THE RELEVANCE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE STUDY OF AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

Digital technologies, usually, are electronic systems that use binary code to create, store, process and transmit information, powering everything from smartphones to artificial intelligence. They can positively impact the systematic study of African Traditional Religion today, because of their unique nature as regards strategic information gathering and transmission. Digital technologies can facilitate full actualization of the noble objectives of African Traditional Religion which include inter alia to make known the worldview of Africans so that non-Africans may understand the social and moral behaviour of the African. The current trend where certain Africans view the said technologies only as instruments of spreading hate speech, internet fraud, etc., constitute some of the challenges of digital technologies in contemporary Africa. The study utilized data generated through primary and secondary sources. The employment of the phenomenological and the historical methods is for analysis and application of the data collected. The adoption of theory of digital participatory culture, and the cognitive theory of religion is to encourage authenticity in this research. The general objective of this paper is to promote proper use of digital technologies in the study of African Traditional Religion in the 21st Century. The paper also intends to discourage the abuse of digital technologies by some contemporary students of African Traditional Religion, in Africa. The study found that digital technologies have the capacity to contribute meaningfully in the ongoing attempt by African scholars to resuscitate the genuine spirit of eroded African values. It is our recommendation, that, contemporary African educators, students, etc., should leverage off the benefits of digital technologies to create a society saturated with peace; a conditio sine qua non for sustainable development.