What are the interactions between African culture and Christianity?

Answer 1

It hasn't had too much, I would assume, but most likely Christianity has influenced various African religions. However, most religions do tend to have some similarities anyways (such as the worshipping of a deity).

Answer2:

While insisting on the conversion of all slaves, the Catholic Church nonetheless gave its blessing to the intermingling of Catholicism with elements of African religion. According to historian Roger Bastide, Jesuit missionaries believed that native Africans, like children, should be drawn to the Catholic faith through music and dance as well as their love of titles and honorary positions. "They should not be forced to break completely with their traditional customs," wrote Bastide, "but these should be evaluated and the acceptable ones used as a springboard to help them attain the true faith."

In various all-African religious brotherhoods, such as those dedicated to Catholic "Saint" Benedict and the Virgin of the Rosary, many African traditions received a "Christian" varnish. Once a year, on "Saint" Benedict's feast day, such fraternities would elect a king and a queen from among their members, a custom derived from the succession of African tribal kings.

"Saints" or Orixás?

The belief in numerous intercessors between God and man is common to Catholicism and to African religions. The Yoruba, for example, believed in orixás. These were thought to be deified warriors and kings that controlled natural forces and served as intermediaries between the people and their supreme god, Olorun. Similarly, Roman Catholics believe that "saints" intercede with God for man. And they invoke specific "saints" for protection in connection with particular activities.

Instead of abandoning their orixás, many slaves simply cloaked their devotion to the orixás in the veneration of "saints" with similar characteristics. Thus, the Yoruba god of warfare, Ogun, assumed the identity of the Catholic "saints" Anthony or George, both soldiers and heroes of Christendom.

Similarly, Yemanjá, mother of all the orixás and goddess of the seas, matched up with various "apparitions" of the Virgin Mary. The Lord of Bonfim, Salvador's most popular "saint," was equated with Oxalá, the supreme orixá of the Yoruba pantheon. This association is still celebrated in the annual ritual of the washing of the church steps.*

"People here believe sincerely and with the same conviction in Jesus, in Catholic saints, and in the orixás," comments one Catholic leader from the city of Salvador. "Many flit between one religion and another," adds a Brazilian anthropologist. "They walk out of Mass in a Catholic church and straight into [an African] candomblé center."

This melding of Catholicism and African beliefs is a sensitive issue. Lucas Moreira, former president of the Brazilian Catholic Episcopal Conference, asserted: "Each one should follow his own faith, with no mixing." Yet, another Catholic bishop observes: "Syncretism is a reality that defies the church's action."

The battle lines are drawn. Conservative church leaders combat what they view as pagan and demonic, while others press for the inclusion of African symbols and dance in the rites of the Catholic Church. (From 2/22/05 Awake magazine)

Answer 2

Most African nations are mainly christian.... in the times of Axum Christianity was not very well liked... but it spread like a lot!