Art and Spirituality
Is possible to decouple spirituality from its artistic forms of exploration and expression?
The imaginative character of spiritual art is central to spirituality's projection of an alternative perception of the universe and its evocation of the passion vital to identifying with such a counter realistic vision, spirituality being directed at advocating an understanding of reality that is different from what is conventionally perceptible and inspiring a longing to inhabit that alternative perceptual universe.
Central to Jesus's style of teaching were his fictional stories, his parables.
One of the best known lines from the Koran, on account of the universally forceful power of its imagery, is the parable of the light of Allah from "Sura An Nur", evoking that light as being like a lamp, hidden in a rock from which it illuminates all, the light lit from a blessed olive tree, neither of the East nor of the West.
Wande Abimbola's Ifa Divination Poetry anthologizes poems that open with such funny personifications as 'walking stick that crosses the road in a crooked manner' or such striking imagistic truisms as ' no man, no matter how wise, can tie water into a knot in his pocket' in stories peopled by animals and even by death, personifications depicting them as communicating, moving and acting in terms of the agency of human beings, personification and use of imagery being two of the literary qualities of ese ifa, Ifa literature, Abimbola describes in his book.
These examples of spiritual literature represent what Biodun Jeyifo declares as 'the truthful lie' in his book of that title, the 'lie' in that context being the fictional depictions employed by the verbal artist, talking animals, sticks that walk on their own, depicting an imaginary rock in which is an imaginary light lit from an imaginary tree, and the 'truth' being the effort to use fiction in suggesting something believed to be true. The 'truthful lie' is a central quality of literature.
In recognition of the inseparability of the Bible and literature, we have Robert Alter and Frank Kermode's The Literary Guide to the Bible, among other texts. Jonardon Ganeri's The Concealed Art of the Soul: Theories of the Self and Practices of Truth in Indian Ethics and Epistemology explores the use of literary devices in Indian sacred literature. A search for 'Koran as literature', gives 602, 000 Google hits as of now.
Ifa as a Global System of Knowledge
It is difficult to be uninformed about the virtually global spread of Ifa, the Yoruba origin system of knowledge and divination. Jacob Olupona'sOrisa Devotion as World Religion: The Globalization of Yoruba Religious Culture and with Rowland Abiodun Ifá Divination, Knowledge, Power, and Performance are helpful in this regard, as is the work of the Dutch Ifa diviner and scholar Jaap Verduijn.
'Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come'
Nigerians have been crying for creative transformation. Here is their chance.
This is not an APC 'change' of disemboweled promises.
Those who want to secede should so so. Those who want restructuring should pursue that. Doing neither is a sentence for 'death in life' as S. T. Coleridge puts it.
thanks
toyin
On 26 June 2017 at 07:01, Olayinka Agbetuyi <yagbetuyi@hotmail.com> wrote:
Thank you IBK. I have noticed some of the tendencies you mentioned in the earlier Toyin on this forum. I have also seen a gradual change in focus that calls for more engagement with him so that we can carry each other along in a mutual self discovery voyage.
We should never say never.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message --------From: "Ibukunolu. A. Babajide" <ibk2005@gmail.com>Date: 25/06/2017 15:14 (GMT+00:00)Cc: Olayinka Agbetuyi <yagbetuyi@hotmail.com>Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - IGBO WORLD ASSEMBLY (IWA) PRESS RELEASE. THE RECENT ULTIMATUM FROM AREWA YOUTHS TO NDIGBO IN THE NORTH [1Biafra Secession/Kaduna Declaration Reactions]
Dear Olayinka Agbetuyi,
Toyin is confused and conflicted. He is prone to propagate cheap populist unworthy causes to curry attention from the notoriety that attends the cause!
He bears full Yoruba names but claims he is Edo. A normal claim if he is not anti Yorùbá to the point of hatred! He says he studied Ifa but his research is from Bini Ifa practitioners! He continues to project Ifa as literature with little understanding of the divinity and spiritual underpinnings! You will never see him denigrate the Torah or Bible or Koran but Ifa is his subject for denigration!
The Edo and the Ibini fought gallantly to neutralize the earlier Biafran misadventure but you can see him here urinating on the graves of those who fell gallantly and with bravery to secure one Nigeria.
Because he is shallow, plastic, populist and easily taken by fads and notions of ephemeral endurance I usually ignore him!
I will suggest you do the same! You will notice that under the guise of academic freedom he tries to be provocative often crying far more than the bereaved and ever struggling to be more Catholic than the Pope!
Cheers.
IBK
Sent from my iPhoneAnd May long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message --------From: Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju <toyin.adepoju@gmail.com>Date: 25/06/2017 09:11 (GMT+00:00)To: usaafricadialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com >Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - IGBO WORLD ASSEMBLY (IWA) PRESS RELEASE. THE RECENT ULTIMATUM FROM AREWA YOUTHS TO NDIGBO IN THE NORTH [1Biafra Secession/Kaduna Declaration Reactions]
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anthony Nze nzeanthony49@yahoo.com [NaijaObserver] <NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 19 June 2017 at 23:42
Subject: ||NaijaObserver|| Fw: IGBO WORLD ASSEMBLY (IWA) PRESS RELEASE. THE RECENT ULTIMATUM FROM AREWA YOUTHS TO NDIGBO IN THE NORTH [1 Attachment]
IGBO WORLD ASSEMBLY (IWA)PRESS RELEASEJUNE 18, 2017RE: THE RECENT ULTIMATUM FROM AREWA YOUTHS TO NDIGBO IN THE NORTHIgbo World Assembly (IWA) is the Umbrella Organization that represents the Apex National Igbo Organizations (outside Nigeria) in the various countries of the world such as USA, UK, France, Spain, Finland, Netherland, Ireland, India, Ghana, Mali, Dubai, Pakistan, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Russia, Australia, Denmark, Japan, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden and Canada. IWA works very closely and recognizes Ohaneze Ndiigbo as the mouthpiece of Ndiigbo World Wide. Our goal is clear, Ndiigbo must speak with one voice and one accord.True democracy and freedom is what we want for ourselves as Ndiigbo, Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Our history in Nigeria clearly shows that Ndiigbo have always stood for democracy and fair play for all. We do not believe or promote religious based politics and ideology. We want a Nigeria where the majority's right is balanced with the minority's right. We want a Nigeria where the various ethnic groups feel that they have a stake in the future of the country. We envision a Nigeria where leadership is based on the ability to work hard, where fairness reigns with a sense of direction and accountability to the various groups and for the common good of the country. We envision a Nigeria where people can vote and be voted for everywhere.Ndiigbo are egalitarian by nature. We believe that all people are, in principle, equal and should enjoy equal social, political, and economic rights and opportunities. We do not believe in murdering or attacking others, visitors, guests, or strangers in our midst. Ndiigbo are among the most welcoming, friendly, hospitable and tolerant and freedom loving people on earth. Our renowned hospitality, friendship and welcoming nature are highlighted on our use of "Kola nut" to symbolize our warmness, friendship, and universal brotherhood to all.IWA has carefully reviewed, analyzed and considered the contents of the highly divisive and genocide inciting statement credited to a coalition of 16 northern youth associations or groups (including those of their supporters), demanding that Ndiigbo residing in the Northern part of Nigeria should vacate the northern Nigeria within 90 days or before the 1st day of October, 2017 and at the same time demanding that indigenes of Northern Nigeria residing in Igboland to return to the North within the same time period.IWA having carefully reviewed the declaration, have come to the conclusion that the declaration was made by a sponsored group of criminals with primary intent to steal property, suppress the legitimate grievances of other groups and their inherent right to self-determination; to suppress all forms of opposition to the failed system and with it any possibility of restructuring the nation so as to maintain the decadent status quo.IWA has equally noted, reviewed and considered reactions quit notice threat from various groups including the Executive arm of the Federal Government; The Legislature; The Governors Forums (North and South East), some reputable Socio-Cultural groups and Civil Societies, the Security Agencies and many others. IWA wish to categorically condemn the three months quit notice issued to the Ndiigbo by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum and supported by the Northern Elders' Forum (NEF) as clearly presented to the world through their spokesman, Alhaji Ango Abdullahi.The continued agitation of Igbo youths across the country is a by-product of persistent injustice and marginalization arising from bad leadership and unjust structure of the country's polity. IWA and Ndiigbo "want a Nigeria of equal ownership, not where some see the country as their empire and the rest as a conquered territory."IWA performed detailed analysis of the threat and its implications for the status of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in generally and for Ndiigbo in particular. IWA therefore, recommends the following:1. Restraint from overheating the polity: Nigerians across the nation should exercise restraint at this point in time, so as not to overheat the polity. All Igbos residing in Northern parts of Nigeria in particular and Nigerians in general should go about their engagements lawfully while security agencies will ensure that there is no intimidation, hindrance or molestation.2. Nigerians to decide the future of Nigeria – the various reactions to this threat clearly showed that Nigerians want to decide the future of Nigeria to prevent unnecessary genocide and or bloodshed. IWA strongly advices Nigerian government and the International Community to setup mechanism to conduct referendum in each State and the various geopolitical zone of Nigeria for the people to decide how to be or not to be in Nigeria.3. Keeping Law & Order: given the inciting nature of this threat and to prevent further escalations as well as reassure those threatened, IWA recommends that the Nigerian government should arrest the signatories to this threat and their supporters and put them on trial with immediate effect.4. Preventing Genocide: there is need to do everything possible to avoid bloodshed, IWA therefore is to liaise with appropriate agencies (including the Federal Government support) to file this threat (including the signatories, the members of the groups and their supporters) to ICC The Hague. Those inciting the violence by giving fellow citizens quit notice will be held accountable for any incident that might occur before after October 1, 2017. And to handle this threat holistically, IWA is setting up mechanism that will enable Ndiigbo residing in the North to report provocations, insults, incidents, etc. Such evidences will be used in support of ICC filing in The Hague.5. Assisting the Internally Displaced Ndiigbo: whether this threat is carried out or not, some people have been traumatized by this threat and as a result will leave the northern part of Nigeria. IWA is calling on the Nigerian government and the International Community to immediately setup plans and provide resources to deal with Igbo internally displaced people from the Northern Nigerian States. Please note that Ndiigbo who were displaced during the Boko Haram terror never got help. IWA recommends that the Federal Government of Nigeria should liaise with Ohanaeze and Igbo associations in the North to register every Igbo person leaving the North because of this threat.6. Igbo properties & Investments in Northern Nigeria: it was obvious in the threat statement that Igbo properties and investments in the north are among the things that trigger threat against Ndiigbo residing there. Nigerian Government should work with Ohanaeze and Igbo associations in the North to help document Igbo properties. IWA will register such ownership to the appropriate International Community agency for recollection/repatriation from Nigerian government at any time. There will be no more abandoned properties in Nigeria as we are in a new century!
Conclusion:
We need a Nigerian political structure that is based on equity, fair play, balanced and equal access to political power for the good of all Nigerians. IWA felt that a return to fiscal federalism as contained in the 1963 Constitution is the way to go. IWA believes that each region should be responsible for the development and management of resources including minerals from their region. This will foster industrial development and competition among regions instead of the current docile nature of a majority of states as presently constituted. Nigeria needs to implement the National confab recommended equity in state creation within the geo-political zones.
IWA views a few Nigerians cabal's unwillingness to negotiate/dialogue with and/or partner with other Nigerian nationalities to restructure the nation in such a way as to address all grievances, create a progressive/sustainable production driven federal structure and birth a just, de-tribalized, harmonious, functional and prosperous nation as unfortunate. These Nigerian cabals remain stuck in their determination to keep the nation the way with it is, with the failed, parasitic, unjust, unequal, lawless, apartheid, un-progressive, dysfunctional, violent, murderous and collapsing system.Most Nigerians are willing to restructure and move forward because there can never be peace nor progress with the present status quo. The inalienable rights of all peoples and/or indigenous peoples to self-determination is recognized in the United Nations charter and in the African Union Charter on human and people's rights both of which Nigeria is a signatory.If a few cabal Nigerians are unwilling to enter into dialogue/negotiation with the rest of the country so as to restructure the nation, then the rest of the nation willing to restructure/negotiate have the right to opt for a United Nations-supervised referendum on self-determination to separate from the Nigerian cabals and thereafter creating a negotiated, restructured and progressive federal union/nation based on regions.May long live Igbo peopleRespectfully,
Dr. Nwachukwu AnakwenzeChief Oliver Nwankwor Chairman (U.S.A)Secr etary General (Netherlands)
Dr. Nwachukwu AnakwenzeChairman, Igbo World Assembly Chief Oliver NwankworSecretary General, Igbo World AssemblyIMPORTANT IWA CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS AND EMAIL ADDRESSES· Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze E-mail:nanakwenze@yahoo.com Ph: 310-993-8053/310-544-2711 (USA)IWA Chairman/CISA Chairman Board of Presidents1st Vice Chairman Igbo World Assembly, Ex CIC LeaderIgbo World Assembly 2nd Vice Chairman(USA) Region 1, Ex CISA PresidentSec. Gen, Igbo World Assembly (IWA). Current President Ohanaeze Netherland, President of Nigerians in NetherlandDSG, IWA Igbo Media and Public Relation Institute. Ex-Chairman Igbo Union FinlandPH: 8184193291 (USA)IWA/CISA Chair Board of Trustee
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