Month 5, Day 9: The Soul

Just about all religions believe that people have a soul, and most agree that the soul continues to live on in some way after the body has died. African religions are no different in that sense. But some have a slightly unusual view of the soul itself—or should I say souls?

That’s right. Some African traditions say that each of us has more than one soul.

First, you’ve got the life-soul. This “biospirit” is a spiritual essence, just like the generic “soul” we all know about. But unlike, say, the Christian soul, the African life-soul disappears when the person dies.

In some cases, such as a serious trauma, the life-soul can even become separated from the body while the person is still alive. After the danger has subsided, the life-soul comes back and restores the person to health.

In addition to the life-soul is the thought-soul. This is the one you probably know from other religious traditions—it’s the soul that continues to survive even after death, and it eventually moves on to a new earthly existence through reincarnation.

Yes, like our old friends the Hindus and pagans, most African cultures believe we reincarnate—usually as newborn babies within our own clan or extended family. Do you find that as creepy as I do? I’m not sure I like the idea that I could theoretically give birth to my own grandmother.

Anyway, back to the thought-soul. Although most African religions say it lives on after death, not every soul lives forever or gets the chance to come back to Earth in a new body. As one writer puts it, “Souls of little children who died young, those of weak minds and insignificant persons will fade away after some years lingering.”

Ouch. If that’s not the best argument in favor of overachievement, then I don’t know what is. It’s kind of like, be a great person or your soul is history. Maybe I’d better get off my big lazy butt.

There’s one thing, though. You don’t necessarily have to be a good person in order to keep your soul alive. Apparently, evil souls—like the souls of witches and sorcerers and people who are angry or like to hold a grudge—have particularly long lives after death.

So maybe my soul is okay. I may not have any great achievements, but I sure as hell know how to hold a grudge.