Final answer:
The lack of appreciation for African religion can be attributed to historical and cultural factors, the resilience of indigenous spiritual systems, and the Africanization of introduced faiths like Christianity and Islam. Traditional African spirituality continues to be an integral yet under-acknowledged part of Africa's diverse cultural heritage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reasons why an appreciation of African religion has not developed include several historical, cultural, and social factors. Despite the substantial conversion to Christianity and Islam in Africa, traditional religious practices have persisted and interwoven with the new faiths, resulting in a unique blend of beliefs. This integration reflects the adaptive nature of African societies in their encounter with foreign religions and underscores the resilience of their indigenous spiritual systems.
Cultural resistance has played a significant role in the preservation of African traditional beliefs. African Christianity and church rituals often incorporated African practices, and some African societies have retained their ancestral spiritual practices or Islamic faith. Moreover, African religions themselves are diverse and complex, with a pantheon of gods and spiritual practices such as ancestor worship, marking a rich spiritual landscape that differs markedly from Western monotheism.
The Africanization of Christianity and Islam illustrates how African societies have transformed these religions according to their cultural norms, such as polygamous relations in Islam and ancestral veneration in both faiths. Lastly, it should be noted that African philosophical thought, as discussed by Placide Tempels in 'Bantu Philosophy', has only gained significant attention in the West post-World War II, suggesting a delayed recognition and appreciation of the continent's spiritual and intellectual traditions.