African cultural predicament: Superstitition and fear in Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin’s <i>Oda oak oracle</i>

Abstract

African tradition involves many traditional beliefs and practices so that the peoples must abide by taboos, rites; gods, traditional priests, witchcraft, sorcery and many other sorts of actions and reactions. Such African culture, with its interdictions and strict rules grounded with myths, the sacred, ancestors and mystery, brings about many doubtful results in the life of the individual. It is therefore to show that there is superstition in the African traditional beliefs and practices, which becomes a serious traditional
religious burden as a result of permanent fear of the individual. Finally, the traditional African becomes a victim of his own belief which hinders his/her evolvement. This article aims at showing how some traditional beliefs and practices become a cultural predicament and thus hinders development.