Full Length Research Paper
An Archaeological Study of the Origins of the Afterlife Beliefs from Early to Modern Humans in Africa
Jock Matthew Agai
Article Number - 633C827CF16C7 | Vol. 2(2), pp. 14-20, October 2022 |
Received: 25 July 2022 | Accepted: 16 September 2022 | Published: 5 October 2022
Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.
This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0.
Abstract
In African traditional religions, the
ideas surrounding the concept of death as a journey to a more reliable world is
a precursor for the beliefs in reincarnation, transmigration, heaven, hell,
ancestors, and in the existence of supreme beings. Africans beatify the
afterlife as if they founded and spread the beliefs around the world. While the
afterlife beliefs are highly revered in Africa, the study of the origins of the
afterlife beliefs is less associated with Africa. Recent archaeological study
reveals questionable results regarding the connection of Neanderthals that
originated the afterlife beliefs with early humans that lived in Africa. This
research investigates the origins of the afterlife beliefs among early humans
in connection with its transmission to modern humans. Keywords: Afterlife, Ancestors, Early Humans,
Modern Humans, Yorubaland.
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Authors
Jock Matthew Agai
School of Religion, Philosophy &
Classics, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Email:
[email protected], Tel.: +2348035931696
How to Cite this Article
Agai, J. M. (2022). An Archaeological Study of the Origins of the Afterlife
Beliefs from Early to Modern Humans in Africa. Journal of Culture, History and Archaeology, 2(2), 14-20.
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