ABSTRACT
West Africa was inhabited by people from different ethnic groups with diverse religious practices; thus, their perception of the world differed correspondingly. Before the arrival of external religious impulses, particularly Christianity and Islam, on the continent, West Africans embraced traditional religions that reflected their ethnic identities. The proliferation of Western religions such as Christianity and Islam inevitably influenced the redefinition of many of these indigenous religions. This introduced proselytization into the business of religion, a social and religious practice that was generally alien to many West Africans. While the process of worship may vary from one group to another, it is generally agreed that these forms of worship were directed at a Supreme Being through proxies (deities). The chapter provides discussions on the diversity of religious beliefs and practices among West Africans.
