Let me simply put it this way – religion is a way of life. This being the case, just like any other agreement, laws, and punishments are usually put in place to enforce the agreed beliefs – do this; don’t do that.
But in Igbo land and Africa in general, there seems to be a misunderstanding that Igbo tradition is a religion like other religions such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and so on.
As most Africans are ill-informed that our tradition is our religion, you often hear some traditional rulers say they are Christian Traditional rulers. That sounds like a conflict of interest in my opinion.
Now, let me use Nigeria’s religious situation to broaden this topic. Nigeria was colonized by Britain. It was during this period that the European missionaries introduced Christianity to the people.
However, to properly administer Nigeria, the British recognized 3 legal systems for the new country. They created the English legal system which is basically common law and later, equity. This law is enforced by the English-styled courts.
The British allowed the Sharia legal system to continue in the northern part of Nigeria. Before the British, Usman dan Fodio had already conquered the indigenous people of northern Nigeria – the Hausa people.
He established the Sokoto caliphate and replaced the Hausa tradition (religion) with Islam and its Sharia law. Sharia courts enforce Sharia laws.
Other cultures of Nigeria, including the Igbo tradition, were also allowed by Britain to continue. They fell under the Customary legal system and were enforced by customary courts.
However, taxes and criminal cases fell within the jurisdiction of English law as practiced in Nigeria. This is the situation to date.
Customary law like Sharia law covers areas such as land, marriage, divorce, birth, death, and so on. These matters are heard at the customary courts based on the beliefs of the people, and their religion. There’s even a customary court of appeal.
Let’s look at Islam and Sharia legal systems. The Sultan of Sokoto is a traditional ruler (King) and the custodian of the tenets of Islam, which is governed by Sharia Law.
Islam is his religion; his tradition; his way of life he claimed when he was speaking against a proposed law that will grant women equal opportunity with men in Nigeria. Besides, there will be nothing like a born-again Sultan of Sokoto.
Even the Hausa people who still retained their tradition (religion) never claim to be Muslims. They simply practice their religion – their tradition. And the Muslims will never allow them to claim Islam while adhering to their tradition.
Nevertheless, in Igbo land, the reverse is the case. Igbo Christians still believe in the Igbo tradition. Though they want to be Christians, in the end, they are neither Christians nor belong to Ome N’ala.
As Albert Einstein noted; “a perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be [their] main problem.”
That’s the kind of confusion Christianity inflicted on Africans and Igbo people in particular. They are here and there. The worst of all is our traditional rulers who claim to be Christian traditional rulers (Eze).
That means they don’t even know why they are traditional rulers in the first place. If they knew, then they wouldn’t claim to be Christian Eze.
You are the head and custodian of our tradition – our religion. Even the Christian bible says that you cannot serve two masters at the same time.
In other words, you cannot be a Christian and a traditional ruler at the same time. Now that you know, if you insist on being a Christian then you must not be the head of our religion. You’ll have to step down.
It happened in Warri, Delta State – Nigeria about three years ago. The OLU of Warri (King of Warri) declared that he had become a born-again Christian.
Well, there was nothing wrong with that. His decision was within his right to freedom of worship.
In addition to his decision to become a born-again Christian, the OLU of Warri decreed that the customs of the people would be discarded, including the destruction of their deities.
The people invaded the Palace and asked him to vacate the throne. They told him that he could not be a Christian and the head and custodian of their tradition; their religion.
By the way, it can be argued that our tradition/religion can be changed since it was an agreed practice, but not unilaterally. In the end, the OLU saw reason with his people and succumbed to their wishes.
He abandoned Christianity and returned to his stool after realizing that African tradition is a religion just like Christianity.
- liberate your mind
Comments
Post a Comment