Cultural, political, and economic preservation go hand and hand with this issue. Since Traditional religions, much like Islam, embed practice and tenets across all aspects of life, the political, social, and economic become targets for a transformation to a more Western (Judea-Christian) structure. We should not fool ourselves that religion is somehow separate from all else – we all know it is the opposite. If land protection was an issue, now it may be targeted as "JuJu" practice and open the gates for the greedy, who will take the Lord's name in vain, in order to make a profit. Not to mention local representation will be streamlined to mean only the hierarchy of the church or those who are "saved" …councils, market groups, etc will be marginalized in the His name as well unless those members also convert. I have seen this play out in markets associations in Nigeria – whole sections are forced to shut down for Christian prayer meetings or be fined for trading during these times. It should not matter if one is a Christian, Traditionalist, Muslim or Atheist, etc.; protections for those who are not in the majority (no matter what the religion) need to be imposed. This extends to protecting historical shrines, artifacts, etc., as well as histories, etc… the thing that scares me most is that so many people, in the name of Religion, what to throw out everything about a people as though it were dirty. We lose so much due to our own arrogance and ignorance. Knowledge is about sharing – obviously Traditional religions have historically tolerated Christians and Muslims; I would think we should do the same.
On a more personal note, I have always admired Nigerians for their diversity, i.e. extended families who have a range of religious practices. It is a disgrace to the country, in my opinion, when fundamentalists try to change this atmosphere of tolerance. I am not blind to the "religious" conflicts, although many of them are masked political/economic conflicts; but the majority of Nigerians do go about their lives without targeting each other based on religion.
-Jamaine Abidogun
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCPDCID)
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 2:34 PM
To: Ogonna Anyabolu; Nigerian WorldForum
Cc: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com; igboevents@yahoogroup.com; TalkNigeria@yahoogroups.com; NIDOA Nigeria; nidoa@yahoogroups.com; afenmai@yahoogroups.com; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: FACE-OFF: CHILDREN OF ELIJAH BATTLE THE CHILDREN OF BAAL ON THE MOUNTAIN OF OIL
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Let's hope all the African Cultural/Ancestral Worship Purveyors on this forum will Rrrrrrise to galvanize Nigerians to "save our Cultures and ancestral worshipping systems"! Some of us have claimed that foreign worshipping systems, such as Christianity and Islam, were FORCED down on Africans THOSE DAYS; however, these days of "freedom of worship", nobody is forcing anything on anybody beyond the power of evangelism and persuasion or individual conviction. So we wonder why this is happening among Africans who should LOVE TO SAVE THEIR CULTURES, including the worshipping systems.
Advocates of "My Cultural This, My Cultural That" should speak out now; we can't be COWARDS and let African Culture down now! We are watching and listening. Take care. JUI
From: NIDOA@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NIDOA@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ogonna Anyabolu
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 12:23 PM
To: Nigerian WorldForum
Cc: igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com; igboevents@yahoogroup.com; TalkNigeria@yahoogroups.com; NIDOA Nigeria
Subject: NIDOA | FACE-OFF: CHILDREN OF ELIJAH BATTLE THE CHILDREN OF BAAL ON THE MOUNTAIN OF OIL
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WARRI—THE Tuomo Federated Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State has abandoned all forms of ancestral worship in the community to accept Jesus Christ. Leaders of the Community, the Amanana-Owei-in-Council, Chief Akpola Ekperi and the Community Chairman, Mr. Clement Ereide in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Tuomo Chapter, organised a two-day crusade tagged, Niger Delta in God's Agenda, at which the community renounced its relationship with the gods. The crusade, which featured community deliverance, salvation and manifestation of God's glory were among programmes meant to break the community away from the covenants of juju worship. According to the Amanana-Owei, the crusade, which had the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, in attendance and a combined team of intercessors from Abuja, was to discover and reclaim the land of Tuomo for Christ. Chief Ekperi stated that time has come when the people of Tuomo sever their ties with all forms of idol worship, adding that the crusade was organised to declare and allow the Almighty God take control of the community. "We saw the glory of God in the community, therefore, we have to embrace God for that Glory to continue to shine in Tuomo," he said. The Amanana-Owei said it has become necessary for the people to reject and refuse being committed or lead in the ways of the gods by any individual or group. The traditional leader, however said, though everyone has the right to freedom of worship and association, but he was quick to point out that it should be left at the individual level. He declared that the community would no longer be led or committed to take part in performing rituals and festivals having the undertone of ancestral worship. The Amanana-Owei while recounting history said before 1951 when oil exploration activities were to be carried out on Opu-Ogbo, a land suspected to have a large deposit of oil, the community under the control of juju worshipers claimed it was a sacred land of the gods and forbids anyone even indigenes from going there.
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