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Extensions of the Spirit: Religious Life

Religious activity is a very important part of daily life in most parts of Africa, and these practices are continued when immigrants make their new homes in the United States.  Religion seems to be a solace in particular for refugees who have lived through atrocities, been uprooted, seen some relatives killed, and lost contact with others. Worship is a kind of therapy for the distress associated with resettlement and immigration. Churches and mosques also serve as meeting places for immigrants of the same ethnicity or nationality and the religious practices in these churches differ from American churches in various ways. 


African Church Sermons

Ethiopian church women LOGO

Women at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Photograph by Vera Viditz-Ward

Ethiopian church altar LOGO

Altar at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Photograph by Vera Viditz-Ward

Ethiopian church service LOGO

Ethiopian Orthodox Church service
Photograph by Vera Viditz-Ward

Kenyan church LOGO

Service at Trinity Episcopal Church, a Kenyan church
Photograph by Vera Viditz-Ward

flagrellg LOGO

Ghanaian Church
Photograph by Vera Viditz-Ward

Liberian church women LOGO

Liberian Church  
Photograph by Vera Viditz-Ward

Liberian church men LOGO

Liberian Church  
Photograph by Vera Viditz-Ward

Sierra Leonean church LOGO

Mt. Zion Sierra Leonean Church
Photograph by Vera Viditz-Ward

men outside ivorian mosque LOGO

Ivorian men outside Masdjid Salaam Mosque, Friday prayer
Photograph by Vera Viditz-Ward 

prayer at ivorian mosque LOGO

Followers of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba at a Mouride Brotherhood gathering
Photograph by Vera Viditz-Ward