Animism, which was traditionally practiced by many in africa, is a belief in a supreme being that organizes and "animates" (gives life to) the physical world. in animism, various objects, places, and creatures can possess special spiritual qualities. for example, the kikuyu people of kenya believed that the mugumo fig tree was a sacred tree. they used mugumo trees as sites for prayers, gatherings, and celebrations, and it was considered wrong to cut down the trees.