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Voodoo Is Not Evil Fetish My Dear Nigerian Film-makers, Censors Officials and Broadcast Regulators
Are the Nigerian film-makers cursed for their negative portrayal of African religion as evil?
Let us not be self-hating Negros!
Professor Wole Soyinka, a proud follower of African Spirituality is more respected locally and internationally than the typical "Hallelujah" and "Allahu-Akbar" fanatic.
Churches and mosque groups are insulting African Traditional Religion as witchcraft, the herbalists as witch-doctors and the worship centres as Satanic shrines. And the stupid African stupidly believes the stupid propaganda!
I understand that many videos in Nigeria are financed by burn-again churches that are basically following the examples of radical intolerant American fundamentalist evangelical churches. More unfortunate is the fact that the church-financed or gospel (hallelujah) films support the Hollywood stereotype that African Voodoo is evil and Jesus or Western ideals are the best redeemers of Africa!
If Voodoo is evil, why is it not banned in Brazil, a huge Catholic country, Cuba, an atheist communist state, the United States of America, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Mozambique, South Africa and all other African or Diaspora communities? If voodoo is bad how comes late Susanne Wenger could not be cured by Western medicine for her life-threatening sickness in 1950 but by a traditional African Voodoo Babalawo healer and later lived for 94 years? Although the traditional hears are herbalists, they are often wrongly portrayed as cannibals engaged in human sacrifices. This is very bad.
Countries than have huge Voodoo followers are even more stable and prosperous than countries were the Abrahamic religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism are fighting for supremacy. Just compare Nigeria with say Cuba, Brazil, Mozambique or Benin Republic. Professor Wole Soyinka, a proud follower of African Spirituality is more respected locally and internationally than the typical Hallelujah and Allahu Akbar fanatic.
Yes some charlatans are misusing African Voodoo and they must be punished just like the fake pastors who are branding innocent children and women as witches and extorting money from poor worshippers. I just wonder why the lies being propagated in “Jesus' name” are traded as truth! Please stop the bias religious propaganda and let the genuine filmmakers do their job of enlightening people in a rational manner. Don't get me wrong. I am neither anti-God nor anti-religion as I am from an old West African family of moderate Muslim-Sufis of the Tijaniyaa Denomination. I am simply anti-hypocrisy!
The prophets of intolerance cannot seriously claim to be defending African Values as all the monotheistic religions they are using to argue are foreign imports. It is the serious Voodoo Practitioners like those of the Republic of Benin who can talk about defending the true African Values. In fact no one can talk about bringing faith/salvation to Africans, be it monotheist or otherwise. In case your favourite pastor or Imam did not tell you, a Blackman was one of the Three Kings that welcomed Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. A Blackman, Bilal, was the First Muslim to call to payers at the Holy Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. So you are not a lost soul if you resist the Christian paternoster and the Muslim Alhamdulillah. Don't just abandon your ancestral religion if it is not affecting your peace and progress. It is pure inferior complex for an African to tell his/her fellow African to abandon his/her traditional religion for an imported one for lazy reasons. Let us not be self-hating Niggas!
Anyone who makes a critical movie or art work about Islam or Christianity is either censored, ostracised, blackmailed, boycotted or killed. The tele-imams and tele-evangelists complain about Islamophobia and Christanophobia while forgetting about their own Voodophobia. You remember the noise over my Somali sister Ayan Hisli Ali's movie “Submission”, Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders' “Fitna”, Salman Rushdi's Satanic Verses, the Danish Mohammed cartoons, singer Madonna's Like a Prayer video and latest mock crucifixions on stage and, Mel Gibson's Passion of Christ movie? But the intolerant gospel/hallelujah moviemakers are allowed to portray African religion as evil without any sense of injustice or remorse and thus sabotaging the original goals of the Nigerian home movie entrepreneurs - liberating Africans from cultural slavery. Nigerians filmmakers must free themselves from this religious slavery. We need an independent, brave creative Nigerian/African movie sector, not “Hallelujahwood” and “Talibanwood!” You will never see an Indian Bollywood movie portray Hinduism Kama Sutra (sexuality), Ayurveda (natural medicine) and other indigenous practices as evil and backward.The Japanese will never degrade their Geisha traditions as decadence or prostitution.
During my last tour of Africa between March and June 2009, I was terrified in seeing how our beautiful Continent is turning into an Armageddon of Christian and Islamic fundamentalism with Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya,South Africa and D.R. Congo as some of the most sensitive front-line states. Religion has become a multi billion dollar business exploiting the poor, sick, needy and the gullible. Some religious groups are operating like Mafia organisations or sates-within-states under the disguise of charity while using political decision-makers and influential members of society as their lapdogs. Mummed Yunus of Bangladesh with his non-religious microfinance system has taken more people out of poverty than the so called men and women of God fooling the poor.
Therefore religious movies and media products coming out of Nigeria in particular should help diffuse the tension and strop the exploitation by spreading the message of love, social cohesion, democracy, the Rule of Law, religious tolerance and diversity as Islam, Christianity and Judaism do not have the monopoly on faith and spirituality. If the message of Muhammed, Jesus and David are universal, so to the massage of the African deities of Ifa and genuine Voodoo priests. People have the the birth right to choose between religions, ethics and spirituality without manipulation. The continuous marginalisation of Traditional African Religion is an insult to the people of African Descent. If Christian and Muslim holidays are are recognised and promoted in Africa, why can't Tradition African Holidays to be given the fair right? Stop the cultural suicide.
Besides, Nigeria as the world leading black nation, has as the moral, historical, political, economic and cultural obligation to protect and promote Traditional African Religion just like the Benin Republic or South African with its state-registered Sangoma (traditional healer) system that keeps out charlatans. If not for the intolerant domestic rival Nigerian Muslim-Christian groups but for the people of African descent the world over. The National Film and Video Censors Boars, the National Broadcasting Commission, the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and all other sister African authorities should control religious content. Any movie than does not promote social cohesion, respect for other forms of worship, national stability, should not be allowed into the market. The extremist religious epidemic is as lethal as HIV/AIDS and Malaria. This statement from Professor Soyinka should serve motive the decision-makers into acting in the interest of social justice “the root cause is the passive permission of governments in Nigeria who have been using the language of appeasement to those who kill in the name of religion.” Nigerian must not be AGHANIGERISTAN, IRANAIJA or HALLELUJASTAN!
The genuine Christian filmmakers of the Gospel/Halleluja film segment have the moral responsibility of making sore Christianity is not misused to promote hatred, intolerance and caricature of all other forms of spirituality as evil. Christianity teaches respect, peace and tolerance. Religious content be it Christian, Muslim or otherwise should focus on the NEUTRAL explanation of the scriptures so people can made independent decisions. People should be encouraged to take full responsibility for their actions instead of lazily blaming the devil, their competitor or neighbour for every nonsense.
A lot of hypocritical noise is made about sex and nudity in the movies. But the truth is that religious hate preachers pose bigger threat to public decency, social cohesion and national security than say, actress Cossy Orjiakor 's husband-snatching breasts and movie star Dakore Egbuson's irresistible curves. Don't tell me killing or fooling people in the names of Jesus and Mohammed is more decent than dancing Makossa nude! Who has the exclusive right to define morality for a world as diverse as ours? Nigeria alone has around 250 ethnic groups;who has the right to say the moral thinking of the three main groups- Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani and Igbo- must be imposed on the remaining 247 groups?
Yours
Bubacarr Sankanu,
Founder of The Foungan Makandal Brotherhood (Kore) of The African Spirituality
Suggest a Name to replace Nollywood Anti-Porn & Adult Segment Is Nudity Un-African?
On Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 9:54 AM, suntou touray
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Please read his other engagements. In the quest to log into certain institutions, one has to betray what one is. The extent the game works is sad. Sankanu has written a lot nonsense attacking Islam at every given opportunity. To validate himself, now he think his little scanty reading on Western enlightenment prepare him for lecturing the Mandingos and other Muslims.
He must be fickle to think that, his trash warrant serious response. However, people like him cannot afford to be ignored. They wish to be discussed just like the 'whole life crisis' so-call editor. One has to feel sorry for them. Below is Sankanu's trash saying that, 'Voodoo is good'. Sankunu will do himself justice if can convince his German hosts who are entering into Islam to quit it instead of the Mandingos who have been Muslims for over a thousand years. The pillock need to wise up. Dude, we have read all the crap that you are bragging with. To be frank, you seem sad. Digging into his commercial atheism is necessary to reveal his motivations. With the quest to tap into certain funds, one has to betray his/her conscience to be allowed such resources. Many are at it with the new western strategy of using Diasporan against their own folks. New breeds or the re-emergence of colonial collaborators...Sankanu is not funny anymore. The nake Prince is at again...
Voodoo Is Not Evil http://www.africac.org/CinemaArtsofNigeriaCINENIGERIA.html
Why is the African Religion portrayed in the Nigerian and Ghanaian movies as evil?
By Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu
My Dearest Nigerian and Ghanaian Filmmakers, Regulators and Fans,
African Traditional Religion (Ifa, Voodoo) is not as evil. All religions are equal but because of inferiority complex, stupidity or cultural colonialism, Africans are marginalising their ancestral Voodoo (Ifa) Religion.
The Qur'an said "Let there be no compulsion in religion."(Al-Qur'an 2:256). Those who are therefore trying to force Sharia or the born-again "pater nostra" propaganda on people by force or deception are disrespecting God. Even in an Islamic Sharia State, Non-Muslim minorities, be they the Magunzawas or atheists, have the right to be protected as "Dhimi" with space to practice their forms of worship peacefully.
"Whoever hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys God." (Hadith Bukhari). The Qur’an further recognises religious pluralism. “To you belongs your religion, and to me, mine (lakum dini kum waliya dini) (Al Qur'an 109:6)!"
If the AFRICAN RENAISSANCE is to succeed, African Religion must be freed from the societal marginalization, discrimination by Christian and Muslim groups, misrepresentations in Nigerian/Ghanaian home videos and the Hollywood “voodoo doll” stereotypes!
All religions in the world face aberrations. Not all Muslims are terrorists and extremists. Not all pastors and evangelists are living the luxurious lifestyles of politicians and business tycoons while their followers are getting poorer and poorer!
Our African Religion has positive sides as well. So not all BABALAWOS (herbalists) are satanic witches and evil Juju makers! Africans are not late comers to the Abrahamic Religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism) and do not need aggressive and bias missionary propaganda. A Black man was one of the Three Kings who welcomed baby Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. A Black man Bilal was the First Person to call to prayers at Muslim Holy Kaaba in Mecca.
African Religion is as universal as Christianity, Islam or Judaism!
If African Religion is evil, why has the Republic of Benin recognized it officially as a Religion?
Ironically, the Diaspora Africans in places like Cuba (Santeria), Brazil (Candoble), Haiti, Trinidad &Tobago and USA, to name a few, respect African Religion more than the brainwashed Continental Africans! The Late Susanne Wenger a white woman left Europe and Christianity to dedicate her life to the advancement of African Religion in Oshogbo, Osun State of Nigeria. Why?
Nigeria as Africa and the World's Most Populous Black Nation has a historical, cultural, political, economic and moral responsibility to protect this African Living Heritage. Not for the sake of the intolerant Muslim and Christian groups fighting for supremacy but for the sake of the Peoples of African Descent worldwide!
All religions are being abused today for money and politics. If one cannot be a politician, a government contractor, an internet scammer, drug trafficker, money launderer, armed robber or kidnapper, one is tempted to form a church or mosque to exploit the religiousness of Nigerians and Africans!
It is funny that God is still not answering the prayers for electrify, water supply, protection from armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, corruption, poverty, despite the fact that millions of believers are flocking into the Churches and Mosques Has ten year of Sharia uplifted Northern Nigeria from poverty and the so called vices? Has the “Made in USA” born-again Pentecostal movement is Southern Nigeria improved the standards of living of their followers? Why is God not answering the prayers? Innocent old women and children are being abused as witches in the name of God who must be angry with the blatant abuse of religion which has now turning into a billion dollar be rich quick industry.
The filmmaker and journalists seem to be more interesting in portraying the clerics who are living bling-bling fabulous lifestyles in “God’s name” than recognizing the silent Nigerian answers to Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King Junor or Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
May be a "Religious Crimes Commission" or an “African Spirituality Court (for traditional religion)" should be formed by the Nigerian Government to, among others, isolate the charlatans from the genuine ones. Declaring public holidays for African Religions will be a positive move against discrimination. Holders of public officer should also be encouraged to swear by the gods of African tradition religion when taking public office to help beat bad leadership. May corrupt officials and tycoons who once swore by the Bible and the Qur’an are now regular guests of the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
I humbly appeal to all Nigerian Filmmakers, the Officials of the Censors Board (NFVCB) and the Broadcasting Commission, to engage the services of genuine experts of African Religion as consultants so that future movies and media products can show balanced Africa. Perhaps some stakeholders are ignorant about their heritage and need inspiration from the rich African Ancestral Archives.
Respected Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani is an authority worthy of emulation. He researches his work diligently showing the richness of African Civilization in a productive manner.
Nigerian is a multinational secular State of at least 250 ethnic groups. It will be very said and destructive if the Christian-Muslim values of the three (3) leading groups are imposed on the remaining 247 through movies, music, media and other creative arts forms!
The problems of the Niger Delta originated from the economic exclusion of the minorities. Excluding or marginalising the Non-Muslim and Non-Christian minority ethnic nations through the creative and culture industry (movies, music, TV, etc), will brake up Nigeria! For a person without a vibrant culture is a dead one!
The Indians have many Hindu gods like Ganesha, Krishna,Hanuma, Rama, etc. Have you ever watched an Indians Bollywood movie in which the Hindu religion is portrayed as evil? Are the Indians portraying their Khama Sutra sexuality traditional as obscene, decadent and immoral like the way we Africans hypocritically do about say, the semi-nude roles of actress Cossy Orijaor or Halima Abubakar? Yet India has more influential Muslims and Christians than Nigeria! The Japanese will never call their centuries- old Geisha tradition as high class prostitution. The Chinese are exporting their traditional medicine and the Indian traditional Ayurveda is now part of the global wellness business.
It is not funny that the Indian Bollywood movies are not being banned by the Censors Boards and the Hisbah Sharia Police for “anti-Islamic idol worshipping messages” despite the fact that the Bollywood movies show Indian acts worshipping or celebrating their Hindu gods and rituals with pride? But Northern Nigerian movie makers, writers, musicians and fashion designers face strict censor as if the Arewa Civilization has no room for music, creativity, romance, dance, fashion, sexuality, leisure and social commentary.
A very rich Arewa Heritage existed before Islam and Sharia and still exists. Killing this Arewa Heritage is like committing mass cultural suicide. We must not forget that the Trans- Saharan trade by the Arabs who brought Islam to us was no less brutal than the Trans-Atlantic slave trade by the Europeans who brought Christianity to Africa.
Islam and Christianity are not against arts and creative freedom. Why is the Vatican not erasing those nude scenes Michelangelo painted on the ceilings of the Sistin Chapel in Rome? The top Indian acts like Sharukh Khan or music composer A.R. Rahman are Muslims!
Let us wake up! Remember since the invention of Cinema screening by the Lumière Brothers in1895, Africa was portrayed negatively or according the terms of outsiders. Our generation has therefore the duty to start filling in this gap of 114 years of misrepresentation. Portraying African Religion, Heritage and Traditions as veil and copying Hollywood, MTV and Bollywood are the wrong approach. Every inch of the Nigerian soil is full of inspiration. Besides, 250 ethnic groups mean 250 rich archives to learn from.
Feel free to send me your feedbacks. We need healthy debates to take the Nigerian and African Film Industry to the next level. I intend to sincerely contribute my quota through my ten-year “Global Branding and Capacity Building Programme for the Nigeria Cinema Industry (2008-2018)!”
Thank you very much for your understanding.
Best Regards,
Prince Bubacarr Aminata. Sankanu
African Council for Arts and Culture e.V.
Read more: http://www.afrowall.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=1ec77a6d843247fdcd3ea9398ea9457f&topic=13313.msg81424#msg81424#ixzz0ySCYfnEB
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Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
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