Deck 2: Religions of Africa

Question 1

For the most part, the ancient Egyptians believed life to be filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The Yoruba believe that the earth was created by the "white gods."

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The Yoruba believe in a unified universe that is permeated by divine energy ( ase ).

Answer 3

True

Question 4

According to Basongye belief, ancestral spirits are benevolent and abide among the living.

Question 5

The Zulu people consider "any power that can change situations" to be medicine.

Question 6

The Basongye hold the belief that all living beings have souls.

Question 7

It is the responsibility of Zulu diviners to help tribe members discover their destiny.

Question 8

Orisha-nla is the Yoruba god who began creation.

Question 9

In Egypt, the goddess Mayet was symbolized by a crocodile.

Question 10

The Basongye believe that the earth is round, with air above and water below.

Question 11

In Yoruba society, the diviner is used for only minor matters.

Question 12

Zulu ancestors participate with diviners in helping to heal tribe members.

Question 13

The deity that Akhenaton sought to establish as the One God was known as Horus.

Question 14

Basongye witches can cause harm to anyone except the deceased.

Question 15

In Ancient Egypt, temple priests managed only a select few official responsibilities.

Question 16

(Basongye) Lupupans believe that everything is in the hands of Efile Mukulu.

Question 17

The Zulu believe that contact with birth or death weakens a person with darkness or "heaviness."

Question 18

Mediation between spirits and humans is a regular part of life among the Yoruba.

Question 19

Ancient Egyptians believed the universe to be comprised of a unit of cooperative forces that sustained rewarding lives for humans.

Question 20

The Zulu believe women to be particularly vulnerable to sorcery and malicious beings.

Question 21

According to the Zulu, deities, spirits, and ancestors communicate with humans through

A) ghosts.
B) visions and dreams.
C) the wind.
D) tea leaves and entrails.

Question 22

Which aspect of Basongye life has been described as a kind of technology?

A) religion
B) magic
C) marriage
D) human spirit

Question 23

The Yoruba chief deity of the sky is

A) Isangoma.
B) Olorun.
C) Oshun.
D) Inkosana.

Question 24

At which sacred Yoruba city did Orisha-nla begin creation?

A) Ife
B) Ase
C) Oba
D) Esu

Question 25

In Egyptian times, the circle-topped cross that symbolized immortality was the

A) seth.
B) ka.
C) ankh.
D) ba.

Question 26

The Yoruba "paramount deity of feminine power" is

A) Agemo.
B) Orun.
C) Ase.
D) Oshun.

Question 27

Which ruler introduced monotheism to the Egyptian people in the worship of Aton?

A) Queen Hatshepsut
B) Tutankhamen
C) Amenhotep IV, Akhenaton
D) Cheops

Question 28

Communing with important ancestors of the Zulu kraal is a responsibility

A) that is shared equally by all members of the kraal.
B) of a chief/headman who is not a priest.
C) of a priest who is not a chief/headman.
D) of the inhabitant of the umnumzane, who is both chief/headman and priest.

Question 29

What Basongye deity determines the conditions of the soul's incarnation in each life?

A) Kafilefile
B) Inkosi Yezulu
C) Efile Mukulu
D) Kikudu

Question 30

The izinyanga zezulu are the Zulu specialists responsible for

A) washing spears in the Ihlambo ceremony.
B) shearing sheep as women gather the wool.
C) bringing home the ancestor, Ukubuyisa idlozi.
D) herding storms.

Question 31

According to the Yoruba, the earth was created by

A) Oshun.
B) Olorun.
C) Ase -- divine energy.
D) Obatala.

Question 32

In what way is the Zulu rite of marriage similar to marriage today?

A) The bride's family must pay for the wedding.
B) The groom asks the bride's family for permission to marry the daughter.
C) It takes many months to plan the wedding.
D) Extravagant gifts are lavished upon the newly-married couple.

Question 33

What is the ukubuyisa idlozi?

A) the ritual of washing spears to mourn a Zulu chief
B) a Zulu diviner
C) the Zulu mourning ritual for bringing home an ancestor
D) the Zulu Princess of Heaven

Question 34

Responsibilities for dealing with transcendent forces of the heavens falls to

A) izinyanga zezulu.
B) diviners.
C) herbalists.
D) abathakati.

Question 35

The trickster/messenger god who is considered amoral by the Yoruba people is

A) Ife.
B) Orisha-nla.
C) Esu.
D) Oba.

Question 36

Under which ruler did the ancient Egyptians return to polytheism after the death of Akhenaton?

A) Tutankhamen
B) Hatshepsut
C) Amenhotep
D) the Ptolemies

Question 37

In ancient Egypt, which son of Isis and Osiris was symbolized by the falcon?

A) Horus
B) Seth
C) Aton
D) Mayet

Question 38

For the Yoruba people, "our mothers" are

A) powerful, assertive women.
B) women who gave birth to chiefs.
C) witches who use white magic.
D) a singing group.

Question 39

Egyptians entombed possessions of the deceased to

A) make the person feel complete.
B) maintain a sense of order.
C) remove all evil.
D) help the person reach the land of paradise.

Question 40

In the Egyptian death ritual, what was the purpose of reciting the "negative confession?"

A) to assure the gods that the deceased was of pure heart
B) for the deceased to request and receive penance
C) for the deceased to request bodily resurrection
D) to cast blame for the deceased's sins

Question 45

Describe the four types of Basongye phenomena identified by Alan Merriam.

Question 46

Using examples, give a detailed explanation of how magic controls every aspect of Basongye life.

Question 47

Reflect on the African indigenous belief that the problem for humans is the forgetting of one's destiny. Explain what this means to them and to you, respectively.

Question 48

Identify and briefly describe the four rites of passage celebrated by the Zulu people.

Question 49

Describe the roles and responsibilities of priests in Egyptian society.

Question 50

Reflect on the Egyptian notion of the weight of one's heart being an indicator of his/her relative goodness or evil.

Question 51

In African indigenous belief, the problem for humans is

A) that we have forgotten our destiny.
B) disharmony with the universe.
C) that we have angered Inkosi Yezulu.
D) that we have not given proper worship to the gods.

Question 52

Describe how the Zulu peoples protect themselves after the death of a chief.

Question 53

Describe the Zulu story of how u mueling angi determined humans would not be immortal.

Question 54

Explain why the Zulu believe women to be particularly vulnerable to sorcery and malicious beings.

Question 55

Do the African indigenous people believe one can recover and/or alter one's destiny? Explain your answer whether "Yes" or "No."