Common Grounds in the Religious Practices of the Igbomina People in Eastern Yorubaland
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Date
2013
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin
Abstract
Religion has been part of every society. Indigenous religion was also a culture. Centuries later, came Islam and subsequently, Christianity. In the course of propagating the neo-religions, there emerged a proliferation of their organs which have continued to increase in number and wax stronger. They have become a source of disunity among the members of the same faith and inter-faith. However, in this disunity, there is unity which provided common grounds that guarantee continuous peace and harmony among the Igbomina in eastern Yorubaland. While this paper does not deny the differences in the beliefs and practices in the alien religions among the Igbomina which could be explosive time bombs or kegs of gun powder, if not well managed, the focus is to examine one of the common grounds (festivals, the most elaborate), and its strength and capability in sustaining peace in Igbominaland in the face of the increasing crisis engendered by religion. Through exploratory method,1 it is discovered that many nuclear and extended families across Igbominaland are mixed up with both Christian and Muslims. In some cases, the husband is of a religion while the wife is of the other. This development, rather than being a source of discord is a blessing in disguise. This is obvious in their festivals and ceremonies that family bond bring both Christian and Muslim siblings or friends together in the church or mosques, family houses or designated venues irrespective of their differences. Affinity and consanguinity kinship are equally potent connecting rods. Therefore, this paper concludes that the present challenges to separate the co-religionists in Nigeria may be an unrealizable dream among the Igbomina if the common features are stressed and the interest of every group or religion is upheld, none, to the detriment of the other.
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Keywords
Common grounds, Religious practices, Igbomina, African Traditional Religion, Islam, Christianity, Festivals
Citation
MLA, pp. 19-43