“Until the lion learns to speak, the tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter,” so the proverb goes. But what if the lion’s voice is heard through the mouth of the hunter? Or better still, what if the lion becomes the hunter itself? How much glory would the lion receive? But totemism doesn’t merely provide the lion with a voice. As I’ll argue below, totems glorify the created world instead of God and undermine our God-given identity as those made in his image.
Totems are integral to group identity.
A totem is a guardian spirit associated with a specific kinship group, clan, or tribe, which may be represented by a plant, insect, animal, bird, or even a mythical entity. Totemism is the belief that a group of people shares a special relationship with its totem, often viewing it as a sacred ancestor. This relationship entails particular taboos and ritual observances, making the totem a sacred symbol of identity and power, even worship. Over and above personal names, totems are integral to group identity, often linked to family names, names, greetings, regalia, and praise songs.
On the surface, totemism may seem culturally benign. But this article contends that the biblical doctrine of the imago Dei challenges its assumptions and demands a more discerning perspective on the meaning, adoption, and application of totems, especially within the African context among professing Christians.
God Made Us in His Image
The concept that human beings are created in the image of God originates from the biblical creation account. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion'” (Genesis 1:26).
The image of God signifies our fundamental nature as God’s special creation.
Various interpretations have been proposed regarding what it means for humans to bear God’s image. The early Church Fathers offered differing perspectives: Irenaeus distinguished between image (rational nature) and likeness (moral perfection); Augustine emphasised the faculties of the soul—memory, intellect, and will—as reflecting the Trinity; Athanasius associated the imago Dei with the incarnation of Christ, highlighting its restorative role; and Gregory of Nyssa emphasised infinite growth in virtue and knowledge.
But broadly speaking, the image of God signifies the fundamental nature of humanity as God’s special creation, intended to reflect his character and to serve as his representatives on earth. This image is being restored through union with and conformity to Christ, who is the true image-bearer of God (Colossians 1:15). Consequently, the doctrine of the imago Dei underpins human worth, dignity, and purpose—reflecting his nature and living for his glory.
The Function of Totems in the Southern African
In many African cultures, totems serve as vital symbols that unify clans and tribes. They are reflected in names, greetings, regalia, and praise songs. For example, the Basotho of South Africa have totems such as the crocodile (mokwena), elephant (tlou), and lion (tau). Similarly, in Zimbabwe, the Shona and Ndebele peoples recognise totems like shumba (lion), ndlovu (elephant), and ngwenya (crocodile). But totems aren’t limited to animals; they can include parts of animals, plants, or even inanimate objects such as fire.
Totems Are More Than Symbols
Totems are more than symbols. They are central to identity formation, especially in rural African communities where there is less Western influence. Here totemism is still widely adopted and influences how people live.
Should Christian identity be rooted in one’s totem or in Christ?
In urban areas, Western cultural influences initially led to a decline in totem affirmation. However, over the past quarter-century, there has been a resurgence. This revival is driven by a broader movement to reclaim African heritage, culture, and identity—often called decolonisation, Pan-Africanism, or Negritude. These movements aim at challenging Western-centric perspectives. Proponents argue that totems are inherently African symbols, and advocating for their recognition signifies a desire to reconnect with authentic African roots.
All of this raises a crucial question for the church: should Christian identity be rooted in one’s totem or in Christ? Many young, educated Africans see totems as a vital part of their identity, yet this can create tension with Christian faith and practice. Christian faith recognises union with Christ and the restoration in him through the rebirth as the true source of identity.
They Undermine Human Identity
In many ways, the symbolic role totems play resemble the biblical concept of the imago Dei. Yet some significant differences exist.
Totems invert the biblical order.
In totemism, a group or individual reveres the totem as a symbol of their identity, often seeking to imitate its traits. This mirrors the creation narrative to some extent but inverts the biblical order: instead of humans being created in God’s image and reflecting his character, humans in totemism seek to embody the traits of lower-order creatures or objects. While the imago Dei points to humans being made in God’s likeness—created to reflect his divine nature and to imitate Christ—totemism encourages conformity to objects or symbols, elevating them above God.
Instead of the divine image guiding human development, totemism shifts the focus downward, seeking identity and virtue through objects that are ultimately subordinate to human beings, not to mention God himself. “He has a penchant for picking stuff that does not belong to him,” an older uncle said, referring to my cousin at a recent family gathering. “After all,” my uncle continued, “he is from the monkey people.” “I love my meat,” one may be heard saying, “seeing that my totem is the lion.” The lion finds embodiment in the person, instead of conformity to the image of God’s Son.
Totems Subvert God’s Design
In the biblical worldview, the imago Dei defines who humans are. We are representatives of God, reflections of his nature, created to exercise dominion and live for his glory. This foundational truth affirms human dignity, worth, and purpose—living primarily for God’s honor.
In contrast, totemism subverts this divine design in several ways. For it:
- Causes humans to find their identity in lower creatures or objects rather than in God
- Encourages conformity to these creatures or symbols, often leading to glorification of the totems themselves
- Conflates the image of the divine with the image of the totem, reversing the biblical order—rather than humans reflecting God’s image, the image is placed in objects that humans seek to emulate.
Humans are representatives of God and reflect his nature, created to exercise dominion.
Totemism offers an alternative to God’s design, giving voice to the ‘lion’ in a way that glorifies objects rather than their Creator (Romans 1:25). By adopting totemic beliefs, humanity risks demoting itself from being God’s image-bearer to an enthroned object, seeking identity in symbols and objects rather than in Christ. This downward-looking posture stands in stark contrast to the biblical call to live with an upward gaze toward Christ—glorifying God alone as the source and end of human identity, worth, and purpose.
