Belief system in Africa should conform to African realities

We should make sure that religions in China conform to China’s realities and observe the core socialist values. We should encourage religious leaders and believers to remain committed to our country, the Chinese nation, and the Chinese culture, and to support the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. – China President Xi Jinping.

Sir: The introduction of any belief system that is practically proven to be incompatible with the native people’s realities is defective, deceitful, and dead on arrival. Nature is dynamic; ditto the people’s belief system  – religion.

It is unacceptable, therefore, to assume that there is no connection between what someone believes in and the individual productivity capacity. Most times our belief status unconsciously restrains or constrains us. This is subliminally operational. We, therefore, find in this context that an individual may possess an innate ability to perform certain tasks but for some religious precepts and dogmas, he becomes incarcerated.

He is roundly incapacitated too because his willpower and inherent determination have been successfully subdued by whatever his assimilated outer world in religious toga has convinced him to do or not to do.

Whatever and whoever tries by whatever means to limit an individual or a people from fulfilling their nature-endowed potential should be considered an enemy and treated accordingly. The observation of a people’s traditional or religious ordinances should be encouraged to the point that it is not employed as a vehicle to stoke crisis in other places.

“The peculiar firewood located in a place suffices to prepare their meal for them,” is an African proverb that illustrates the effectiveness of one’s indigenous and native resources and qualities without recourse to foreign intervention. Guess what Africans would have become presently in terms of infrastructural development and economic advancement without the forceful enslavement under the cloak of civilisation and colonialism by the Western Hegemony nations.

Walter Rodney indeed captures and summarises this subject matter in his classic titled, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. A casual reading will make you realise who you are as an African and thereafter become confident and upbeat.

All is not lost yet. There is huge hope for us as both individuals and people. The saying “omataa ma gboo” which means “he who knows from today knows early” is instructive. If we begin today to retrace our steps and conduct ourselves wisely as a people, it’s a question of time before we commence the harvesting season. If we continue to ignore the need to harmonise what we imbibe as our belief system and God-given phenomenon or pragmatism, then we shall continue in this conundrum.

The unending developmental deficit in Africa and those who masterminded it are perpetually enjoying the loud silence of their purported slaves  – you and me. But when we’re grown up and wise, strong enough to question our pitiable conditions, even nature, and other forces will rise to support us.

Conformity between the religious profession of a people and their peculiar qualities and culture is a prerequisite for their fundamental advancement and potential realisation. This must be factored by the government in the making of their laws and considered as sacrosanct.

No nation or people is known to adhere to a belief system that is alien to the native people who have enjoyed sustainable growth and coexistence. There must be a breakaway someday. “You can deceive some people sometimes. But you can’t deceive all the people all the time,” sang Bob Marley. Considering that, you will recognise the recent Pan-Africanism reconnaissance raising their voices so vocal, eloquent, and audacious calling for the people to return to their local religion and roots.

Steve Obum Orajiaku wrote from Lagos.