Modern developments, such as the rise of cities, the construction of roads, schools and hospitals, and the development of communications, do not interest social anthropologists of Africa. Their studies imply that African societies do not have dynamics of change and development. The present author argues that it is the task of African anthropologists to show to foreign anthropologists and their audience that social change has been taking place in African societies. Focusing on the anthropological study of religion, the article describes various theories of the origin of religion, viz. the animistic, animatistic, magic, ‘numinous’, projection, and Marxist theories, and their implications for Africans. The theories of animism, animatism and magic have popularly made Africans well-known as idol worshippers or animists, without knowledge of a Supreme Being. Projection and Marxist theories of religion have contributed to an increase in the number of sceptics, who are often eager to dismiss the essence and the usefulness of religion in general and of Christianity in particular. Note, ref.
