Final answer:
The study of African religions with a primal orientation focuses on oral traditions and cultural practices rather than written texts, which presents unique challenges to scholars.
Step-by-step explanation:
The task of studying African religions that are of a primal orientation presents a unique challenge as they are primarily based upon oral tradition. Unlike the religions of the written word that focus on sacred texts, primal religions in Africa have been passed down across generations through storytelling and cultural practices. It is important to note that the lack of written texts in pre-colonial Africa is not an indication of 'primitive' culture but rather a reflection of different societal structures and values. African traditional religions have also influenced the adoption and practice of religions like Christianity and Islam, demonstrating a fusion of beliefs and rituals.
The study of the history and religious practices in Africa is complicated by factors such as colonial bias, the vast diversity of cultures, and the climate that affects the preservation of artifacts and documents. Gaining insights into these religions demands an approach that respects cultural relativism and strives to understand beliefs from an insider's perspective. Researchers like Sir James Frazer, who attempted to study such systems with a limited understanding and significant bias, have been supplanted by new generations of scholars who seek to comprehend these complex belief systems in a respectful and nuanced way.