by Antonio Napoli

One of the most fascinating aspects in the history of religions is the ability of African spirituality to integrate Christianity into native cults and beliefs without losing its identity. Many African peoples have embraced the figure of Christ while continuing to venerate ancestors and practice traditional rites. This unique syncretism blends images of saints and Madonnas with local spirits, and Christian prayers with ancestral formulas.

Today, Christianity is one of the predominant religions on the African continent, but syncretism remains alive. Many Africans attend Sunday mass and consult shamans during the week without perceiving any contradiction. This fluid spirituality adapts the sacred to life rather than imposing itself upon it.

By contrast, Western syncretism has often emerged on more impure ground, where religiosity becomes a tool or even a structure of social legitimization for criminal power — a power so organized and widespread as to resemble an anti-State. This is the case of the scandalous mafia religiosity, which bends the sacred to the logic of domination and oppression, stripping it of its authentic spiritual dimension.

The danger of such religious deviations lies not only in the abuse of religion as a means of power and consensus but also in the confusion of values and behaviors among people in vulnerable territories marked by underdevelopment, economic blackmail, low cultural literacy, and immoral models of social affirmation.