Do you know God?

“See, what we call God depends upon our tribe, 'cause God is tribal. God takes sides. No man in the sky intervened when I was a boy to deliver me from Daddy's fist and abominations. I figured out way back if God is all-powerful, He cannot be all good. And if He is all good, then He cannot be all-powerful.” - Lex Luthor, Batman vs Superman, 2016

For the last few months I have been staying out in Nigeria, a beautiful country but a divided land full of broken people. A country with so much potential yet the evil in the hearts of those that have been leading this very young nation have sunk the general population into a life of poverty and disparity. I have witnessed supposed believers at odds over which God prevails as Muslims and Christians fight daily for power and freedom, mirroring the warring between the historical tribes of this nation in the past, not realising that we are more alike than different. For a lot of Nigerians their faith is all they have because life as they know is too harsh, almost like the sociological belief of religion is used as an “opiate” by these people; the idea that this reality is too real and so they have to pray for better days.

Nigeria was one the former colonies of the British empire and whilst we celebrate 59 years of independence, we have a lot of work to do to be as prosperous as some other countries (even our neighbouring West African brothers) that are just as young. Boasting over 100 different ethnicities and even more languages, how can the diverse people be restricted to worshipping to one God as the horrific after effects of colonialism still suffocate the wider public to this day?

Now this post is not to dissect or criticise religion but instead to provoke thought. Not only do people out here believe in both traditional practices and Abrahamic religions they have unyielding faith, which is by far their most admirable trait. Religion has been as much a hinderance to our progress as a nation, because of constant bickering between states and clashing ideologies that are preventing us from seeing each other as brothers and sisters. It is an issue of maintenance that is stopping Nigeria from flourishing. The cityscape of abuja is glittered with new buildings, high rises and the most futuristic shopping malls but they are juxtaposed by desolate bridges, half-done apartments and shops seemingly without refurbishment. Yet one thing stood out to me - the immaculate the conditions of the churches. One thing I want us to do is combine our faith with work to better ourselves!

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is [c]dead? ………22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made [d]perfect? 23

James 2:14-26, New King James Version (NKJV)

As I write this, I understand I am writing this piece from a place of privilege. I understand it is the same blessings that the people are praying for that I have. As a privileged British-born Nigerian, I have the ability to fly between countries, I have an education, I have a generator which provides consistent electricity, a successful family and multiple homes, even having food to eat and water to drink every day is a blessing. Many of my diasporan peers look at our homes through westernised lenses, with fearful and sympathetic eyes. Happy enough to party and holiday there during Christmas time, although, not sympathetic enough to make the necessary sacrifices to help bring forth change. Fear clouding our judgement and perception of our homes, citingmany of our traditional beliefs as evil and primitive, all the while making judgements from the comforts of our homes. As we sit and discuss it, the same people we claim to be fighting for are really living it.

How will it ever get better if we, the ones with the skills and ability to make a change are stuck working for companies and bosses that don’t care for us in a country that isn’t ours?

How can we expect a change if we know the rest of the world looks down on Africans?

If there is one thing, I want readers to take from this piece is to research our homes, research our traditions, research its religion, research the history that has formed our roots.

There is work for us to do and it may not be us that reap the benefits but let's build a legacy for our kids and their kids so they don’t have to live on land where they don’t love us.

#expression #black #africa #nigeria #religion #thought #thinkpiece #independence #freedom #God