employee from 01.01.2024 until now
Siberian Federal University
graduate student from 01.01.2025 until now
Russian Federation
UDC 39
CSCSTI 21.00
Russian Classification of Professions by Education 51.00.00
Russian Library and Bibliographic Classification 8
Russian Trade and Bibliographic Classification 8
BISAC REL RELIGION
This article is devoted to the study of mythological motifs of African peoples in terms of their attitude to death in religious and mythological heritage. The authors consider the theme of death as an integral part of African consciousness, exploring its influence on the everyday life, mentality and beliefs of the peoples of the region. The main methodology is the textual and cultural analysis of folklore materials, which allows us to identify the cultural meanings and significance contained in traditional African legends and beliefs. The authors highlight key mythological motifs that explain the causes of human mortality. Among them are stories about false news, the impossibility of changing one's skin, refusal to undergo trials, and the defective nature of man. An important place is given to the image of the moon as an archetype of immortality, which appears in the myths of most African peoples. Particular attention is paid to the process of dying and related beliefs, as well as rituals of farewell to the dead, emphasising the close connection between the living and the dead. The study also examines the characteristics of African eschatology, which is characterised by two main concepts of posthumous existence: retribution for deeds during life and the absence of a clear dichotomy between heaven and hell. It analyses personalised images of death and spirits, which play a central role in shaping views on the phenomenon of death in Africa. Accordingly, the work presents a comprehensive study of the mythological aspects of the perception of death in the culture of African peoples, revealing the richness and diversity of approaches to death as a universal human experience.
African mythology, death, religion, ritual practices, ancient deities.
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