ABSTRACT

African Indigenous Religions often accorded women prominent religious roles, such as priestesses, diviners, healers, and custodians of tradition. These roles were essential for maintaining spiritual and communal balance. By contrast, the Early Christian Church, as described in the New Testament, exhibited a more complex relationship with women's leadership. Although women were actively involved in Jesus’ ministry and the early Christian communities, their roles became more restricted over time, especially under the influence of patriarchal Greco Roman culture. This article explores the significant role of women within African Indigenous Religions and the Early Christian Church, comparing and contrasting their spiritual, social, and leadership functions. The study equally seeks to analyze how African Indigenous Religions’ perceptions of women contrast with early Christian norms and how these traditions evolved under colonialism and missionary activities. This historical and comparative analysis aims to shed light on the religious, cultural, and theological dynamics that shaped the place of women in both traditions.