I was talking to a friend today when they mentioned that they had caught their House girl with some form of 'charm' in their possesion. They were immensely shocked by this and had remonstrated with the girl. I just shrugged...after all in my culture all this stuff doesnt really have any effect! Does it......?
It did get me thinking about the cultural differences which when you dig deep can be immense. There are three major tribes in Nigeria (Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba) and a total of around 250 ethnic groups each with differing cultural nuances. Alongside this is the religous demographic generally made up of 55% muslim 48.2% christian and 1.4% 'other'. Needless to say as with other areas of the world ethnic culture is intertwined with religion to form various rules and norms.
One such rule seems to be the acceptance that juju or jazz as it is known is everywhere, from the Malam selling charms of islamic prayers to the Delta militant with his special charm to protect from bullets. This practice is widespread but talked about with respect and in hushed tones nonetheless.
Superstition of the type known in the west; the stuff your grandma used to tell you; such as a black cat crossing your path and never walk under ladders etc is an everyday part of life.
For example; People here will generally not pick money off the floor if they saw it, reason being it was probably cursed and you would go blind. Another is that you should not let a beggar touch you, again they would make you go blind. There are many of these rules to obey here.
In 'organised' religion the growth of 'Born again' christians is on an impressive scale. So much so that it's an industry all on its own, with branches opening up all the time.
The names of these churches could be the subject of a post all on its own:
• Jehova Sharp Sharp
• Huricane Miracle Ministry
• Healing Tsunami Ministry
• Satan in Trouble Ministry
• Fire for Fire Ministry
• Guided Missiles Church
• FIST OF FURY
• Run For Your Life Ministry and tell Ahab that Elijah is here Ministries
• God is Real Ministry. Motto: "Jesus no get muscle but he get power"• Fire Burn Ministries
• JESUS THE LANDLORD, WE THE RELAXING PEW MINISTRY
• Happy Go Lucky Church of God Almighty In Jesus Name Amen
• Old time religion ministry
• Strong Hand of God ministry
• Best Spot In The Land of God Church
• Trigger happy ministry. Motto- "always firing the devil"
A week does not go by in Lagos without one 'crusade' or other by a church or night vigil where the congregation stay up all night to give prayer. The churches range from the biggest seating over 50,000 people in Canaanland Ojota just outside lagos to the shack by the side of the road numbering a congregation of 5.
All carry a similair message from their pastors. Pray to Jesus, pay your tithes (often 10% of a persons monthly income) and seek satisfaction that life will get better. It has to be commented here that many pastors do very well out of this 'business' with some driving brand new SUV or even utilising the churches 'private jet'. Something to my eyes sits untidily with the notion that much of their congregation are struggling to earn a decent salary. (The house girl I mentioned above receives the equivalent of £80 pounds a month)
What is clear through the myriad of beliefs, cultures and religions is the constant striving to improve their lot and the 'Nigerian hope' and belief that one day things will be better. This is something impressive yet perhaps disconcerting at the same time.
Inshallah, God dey, its in the hands of Jesus etc.
While we wait for hope to catch up with reality, maybe a charm or lucky rabbits foot is a harmless practice...or maybe Ill find I wake up blind?
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