Step out of the history that is holding you. Step into the new story you are willing to create
– Oprah Winfrey.
Sir: This inspiring quote, linked to Oprah Winfrey, beautifully captures the essence of seizing the reins of your life story. It encourages you to intentionally step forward and shape your unique future. The eloquence of the quote inspires the writing of the piece to conscientise my Yoruba kith and kin.
Kudos to the Rotimi Daniels Foundation, Real Talk With Aunty Adunni, and others for sparking a religious and moral revival! Rotimi is shaking up Nigeria’s spiritual landscape, and his programme is challenging the status quo, stirring the minds of those misguided voices in the pulpits.
Bishop Ajayi Crowther stumbled in a significant and awkward way while translating and transliterating the Holy Bible into the Yorùbá language.
Èsù is evilly illustrated and depicted as black by enslavers and neocolonialists. God and Jesus Christ are portrayed as holy and sacred, white by the same colonialists. Yet, African people celebrate the intentional depictions of both racial groups (white and black). The imaginary duplicity of Satan in black and Jesus in white is preposterous to the black race. Èsù is not Satan, as wrongly named by the late Bishop Ajayi Crowther. Satan in the religious lexicon of white masters is seen as evil to humanity. Èsù is a Yoruba deity that embodies the sacredness of Yoruba cultural heritage.
Undeniably, the legacy of colonialism has inflicted profound and generational harm upon our cultural heritage. This reality is inescapable and should be acknowledged with urgency.
While the colonial powers, having long vacated the realm of influence in which they once thrived, are now striving to reimagine and reconstruct the very foundations of their societies into viable structures that will serve their future generations, the situation in Africa paints a contrasting picture. Too many of our leaders have fallen into the trap of utilising the remnants of colonialism not to uplift, but rather to exploit and swindle our own people, further entrenching the cycles of injustice and dependency.
However, amid these challenging circumstances, there remains a glimmer of hope. The path to redemption begins with a collective effort to redefine our values and reclaim our cultural treasures. It is imperative that we embark on this journey with purpose and conviction.
Moreover, we must confront the troubling influence of religion, which, in many contexts, has become a tool of manipulation, preying on the faith and hopes of the more gullible sectors of our population. For some, this system appears to be better than neocolonialism.
Still, in truth, neocolonialism poses an even greater threat—one that is arguably more sinister than the most exploitative aspects of religious doctrine. It is a subtle yet pervasive force that continues to mold and distort the already complex psychology of Africans, further entangling our minds in a web of conditioned responses that inhibit true freedom.
Let us not forget: our children’s children deserve freedom from the shackles of this mental slavery.
It is upon us, the current generation, to pave the way for liberation, ensuring that future generations inherit a legacy of empowerment and cultural authenticity rather than one of oppression and deceit.
The time has come to awaken and reclaim our narrative, to strengthen our identities, and to empower every individual within our communities. Together, we can rewrite the story of our heritage, fostering resilience and fortitude in the face of historical adversity. Let us rise up and make this transformation today, for our future!
Yahaya Balogun wrote from Arizona, United States of America.
