial powers ensured cultural dependence and obedience. To resist colonial rule became not just political rebellion, but an act of defying God himself.
The Lasting Effect on Young Africans
The consequences of this mental colonization still echo today. Many young Africans have grown up fearing or dismissing their own traditions. Families are often divided along spiritual lines, some proudly embracing imported religions while others practice ancestral rites in silence. Modern media continues to reinforce this bias. Hollywood frequently depicts African masks as symbols of dark magic, while local news often portrays Sangomas as “witch doctors.” These portrayals feed into the same colonial narrative that keeps African spirituality at the margins, reducing sacred practices to superstition instead of acknowledging them as systems of wisdom and healing.
Modern Reclamation and Cultural Balance
Yet, there is hope. Across Africa, young people are reclaiming their spiritual heritage. More are answering the calling to become Sangomas, honouring ancestors, and reviving Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). This shift represents not a rejection of modernity, but a rebalancing acknowledging that to be modern does not mean to be Western. Africa’s strength has always been its plurality; the ability to embrace both tradition and innovation. The goal is not to abandon Christianity or Islam, but to honour African spirituality alongside them. Calling on ancestors is no less sacred than praying to saints. Healing with herbs is as valid as using pharmaceuticals. Colonialism made us believe that modernity required erasing the African within us, but modernity without identity is not freedom, it is another form of bondage.
Conclusion
In the end, the question is not whether African spirituality is demonic it is why we still allow colonialism to define who we are. Reclaiming our spirituality is about restoring dignity and identity. It means teaching our children that their names, dances, rituals, and prayers are sacred, not sinful. To reclaim African spirituality is to reclaim self-worth. It is a reminder that our ways of knowing, healing, and connecting with the divine are not inferior; they are profoundly human, deeply wise, and eternally African.
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