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This paper explores the nature of African religion and the role of the role of Western misconception in influencing it. Historically, African religion has served as a yardstick of the values, principles, and philosophies that shape the daily lives and ethical frameworks guiding the African societies. It embodies a unique belief system, a reverence for a Supreme Being, and a deep connection to community and nature, among many others. However, the advent of Western institutional religion significantly altered this dynamic. Western thought systems often dismissed African religious practices as fetishistic, primitive, and inhumane among many other negative attributes, thereby marginalizing their religious practices and replacing them with Western Christian practices. Hence, this influence has as a result alienated and marginalizing the African people from their indigenous religion, which as well alters their Identity. Ironically, these Western practices promoted values and principles similar to those inherent in African philosophy but classified superior, so as to strip the Africans of their identity for easy control. In it on this note that this seminar paper critically examines these narratives, highlighting the authenticity, richness, and sanctity of African religion. With the intension of exposing the original nature of African religion, employing the method of conceptual and critical analysis, this seminar paper argues that African religion, far from being fetishistic embodies the totality of the reality of the African people; it is a sophisticated embodiment of moral principles, belief systems, spirituality, and a deep connection to the world.

Objective: Insomnia, marked by difficulty falling or staying asleep, affects many students and contributes to increased worry, cognitive distortions, and depression, exacerbating their overall well-being and academic performance. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in reducing worry, cognitive distortions, and depression in students with insomnia symptoms. Method: The research utilized a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group. The statistical population consisted of university students in Ardabil Province during the 2023-2024 academic year. A total of 34 students were purposefully selected based on predefined criteria (e.g., insomnia symptoms) and then randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 17) or the control group (n = 17). The research instruments included the Insomnia Severity Index (2001), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (1990), the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (2004), and the Beck Depression Inventory (1996). The intervention group participated in eight weekly sessions of 90-minute MBSR, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance with SPSS-27. Results: The results indicated that MBSR significantly reduced worry (F = 46.86), rejection in interpersonal relationships (F = 30.07), unrealistic expectations in relationships (F = 41.54), misperception in interpersonal relationships (F = 30.38), and depression (F = 41.20) among students with insomnia symptoms (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The results highlight the potential of MBSR as a valuable non-pharmacological intervention for managing insomnia and associated psychological challenges in academic settings. Given its effectiveness, further research could explore long-term benefits and applicability across diverse student populations and settings.