settler colonialism in Zimbabwe and Namibia and apartheid in South Africa
facilitated the entrenchment of European traditions in the study of religions.
Despite the intraregional divisions, there are common threads that unite the
study of religions in the region. Of particular importance have been profes-
sional associations. Until the 1990s, when it began to experience financial
difficulties, the World Council of Churches (WCC) used to support regional
and intraregional bodies that brought together departments of religious studies
in sub-Saharan Africa. Organizations such as the Association of Theological
Institutions in Southern and Central Africa (ATISCA) facilitated the interaction
of scholars of religions from different institutions.
The Association for the Study of Religions in Southern Africa (ASRSA) that
was established in 1979 and is an affiliate of the IAHR has also provided a
platform for scholars to interact outside their national borders. Although it is
dominated by South African scholars, ASRSA has attracted some members from
Southern Africa. Since the demise of apartheid in 1994, Namibia and Botswana
have had opportunities to host ASRSA conferences.
One professional organization that has actively promoted scholarly
exchanges on the study of religions in sub-Saharan Africa is the African
Association for the Study of Religion (AASR). Established in Zimbabwe in
1992 and affiliated to the IAHR, the AASR has been experiencing notable
growth. It has held regional conferences in the different zones, as well as
establishing chapters in Europe and North America. It has members with
diverse research interests, but actively promotes the study of religions as an
academic discipline. It enables African scholars to interact with scholars from
other parts of the world. The AASR has endeavored to promote interac-
tion with scholars from Europe and North America. It also disseminates
information relating to scholarships and conferences outside Africa through
its newsletter and website.
Relations with other fields of study
The study of religions in sub-Saharan Africa has benefited from, and
contributed to, other fields of study. Indeed, the region offers a good case study
on interdisciplinary approaches to the study of religions. Anthropologists
have played an important role in the study of African religions (Bourdillon
1996). They have provided valuable descriptions of the religious beliefs and
practices of African communities, and scholars of religions have utilized these
studies in their work. In turn, anthropologists have appropriated insights from
scholars of religions.
The study of ATRs has been hampered by lack of historical approaches.
Researchers in the area of history have clarified aspects of the historical
development of ATRs. On their part, scholars of religions have appropriated
insights from history to illustrate the borrowing that has occurred between
1111
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1011
1
2
3111
4 5 6 7 8 9
20111
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
30111
1
2
3
4
35
6
7
8
9
40111
42222
3
411
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
119
