THE NIGERIAN JUNK RELIGION

By Akin Ojumu

For the vast majority of Nigerian church folks, getting rid of the traditional native pagan religion mindset is a tough ask. Although many of these people claim to have converted to Christianity, nevertheless, they are unable to purge themselves of the beliefs and practices of their pagan background. 

What you often find in many Nigerian “Church” settings are pagan religious customs syncretically incorporated into Christian liturgy and worship. Regardless of the size and influence of the denomination, what obtains is that traditional pagan religious practices have been Christianized and adopted as the norm.

Featuring prominently in this odd scenario of syncretism is a few powerful men and women who have been elevated to godlike status. There is almost always an unshakeable belief in witches and wizards, perpetual fight against enemies of destinies, and incessant prayers against eaters of flesh and drinkers of blood. People who belong to these denominations are often fascinated and enthralled with supernatural phenomena such as levitation, teleportation, astral travel, drinking tea with God, breaking light bulbs by chanting incantations, using the mind to control events, causing water in bottles to boil by simply praying, boiling egg by throwing it on the floor, celestial travels, angelic visitations, etc., etc., etc. 

Unfortunately, this brand of Christianity, which is nothing but a syncretic pagan religion, has metastasized to other African countries. Various Nigerian denominations have exported their toxic brew of traditional African religion and Christianity to other parts of Africa. Like a metastasizing cancer, the result has been the seeding of a terminally diseased religion all over the continent.

It is this phenomenon that Conrad Mbewe, a Zambian Pastor and Theologian, addresses in this video clip. Christening it the “Nigerian Junk,” Conrad describes it as a transactional form of African spiritism which bears no resemblance to Biblical Christianity.