The Sub-Saharan Africans refer to Africans located in the Western part of the African continent. It includes countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Cote D'Ivoire. The Sub-Saharan African believes that he is surrounded by various spirits. These spirits fight against each other for supremacy and prominence. There are good or benevolent spirits and bad or malevolent spirits in the universe or cosmos. Therefore, various rites and rituals are performed by the individual so as to tap the help of the benevolent spirits to war against the malevolent spirits.

These spirits are arranged in a hierarchy based on the extent of their power and capabilities. The belief systems of the African are:

1. Superior Deity (God)
2. Ancestors
3. Spirits
4. Animism
5. Witchcraft and Sorcery

1. Belief in the Supreme Deity

All Africans believe in the Supreme Being or God. The belief is at the Center of African religion and dominates all its other beliefs. He is believed to be at the top of the hierarchy of spirits in the cosmos. Each society in Africa has a local principal name for the Supreme Being. For example, the Akans in the Ashanti region of Ghana call him Onyame or Onyankopon Kwame. The Ewes called him Mawu while the Gas refers to him as Ataa Naa Nyomo. He is the creator and Sustainer of the universe.
There are various attributes of God in Sub-Saharan Africa. These attributes indicate the nature of the deity and it varies from one locality to the other. He is the creator of all, sovereign ruler of the universe, omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (knows everything) and omnipresent (is everywhere). Atheism (people who don't believe in the existence of God) is foreign to Sub-Saharan African thought.

It is generally believed that Sub-Saharan Africans do not worship God directly. However, they worship him through mediators like the lesser gods and ancestors. Though it is asserted that Africans do not build shrines or temples to worship him as well as create images to represent him, there are some few shrines constructed for him in some ethnic societies. Typical examples can be found among the Akan ethnic society of Ghana as well as the Ewe ethnic society of Ghana and Togo.

2. Belief in Ancestors

Ancestors are the forefathers who led good or exemplary lives while they lived in the physical world. They are referred to as the living dead or shades by Sub-Saharan Africans because though they are dead physically, they continue to be members of their lineage. These persons are believed not to have died through accidents, childbirth, and unclean diseases such as leprosy, epilepsy or suicide but rather died a good or natural death. Drunkards, adulterers, an extravagant person, a lazy person, as well as thieves are all not considered to be ancestors by the Sub-Saharan Africans. Most of the ancestors are founders of societies and families. It is believed among the people that after their death, they enter the spiritual mode of existence and go to live close to the Supreme Being. The Akans, however, believe that the ancestors live in Asamando (the land of the dead).

Also, the ancestors are regarded as invisible policemen controlling the affairs of the living. These ancestors are asserted to have been given special powers by the Supreme Being. Everything that concerns the community, its health, fertility of the land and prosperity are believed to be of interest to them. The ancestors by virtue of their age, experience, authority and unique position are believed to be appropriate agents to be consulted for the necessities of life. Since they are the custodians of the societal laws and customs, they seek their consent in any undertaking. The Sub-Saharan are of the view that failure to seek their guidance would incur their wrath and displeasure resulting in a heavy calamity for the society. Before a new land is cultivated, their permission is sought since they are the owners of the land.

They are venerated or revered through the performance of libations, playing of drums, songs, dances, prayers and offerings. Festivals and ceremonies are held in honor of the ancestors to thank them and to ask for more help. The most important festival held in honor of the ancestors among the Akans of Ghana is the Adae festival. The ancestral spirits are propitiated, solicited and venerated. It is observed twice in every successive period of forty-three days, once on a Sunday (Akwasidae) or (Adaekese) and one held on Wednesday (Wukudae). It is a day on which the Ashanti king and his elders enter the stool house (nkonguafieso) to offer sacrifices and prayers to the ancestors. Elaborate ancestral cults are organized for them at particular times of the year. In all these rites, ceremonies and festivals, art loom high.

3. Belief in Spirits

Spirits are believed by the Sub-Saharan Africans as special creatures of God, created to fulfill specific functions. However, they assert that their powers given to these spirits of God are limited to the performance of specific functions and none of them enjoys the unlimited power ascribed to the supreme deity. They are regarded as children, agents or messengers of God. They may be male or female and are given places of abode or habitats in the environment such as in hills, rivers, the sea, trees, rocks and even certain animals. The Akans of Ghana call them Abosom while the Gas of Ghana refers to them as Wodzi. The Ewes of Ghana call them Trowo while the Yorubas in Nigeria call them Orisha.

Each of these spirits is believed to have his or her own area of ​​competence and jurisdiction. Hence, there are those in charge of war, fertility, agriculture, traveling and various other spheres of human endeavor. Among the Akans of Ghana, Asaase Yaa or Asaase Efua and Odudua of the Yorubas in Nigeria believed to be goddesses of the earth are in charge of the fertility of women and the earth. The images of the goddesses are modeled in clay or carved in wood together with some children. Offerings and prayers are forwarded to them to seek their help.
Another example is the god of thunder of the Yorubas of Nigeria called Shango. He is either represented as an armed rider on horseback or by the symbol of the thunderbolt. These are used in invoking his spirit.

4. Belief in Animism

It is asserted by Sub-Saharan Africans that all natural things, including stones have a soul or spirit inherent in them and some possess special powers granted to them by the supreme deity or God. Therefore, these natural objects are highly respected. Animism is therefore the belief that God has given special powers to some plants, animals and objects which can be tapped for human use. However, to be able to tap this power, certain rituals, ceremonies and rites have to be performed.

Sometimes rituals are performed on concoctions prepared from some parts of a plant and is given to a sick person to get healed. Some animals like birds, crocodiles, and snakes are believed by the people to have fertility charms. Some parts of such animals like the teeth, bones and skins are used in making amulets, talisman, charms and belts. They are worn by barren women who cannot give birth and they help them to be able to give birth. Images of these animals are fashioned in gold, brass, silver, ivory, bone, etc. into various forms of jewels such as necklaces, pendants, anklets and wrist-lets. They are worn on the body for spiritual protection.

Moreover, tools and materials for the production of artifacts are respected and feared. For this reason, before a wood carver cuts down a tree to be used for carving, he has to propitiate or appease the spirit inherent in the tree through the pouring of libations and the performance of other rituals before he fell down the tree. Also, the tools for creation of the artifacts should be treated and handled with respect otherwise it is believed that the artist would wound himself or herself while performing the work.

Some animals and sometimes plants are used as totems to represent clans, families and societies. These animals and plants are believed to have a special relationship between members of the clan. Such animals and plants are respected by members of the clan or family. Their bodies are not eaten and they are given befitted burials as if they were human. An example is the python, which is a totem of the Asantes of Ghana. There is an Asante myth that it was the python that taught their first descents about conception.

5. Belief in Sorcery and Witchcraft

The Sub-Saharan Africans believe that sorcery and witchcraft are practices based on magic, but are used for evil purposes. It is believed that the power of divinities and ancestors as well as the power derived from medicine can be used for destructive purposes. Witches and sorcerers represent those elements in the African societies that use these powers for the purpose of destroying life. In general, witches are female while sorcerers are male. Witches are believed to be wicked and malicious human beings whose intention is simply to kill, which they do by poisoning or cursing their victims. Witches and sorcerers are usually identified as the major causes of misfortune or death in the family.

Due to the fear of witches and sorcerers, some seek protection against them through medicine men who may ask them to wear a special ring, necklace, etc. as either an amulet (attract good spirits) or as talisman (wards off bad spirits). Special dances performed by individuals wearing special costumes and masks are believed to drive away witches.

Indeed, the Sub-Saharan Africans cosmological belief systems greatly influence every activity that they engage in especially their socioeconomic life. This indicates the high impacts of the culture and traditions of the people in their everyday life activities. Therefore, any policy to be utilized by them must be formulated with the knowledge of their cultural heritage if success is to be achieved.