Religion in various forms is very strong in Nigeria. In other words, Nigerian people are VERY religious. Most Nigerians believe that there is an unseen supernatural world apart from the natural physical world. This other world is inhabited by beings who are the source of our knowledge of good and evil. They watch and judge us and if we offend them they may have to be appeased with prayers.
Certain individuals in the natural world—priests, prophets and diviners are believed to be endowed with special powers to make contact with the other world. They lay down ceremonies or rituals which must be observed if due honour is to be paid to the unseen beings.
The religious beliefs and practices of Nigerians can be classified under three main headings: Traditional religion, Islam and Christianity. This is the order in which each made its appearance in the country.
Traditional or indigenous religion continues to exert a strong influence on many people’s minds, partly because of its association with their birthplaces and family. Each ethnic group has its own religious traditions and these are often linked to some sacred spot or sports in the ethnic homeland; e.g. Ile-Ife. Yet, the various traditional religions have much in common: a remote but benevolent high god; under him, a number of lesser gods who interact with mankind and below them. Various spirits who inhabit natural objects such as: trees, streams, rocks, etc below them again and closest to living men and women, the spirits of the ancestors.
In Yoruba religion, for example, there are more than 400 lesser deities presided over by the high god Olorun. Because he is remote from mankind, shrines are not built to him and worship is not offered to him directly. The lesser gods on the other hand are the subject of special cults, each with its own priests and devotees. Eshu, the messenger of the gods, Ifa the god of divination and Shango the god of thunder and so on. Traditional religion was strong in other parts of Nigeria too.
In Igbo traditional religion, there were fewer gods. Although there was a remote high god, the most import figure was Ala or Ani; the goddess of the earth. In Hausa land, traditional religion has largely gone underground, owing to the influence of Islam, but belief in the existence of ‘Bori—spirits and their power to possess people, especially women—is strong in some areas. Each spirit is associated with a certain type of behaviour which is manifested by the possessed individual.
Divination, that is the discovery of what is unknown or is yet to happen by supernatural or magical means—it is an important element of traditional religion. It is often of the functions of the ‘medicine men’ or inhabitants. In Igboland, there also used to be several oracles which people consulted in order to seek answers to their problems. With the coming of Christianity, their influence waned.
It is so sad, disappointing and shameful that Africans are more religious in the entire planet. Yet, lacking behind in terms of development and progress; countries where the Bible and church are not paraded and where believe in God is little or none are obviously are doing well. Example, Singapore, Denmark, China, Japan etc. I am always thankful and happy that I left church and religion years ago. After I left Jehovah’s Witness I embraced spirituality and I could not have made a better choice! Even Jesus Christ said to worship God in spirit and in truth. Not according to religion!
Sadly in Nigeria where many people are possessed by religious spirits they misunderstand things which are natural part of human nature. For example, the Ozuu which is a natural wine used in ceremony in Nigeria; they say it is not good for a Christian to drink as it is used in shrines. Now the question is; are there not other things used in the shrines? One woman said that during her marriage she did not allow them bring in palm wine because it is used in shrines and idol worships.
There many so-called “Christians” (are they really Christians? I like to call them “Churchians”) who have this false belief that Kola nut is not supposed to be consumed by a “Christian” as it is used in idol worship and shrines. The truth is that all of these useless and blind beliefs are born out of religiosity, ignorance, misleading and brainwashing that religion has done to them!
Charly Boy: Google images
To wrap up this article, I want you to watch this eye opening videos posted by a legendary Nigerian singer; Charly Boy. To me, Charly Boy seems to be one who is awakened. I love his Maverickness and Quirkiness. You are going to learn a lot from it. I actually enjoyed watching the videos as I watched it on repeat! They are videos you MUST watch! “A mind stretched by new knowledge can never go back to its prior form.” The Mastery of Life
I am an Emissary of Light and an intrepid adventurer. A growth enthusiast and a quintessential person who is very passionate about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, inclusivity, equity, holistic living, mental health, diversity, altruism, sacred activism, service to humanity, gastronomy and compassion. I volunteer with organizations that are focused on youth, education/cultural exchange and climate change awareness. I currently volunteer with Stride Quintessential Youth Initiative (www.weartqp.org) an organization focused on raising the next generation change makers and quintessential African youths. I also volunteer as an English teacher with a Ukrainian organization ENGin Program; an organization promoting education, cultural exchange, peace, respect and compassion (https://www.enginprogram.org/). On my creative aspect I am a heart-based, talented, outstanding, prolific writer. I have published 8 books and currently working on my 9th book. I published several articles in a UK magazine, Canadian and American blog. As a creative person, I am also passionate about media and ICT. I am a graduate of Political Science/Social Studies from College of Education, Agbor Delta State in Nigeria. I did a diploma program on Agricultural Supply Chain Management from Acacia University, Arizona United States (through Athena Global Education) and another diploma program on Business Administration (through Athena Global Education).
Writing has always been a natural way of life for me. I also love meeting like-minded people, spending time in Nature. I am a promoter of anything which promotes Positive Vibes and Positive Energies. Anything that sets the tone for a Positive Life Momentum is my Hobby. I also believe in Compassion. Before I began my journey into Spiritual Awakening and Spirituality; I was a former baptized, zealous and dedicated Jehovah’s Witness. Somewhere deep down in my heart and subconscious mind I had this inner-knowing and feeling that religion is NOT the answer. At least I have the understanding that there is more than meet the eyes…it was not easy to leave a religion that claims to be better than every other ones; but with my determination to embrace my Higher Self, my Magical Divine Self—I summoned up courage and left Jehovah’s Witness in 2013. I could not have made a better choice! The effort and determination was worth it. You can read more about my journey of how I left religion and Jehovah’s Witness.
I am determined to use my blog to raise the Consciousness of Humanity to a Higher Dimension. I believes that I can use my writings to inspire, heal, empower, liberate, teach and enlighten Humanity into embracing Higher Consciousness. My vision is for a society where truth, justice, love, compassion and unity dwells. He strongly believes that people should be treated fairly and equally no matter their skin colour, gender, culture and sexual orientation. As one who is on the path of Personal Development, New Thought, Spirituality, Enlightenment and Inspiration; Kingsley believes that he can use his writings to inspire, heal, empower, liberate, teach and enlighten Humanity into embracing Higher Consciousness. I believe in compassion; compassion for one’s self and compassion for others as epitomized by Guan Yin the Goddess of Compassion. Eastern Spirituality and Spirituality in its entirety have always appealed to me. I follow the teachings and wisdom of Guan Yin, Buddha, Jesus Christs, His Holiness (the 14th Dalai Lama), Lazaris, Galexis, Sirian High Council and the Angelic Beings who works in the Greater Realms of Light and Love.
Other personalities that have been very influential to me are: Master Sri Akarshana, Sadhguru, Shelley Rogers Johnson (AKA Good Witch), Mooji, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Mother Theresa, Robert Kiyosaki, Morihei Ueshiba, Sarah Prout, Ikkyu, Oprah Winfrey, Buddha, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Florence Scovel Shinn, Norman Vincent Peale, Tony Robbins, Marianne Williamson, Eckhart Tolle, Max Erhman, Debbianne DeRose, Nathalie Thompson, Jeannette Maw, Erin Dragonsong, Melody Fletcher, Andy Dooley, Mike Dooley, Bob Marley, Anais Nin, Albert Einstein, Tess Whitehurst, Katherine Hurst, George King, Whitney Houston, Brenda Fassie, Nelson Mandela, Mary McKee, Guru Nanak, Dildar Virk, Enya, Mariah Carey, Jam Aiwuyor, Cynthia Morgan and Anja Ringgren Loven. I have been featured twice in an award-winning TV Station in Abuja where I talked about the issues affecting Nigeria and Africa I was also featured in an American blog where I shared my opinion about the Black Lives Matter. I am of the thought that we create our own reality and we can change the Narrative of our Reality and Lives. So feel free to surf my blog. Let’s labrish!
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Kingsley Osajie 