USCIRF Releases New Report on African Traditional and Indigenous Religions

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on African traditional and indigenous religions:

African Traditional and Indigenous Religious – This factsheet places African traditional and indigenous religions within the broader international religious freedom discourse, from which they have historically been underrepresented. In several contexts, practitioners of African traditional and indigenous religions have faced religious freedom violations in recent years. These include violence and impunity for violence, legal restrictions, coerced conversion or forced repentance, and the desecration and removal of their sacred sites and objects. Practitioners of these faiths have also faced bias and discrimination from governments. The analysis summarizes historical trends, identifies relevant international legal mechanisms that protect freedom of religion or belief for practitioners of African traditional and indigenous religions, and explores threats facing some practitioners of these faiths, including religious freedom violations and government bias and discrimination.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].