Final answer:
In traditional African religion, the story of how God left mankind on earth can vary across cultures. Common themes in these stories include human disobedience or misbehavior leading to God's withdrawal from earth. Examples from the Yoruba and Dogon traditions illustrate this concept.
Step-by-step explanation:
In traditional African religion, there are various myths and stories about God and the creation of the world. One such story tells of how God initially lived with mankind on earth but eventually left. This story varies across different African cultures, but a common theme is that God withdrew from earth due to human disobedience or misbehavior.
For example, in the Yoruba tradition of Nigeria, the story of Olodumare tells of how God sent lesser gods, known as orishas, to guide and protect humans. However, when the orishas felt that people were not following their guidance and engaging in acts of immorality, Olodumare decided to leave them and go to Heaven, leaving the orishas as intermediaries between humans and the divine.
Similarly, in the Dogon tradition of Mali, the story goes that God initially lived on earth and interacted directly with humans. However, as humans multiplied and their behavior became increasingly destructive, God decided to ascend to the sky and only communicate with humans through ancestors and spirits.
Learn more about Traditional African religion