THE PARADOX OF THE CONCEPTS OF LIFE AND DEATH IN AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION

Abstract

Life and death are inseparable. There can be no death if there is no life. People’ minds have been faced with the uncertainty surrounding life and death. This paper examines the concepts of life and death from the viewpoint of African Traditional Religion. It aims at assuaging people of the fear of death and reforming them. This work adopts an analytical approach in examining the paradox of life and death in African Traditional Religion. This paper discovered that life and death are inevitable phenomena in human existence. African Traditional Religion posits that God is the giver of life and he has the power to take it at will. Death is caused either through physical causes or mystical causes. Therefore, people should make good use of their life on earth since death is the price everyone must pay.