NIGERIA
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
NIGERIA
BACKGROUND INFORMATIONChurch
Signs Found Between Ibadan
and Abeokuta, Nigeria,
Including
both cities
written by Aaron Shields
Religion plays a very important role in Nigeria.
Nigerians are said to be 50 percent Muslim (Islamic), 40 percent Christian,
and 70 percent Traditional African Religions. How is this possible? Many people,
though having converted to a particular religious denomination, still practice
their traditional beliefs. This is especially true among both the Yorubas and
the Igbos. The Hausa-Fulanis in the North are predominately followers of Sunni
Islam.
Islam was brought to Nigeria by way of the powerful
Sokoto Caliphate. It governed for many decades. When the British began their
active colonization of Nigeria in the late 1800's, they permitted the Sokoto
Caliphate to continue to govern the North as a type of representative of the
British government. The United Kingdom dominated all political and social affairs
of southern Nigeria, thereby bringing Christianity to the Nigerian people. Many
people converted to these various religious sects, and scores of missionaries
were sent to preach their beliefs. Nevertheless, the Yoruba still venerate the
fertility goddess Osun at the shrine dedicated to her in Oshogbo. Strong beliefs
in traditional values still continue. This blend of Christianity or Islam with
traditional (Animist) beliefs forms what are called syncretic churches. Many
churches in Nigeria are of the syncretic type where traditional instruments,
music, and dances are part of the religious services/sermons.
Overall, Nigerians are much more spiritual and
religious than are people in the United States. It is very common to see signs
on buildings and on trucks and taxis that express people's beliefs in a supreme
being. Nigerians take their beliefs very seriously. Due
to the British colonial experience,
Protestantism is practiced widely in Nigeria; various church organizations are
represented. Further still, the evangelical movement is very strong
as people continue to look for something new to increase their sense of spirituality.
Catholicism is also practiced, though it's not as prevalent in Nigeria as it
is in neighboring French-speaking West African nations.
To give an example of the diversity of churches
that can be found in Nigeria, the following list is compiled from a hand-written
list of churches generated by Aaron Shields and Chris Joslin between and including
the cities of Ibadan and Abeokuta (approximately 50 miles) on July 30, 1999:
LESSON PLAN POSSIBILITIES:
1. Students could list as many religions/churches
as they can think of, and then show them this list.
2. Assign students to go out and find as
many churches as they can within a certain radius and make a list of those.
Then they could be divided into groups and combine their lists to see which
group found the most.
3. Ask students to write down what belief
system they have, but do not gather this as a required assignment; rather let
this be a learning experience for students to decide for themselves what they
believe in.
RELIGIOUS PICTURES
TO ACCOMPANY LIST AND LESSON IDEAS
