statue. They would be blessed by their offerings,
and in some cases people would stand for hours
just to glimpse the statue. However, in most cases,
the god would not be moved from his site. People
assembled in the outer court to receive blessings,
but were not admitted to the inner sanctum.
Priestly Work and FamilyMost of the priests had two jobs. They were
priests who worked at the temple for a month
every 4 months. Only the high priest, because of
his rank, had a regular occupation as a priest, but
even the high priest had a separate job. All other
priests had to put in more time as farmers, busi-
ness leaders, administrators, or traders than they
did as priests. Prior to returning to the temple, the
priests were forbidden to engage in sexual activity.
Abstinence was seen as a sign of discipline. In
ancient Egypt and throughout Africa, priests mar-
ried, had children, and participated in normal life.
Priests in Other African SocietiesAfrican societies recognize priests and priestesses
just as the ancients along the Nile had men and
women performing in the great temples. The
work of the priesthood shifted with the decline
of ancient Kemet. The priests in other parts of
Africa saw themselves not just as the keepers of
the gods, but as the keepers of the people. When
people needed support from their spiritual lead-
ers, they found that support in the work of the
priests. Usually a person became a priest through
apprenticeship, family connections, or inheri-
tance. Nevertheless, one had to be trained to
serve the role of priest or priestess, and this
remains the case. A person selected for the role is
required to know all of the formulaic prayers,
the moral and ethical behaviors of the priest-
hood, the taboos of the societies, the history of
the community, the roles and duties of each indi-
vidual, and the general philosophy of cleanliness.
In some societies, the priesthood and the medium
are separated. One can discover in such situa-
tions a person who is a keeper of the secrets of
the deity, but has little to do with healing or
advising. On the other hand, you can find some-
one who is adept at healing and advising, but
knows little about the way the god is manifest. In
summary, the priesthood of Africa draws its
strength and longevity from the most ancient of
all African classical civilizations, ancient Kemet.Molefi Kete AsanteSeealsoInitiation; RitualsFurther Readings
Grimal, N. (1992).History of Egypt. Malden, MA:
Blackwell.PROCREATION
Procreation, the ability to reproduce and have
children, is a central feature of the African value
system. A premium is placed on childbearing
because children are seen as the medium by which
the ancestral name and heritage of the family is
perpetuated. In other words, children ensure the
personal immortality of families and the continu-
ity of human existence. Indeed, in most African
societies, children are seen as reincarnations of
ancestors. A person who bears no children, and
therefore has no descendants, in effect terminates
social reproduction and extinguishes the family
line. For this reason, procreation is celebrated,
and having many children is highly honored.
Fertility is therefore a fundamental prerequisite in
marriage. The ultimate purpose of marriage is
procreation: Without procreation, marriage is not
fully consummated. Not surprisingly, there is a
general abhorrence of barrenness and sterility in
African societies. Barrenness carries a heavy social
stigma because it constitutes an incomprehensible
upsetting of the social and religious order. Almost
everywhere in Africa, the inability to have
children after several years of marriage was legiti-
mate grounds for divorce. The quest for children
and the value of procreation may help explain the
persistence of polygamy in traditional African
communities. The importance of procreation is
emphasized during rites of passage, when fertility
and healthy deliveries are prayed for. During mar-
riage rites among the Kgatla people of South
Africa, for example, a young bride, when taken
home on the first afternoon of the wedding540 Procreation