West Africa

===African traditional===
{{Further|Traditional African religion#West Africa|West African Vodun|Religion in Africa#African Traditional Religion}}
[[File:Voodo-altar.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|Voodoo altar with several fetishes in [[Abomey]], Benin]]
[[Traditional African religion]]s (noting the many different belief systems) are the oldest belief systems among the populations of this region, and include [[Akan religion]], [[Yoruba religion]], [[Odinani]]-[[Igbo people|Igbo]], and [[Serer religion]]. They are [[Spirituality|spiritual]] [[creed]]s that also perform other functions such as preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the people,<ref>John S. Mbiti. ''Introduction to African Religion'', p. 19. East African Publishers, 1992. {{ISBN|9966-46-928-1}}</ref> and "West African tribal groups" blend social and [[religious ritual]]s together to the point where there is usually not "much distinction" between them.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Salamone |first=Frank A. |title=Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2004 |isbn=0-415-94180-6 |editor-last=Levinson |editor-first=David |location=New York |pages=9}}</ref> Although traditional beliefs vary from one place to the next, there are more similarities than differences.<ref>William J. Duiker, Jackson J. Spielvogel. ''World History: To 1800'', p. 224. Cengage Learning, 2006. {{ISBN|0-495-05053-9}}</ref>

Most traditional religious organizations "do not have a formal hierarchy of [[priest]]s."<ref name=":02" /> Group rituals are usually overseen by tribal elders who, "within many cultures", "serve as the main religious figures and determine the time, nature, and intricacies of rituals", or [[Shamanism|shaman]] priests who can use magic to heal, control fate, and connect to the spirit world.<ref name=":02" />