In the traditional religions of Africa, life does not end with death. After death, humans continue to 21 as spirits. Some African groups believe these spirits dwell underground in a world much like that of the living—but upside down. Other groups believe the sky is the permanent 22 place of the dead. For instance, the Bushmen of southern Africa believe that the spirits of the dead go up to the sky and become stars.
Among the spirits, the ancestors 23 a special category of their own. As ancestors, they have some extra powers. To become an ancestor is the best that one can 24 after death. However, not everyone who dies will turn into an ancestor. For one to become an ancestor, there are 25 to be fulfilled while the person is alive—living an upright life and fulfilling all social and religious duties, for example.
Many African groups believe that the spirits of ancestors remain near their living descendants as 26 of the family and their traditions. They help in times of trouble as long as their descendants perform proper rituals and pay them 27 respect. But they punish people if certain ceremonies have not been performed properly or if there are some 28 of community laws.
Ancestor worship also plays a very 29 role in the mythologies of some African peoples. For example, the people of Buganda in present-day Uganda say that their first ancestor was Kintu, who came from the land of the gods and married Nambe, daughter of the king of heaven. Another example is the Dinkas of Sudan, who believe they are descended from Garang and Abuk, the first man and woman created by God as tiny clay figures in a pot. For these Africans, the honored dead have become not only objects of worship but also 30 of tales and legends.
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