Home > Philosophy, Theology > Vol 1 No 1 June 2013 Abstract 4
Initiation Rites and Rituals in African Cosmology
Prof. Paul Kyalo
International Journal of Philosophy and Theology, 1(1), pp. 34-46.

Abstract
This essay is an analysis of the rituals in African cosmology. It will deal with a comprehensive interpretation of ritual and their meaning or meanings. This essay starts with a definition of ritual and its comprehensive interpretation. This is followed by a discussion of several approaches tothe study of ritual. The discussion then turns to an analysis of two classic types of rituals. The first type are those rites that are connected to the human life cycle-such as birth, marriage, and death-and to human crises-such as illness. These rituals often reflect a distinctive structure that is analyzed and illustrated in rites associated with birth, puberty, and initiation into a religious vocation. A second classic type of rite is associated with fixed points in the yearly calendar and is connected either with the changing of the seasons or with the commemoration and rehearsal of a momentous historical event.

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Kyalo, Prof. Paul. (2013). Initiation Rites and Rituals in African Cosmology. International Journal of Philosophy and Theology, 1(1), pp. 34-46.

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Paul M. Kyalo is the post graduate programmes Academic advisor and an associate professor of humanities at Mount Kenya University, Nairobi, Kenya. His academic career spans in both philosophy and religion studies on one hand and counselling psychology on the other hand.

Prof. Paul Kyalo has been a lecturer for five years in Egerton University, Njoro in the faculty of arts and social sciences. He was also the chaplain and Ag. Dean of students at Egerton university from 2005-2010. After Egerton University he joined Kenyatta university department of philosophy and religion studies, where he was appointed the departmental students’ academic advisor and mentor

Prof. Paul Kyalo hold a PhD in religion studies and registered for second PhD in Counseling phycology at Egerton University after having successfully supervised 5 Masters Students in the same field and done Masters Courses in the field of Counseling Psychology

He is currently supervising over 30 Masters Students in both Kenyatta University, Mount Kenya University and 5 PhD Candidates. He is widely published in the area of philosophy, Religion and Psychology