This thing with African spirituality is quite layered. It was their way of connecting with God. According to folk tale, they believed there were 7 powers (like elements in avatar) that certain deities had control of and they were all under the control of God (eledumare).

Ultimately they were worshiping God, but through cultural practices involving the deities (Orishas). As they believed God gave them governance over different elements in the world.

I can’t label it as inherently evil. It was their way of reaching God. For example osun that Beyonce references was considered the deity of fertility.

Of course some used it for evil, connecting to esu (the deity that was the devil)

As a Christian I access God through Jesus and do not connect to God through the Orishas. I don’t overall demonise it but I understand it.

It actually reminds me of old practises in Christianity where people would access God through priests praying and doing sacrifices for them.

Let me make it double clear. I’m not justifying anything. I’m discussing the history of these deities and why people connected to them.

I believe Jesus is the way, truth and life and no one connects to the father, except through him and that’s how I practise my faith in God.

I can even go further and say I believe God made Jesus the high priest for all. No need for priest judges etc in Christianity. No need for deities in African spirituality. We now have the ultimate connection to God.

With Jesus, no need for sacrifices (he paid the ultimate price on the cross); no need for bloodshed (his blood was shed as an atonement for our sins); assurance and justification by faith in Jesus, not works. Sanctification by grace through faith too. What else am I looking for?

Oops so a few people have rightly pointed out that this is Yoruba spirituality not African. Its the version most exported and people label as African spirituality. My points still remain the same but as an example.