Are the Yoruba the number one in religious tolerance?
August 24, 2012 by Azuka Onwuka

When it comes to religion, are the Yoruba people of Nigeria the most tolerant race in the whole world? It may not be wise to say yes because of the absence of any endorsement of such a position by a global body like the United Nations. But having travelled to many parts of Nigeria and some parts of the world; having read books about several peoples of the world, I can comfortably say that I have not seen or heard of any country or people that tolerate one another on the issue of religion like the Yoruba of Nigeria.

As a child growing up in Igboland, I thought the Igbo were the most tolerant in matters of religion. For example, the only mosque in my hometown Nnewi was built right at the gate of the Diocesan Church Centre of the Anglican Church, which was the central church for Anglicans in the town when the head of the diocese was in Onitsha. The mosque was owned by the Hausa-Fulani community. Items like sugarcane, carrot and kulikuli were sold beside the mosque, and cobblers took care of people’s shoes there. I never missed the sugarcane and kulikuli any time I had cause to be at the church. Christians never bothered that Muslims (who were not sons and daughters of the community) situated their mosque by the gate of the central church of the Anglican Communion in the town.

There was no Muslim in my primary school; in my secondary school, there was a Muslim boy – a boy whose father was a policeman posted to the town. On Thursdays when we had our moral instruction classes, the chaplain of the school who was also the vice-principal, always announced that the Muslim boy was the only one exempted from participating in moral instruction classes because the school had no Islamic teacher. Other pupils must either be at the Roman Catholic section or the Protestant section. We all envied the boy for the preferential treatment he always got as the only Muslim boy in our school.

With this type of background, I grew up with the assumption that the Igbo must be the most tolerant in matters of religion in Nigeria. But there were events that made me have a rethink later in life. When I was growing up, my community had two major Christian denominations: Anglicans and Catholics. Almost all the schools in the town were founded by the two churches. Parents usually sent their children to these schools based on their Christian denominations, even after the state government took over the schools. At the close of school each day, there was usually a point where pupils of the Anglican Church-founded schools met pupils of the Catholic Church-founded school. Preachers, church teachers and parents had indoctrinated the children that only their denomination was the one endorsed by God. So at such meetings, taunting songs would be sung and a fight would ensue between Anglican and Catholic children.

But that was not all. Many young men and women could not marry one another because one was Anglican and the other was Catholic. Especially from the Catholic community, it was always an uphill task for a girl to be allowed to be married by an Anglican or a member of the Protestant Church. But one thing that was shared by all the Christian denominations was that no married woman was allowed to attend a church different from the one her husband attended. The few who insisted on continuing with the church of their birth while in their matrimonial homes either caused a deep rift in their marriage or even lost their marriage entirely.

Compare that with a typical Yoruba family. A couple with six children could have a family like this: the man is a Muslim; the wife attends the Celestial Church of Christ; the first child started as a Muslim but converted to Christianity and is now a member of a Pentecostal church; the second child is a devout Muslim; the third and fifth children are members of the Methodist or Baptist church; the fourth child attends no church or mosque but prefers the Yoruba gods whenever he has any spiritual needs; and the last child is an Anglican.

One would assume that with this seemingly cacophony of religions in this family, there would be constant religious tension, hatred, quarrels and fights in it. No. In Yorubaland, no one disturbs the other because of religion. Interestingly, during Islamic festivals, Christians join their Muslim relatives to celebrate. Also during Christian festivals, the Muslims join their relatives to celebrate. For example, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, is a Muslim, while his wife is a Christian.

In the larger Yoruba society, the issue of religion is not a factor while considering a candidate for an elective post. For example, Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, did two terms as Lagos State governor and handed over to Fashola, a Muslim, who is doing his second tenure in office now.

Such high level of religious tolerance is not even obtainable in countries that are known for freedom and rights like the United States of America and the United Kingdom. In such countries, even though there is religious freedom, there are certain social and political positions that some people may never dream of.

This wonderful trait of the Yoruba needs to be publicised. If such a trait were from an American community, several documentaries, films and books would have been produced based on it. If the Federal Government would not publicise such, it behoves the Yoruba nation to sponsor the production of such materials.

In addition, the Yoruba nation should embark on a religious-tolerance campaign across the federation and even the world. That will offer them the opportunity through which they will teach other races how they have mastered the art of religious tolerance. There is no denying that religion is a major threat to world peace today. Nigeria is getting its share of violence. Therefore, any effort that will help to reduce the threat will be a welcome development.

•Onwuka, a brand management strategist in Lagos, wrote in via azonwuka@yahoo.com

http://www.punchng.com/opinion/are-the-yoruba-the-number-one-in-religious-tolerance/

Abiala, Titus
c. 1845 to 1944
Anglican
Nigeria

Titus Abiala was born around 1843 at Ajibesin compound, Modakeke via Ile-Ife, in Modakeke Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. His parents were part of the Modakeke people group, and were followers of Obatala (a Yoruba divinity). In the late 1890s Abiala converted to Christianity after being influenced by the catechist of St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Ita Asin in Modakeke. He then was baptized and took on the baptismal name "Titus." Although he had no formal education, Abiala was able to read the Bible in the Yoruba language.

In 1909 there was a political clash between the Modakeke and Ife people that led to the dispersal of the Modakeke to different Yoruba towns, including Gbongan, Ikire, Apomu, Tonkere, and Odeomu. Abiala decided to settle in Gbongan and became the first person to make Christianity known there.

The place where Abiala settled in Gbongan was named Ajibesin compound after his ancestral home in Modakeke. Here he began a Bible study group with a few Christian immigrants from Modakeke. They met near a blacksmith's workshop, in the house of a man named Ogundele.

However, the people of Gbongan were very hostile toward this new religion. Mainly Muslims or worshippers of Egungun (the collective spirit of the ancestors, worshipped through masquerades), they considered it an assault against their traditional beliefs, and persecuted Abiala and the other Christian converts. Sacrifices were put at the place where they met, and on several occasions masqueraders beat the Christians. Christians and Muslims clashed when the latter were accused of disturbing the Christians' Sunday worship with noise. In 1910 this even led to litigation at the high court of justice in Ibadan. Another time the Christians protested when the Kanmoloolu masqueraders disturbed their Sunday worship with the beating of their drums. This led to a brawl in which Abiala's wife, Mrs. Merian Omirinde, was injured with a charm. The wound would not heal, even with medicine, and she died as a result.

Abiala was a man of prayer and faith, even treating those who had small pox with prayers. His activities led to the founding of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Gbongan, in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State. Many of his children and grandchildren have taken up service as priests. His eldest daughter, Julianah Abiala, became an Iya Aladura (prophetess) and one of his grandchildren, the Venerable Babatunde Ebenezer Abiala, is an archdeacon in the Ijebu dioceses of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria (2008).

Ayodele Adetayo Ajayi
Sources:

Pa Caleb Oyetayo, member of Ajibesin house in Gbongan, age 79, interview by author, April 8, 2007, Oke-Elu, Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria.
Pa G. O. Adegbenro, Abiala's son-in-law, age 82, interview by author, April 8, 2007, Olufi Area, Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria.

This article, received in 2008, was researched and written by Mr. Ayodele Adetayo Ajayi, a student at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, under the supervision of Rev. Dr. Deji Ayegboyin, DACB liaison coordinator.

http://www.dacb.org/stories/aa-print-stories/nigeria/abiala_titus.html

This guy speaks the truth 100%. Nonetheless, I don't expect most of his Nairaland kinsmen to agree. Most are in the category of those indoctrinated , hardcore, to never think or say anything good about Yoruba people. They would rather spend 100% of their time lying to themselves and the entire world that the Yoruba people are the worst to exist when the truth on the ground makes a mockery of their daily lies. In fact, I expect many of them to attack this chap and call him ungracious name simply because he has made a truthful observation.

There are many things very admirable about Yoruba people and culture even if many ,in the cauldron of raw ethnic hate that Nairaland is, will never admit so.

Gbawe: This guy speaks the truth 100%. Nonetheless, I don't expect most of his Nairaland kinsmen to agree. Most are in the category of those indoctrinated , hardcore, to never think or say anything good about Yoruba people. They would rather spend 100% of their time lying to themselves and the entire world that the Yoruba people are the worst to exist when the truth on the ground makes a mockery of their daily lies. In fact, I expect many of them to attack this chap and call him ungracious name simply because he has made a truthful observation.

There are many things very admirable about Yoruba people even if many ,in the cauldron of hate that Nairaland is, will never admit so.

the 'hate' go both ways.do not make it as if it flows from one end only.

Ibadan masqueraders protest alleged assault
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KEMI OLAITAN 06/07/2012 08:26:00
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Following the alleged assaults on the most fearful masquerade in Ibadanland, “Oloolu’, the masquerade fraternity yesterday stormed the palace of Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, to formally lodge complaint. It will be recalled that some interior parts of the ancient city, including Popoyemoja, Idi-Arere and Beere among others were in turmoil on Tuesday and Wednesday as a result of the crisis involving the supporters of the masquerade and some youths in the affected areas.

National Mirror gathered that the masquerade and his supporters were injured in the fracas which was described as unprovoked by the leader of the Oloolu family, Ojetunde Akinleye Asoleke, who led the team to the Olubadan Palace.

Asoleke, who is the Olori Alaagbaa of Ibadanland, said the development was a desecration of the tradition and culture of the city, stat-ing that it was the first time such would happen to the masquerade.

He said the assault was orchestrated by some Muslim youths, decrying the indiscriminate arrest of about 20 of his supporters.

Asoleke noted that the most bizarre of the incident was the removal of the traditional regalia of Oloolu as well as the arrest of the carrier.

He dismissed the claim on some local electronic media that the carrier of Oloolu died during the fracas, adding that the news was mischievous.

Asoleke said the Oloolu carrier was critically injured, but not killed as claimed by the media report.

He said: “We feel sad-dened by the report that our man was killed as this was farther from the truth. No doubt, he was badly wound-ed as you can all see (showing the wounds sustained by the Oloolu on his arm and head), but was not killed.

“The costume seized by the men of Operation Burst has been retrieved and the festival would resume in earnest.”

The Olori Alaagbaa, who appealed to the Olubadan to ensure the release of all the supporters arrested and detained by the police, also urged him to prevail on security agencies not to allow them to be used to cause disaffection among the people.


http://nationalmirroronline.net/news/44485.html

johnie:
Abiala, Titus
c. 1845 to 1944
Anglican
Nigeria

Titus Abiala was born around 1843 at Ajibesin compound, Modakeke via Ile-Ife, in Modakeke Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. His parents were part of the Modakeke people group, and were followers of Obatala (a Yoruba divinity). In the late 1890s Abiala converted to Christianity after being influenced by the catechist of St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Ita Asin in Modakeke. He then was baptized and took on the baptismal name "Titus." Although he had no formal education, Abiala was able to read the Bible in the Yoruba language.

In 1909 there was a political clash between the Modakeke and Ife people that led to the dispersal of the Modakeke to different Yoruba towns, including Gbongan, Ikire, Apomu, Tonkere, and Odeomu. Abiala decided to settle in Gbongan and became the first person to make Christianity known there.

The place where Abiala settled in Gbongan was named Ajibesin compound after his ancestral home in Modakeke. Here he began a Bible study group with a few Christian immigrants from Modakeke. They met near a blacksmith's workshop, in the house of a man named Ogundele.

However, the people of Gbongan were very hostile toward this new religion. Mainly Muslims or worshippers of Egungun (the collective spirit of the ancestors, worshipped through masquerades), they considered it an assault against their traditional beliefs, and persecuted Abiala and the other Christian converts. Sacrifices were put at the place where they met, and on several occasions masqueraders beat the Christians. Christians and Muslims clashed when the latter were accused of disturbing the Christians' Sunday worship with noise. In 1910 this even led to litigation at the high court of justice in Ibadan. Another time the Christians protested when the Kanmoloolu masqueraders disturbed their Sunday worship with the beating of their drums. This led to a brawl in which Abiala's wife, Mrs. Merian Omirinde, was injured with a charm. The wound would not heal, even with medicine, and she died as a result.

Abiala was a man of prayer and faith, even treating those who had small pox with prayers. His activities led to the founding of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Gbongan, in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State. Many of his children and grandchildren have taken up service as priests. His eldest daughter, Julianah Abiala, became an Iya Aladura (prophetess) and one of his grandchildren, the Venerable Babatunde Ebenezer Abiala, is an archdeacon in the Ijebu dioceses of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria (2008).

Ayodele Adetayo Ajayi
Sources:

Pa Caleb Oyetayo, member of Ajibesin house in Gbongan, age 79, interview by author, April 8, 2007, Oke-Elu, Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria.
Pa G. O. Adegbenro, Abiala's son-in-law, age 82, interview by author, April 8, 2007, Olufi Area, Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria.

This article, received in 2008, was researched and written by Mr. Ayodele Adetayo Ajayi, a student at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, under the supervision of Rev. Dr. Deji Ayegboyin, DACB liaison coordinator.

http://www.dacb.org/stories/aa-print-stories/nigeria/abiala_titus.html

erhhm johniee is this article supposed to counter the original topic?

Tension in Ogun as Muslims, traditionalists clash
On July 29, 2012 · In News
12:45 am
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By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta

There was palpable tension in Ikenne,Ogun State, yesterday, when the Oro cult imposed a 24-hour restriction of movement in the town in defiance of an order by Ogun State government.

The flagrant defiance occurred few hours after some Islamic leaders in the town were attacked by Oro cultists for reporting them to government over the planned restriction of movement.

Muslims in the area had petitioned the state government and other stakeholders in the state which led to a peace meeting held on Wednesday at the instance of the state governent.

At the end of the meeting, government ordered the Oro cult group in Ikenne to restrict their activities of their on-going annual festival to their own section of the town.

It further ordered the deployment of policemen in the town to enforce the order,but, when Sunday Vanguard visited the town yesterday, neither policemen nor any other security operatives were seen.

The whole town was deserted as doors and windows of houses in the town were firmly shut.
There was also no human and vehicular movement in the town except the adherents of the Oro cult group that were seen in some parts of the town dressed like females.

By tradition,it is forbiden for women to behold the Oro cult members while on procession.

It was gathered that several residents of the town who did not want to be caught up in the no-movement order imposed by the Oro cult group left the town on Friday for neighbouring communities.

In his reaction, the Chairman of Ikenne local government, Mr Tajudeen Salako, said the action of the group should not be seen as a defiance of the state government order.

He however appealed to the people of Ikenne to endure the restriction imposed by the Oro cult in the town.

When asked to comment on the attack on Muslims, Salako said he was aware that Oro cultists threatened Muslims, adding that it had been reported to the police.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Muyiwa Adejobi, however, said that the police were monitoring the situation in the town.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/07/tension-in-ogun-as-muslims-traditionalists-clash/

asha 80: erhhm johniee is this article supposed to counter the original topic?

Just to put the facts on the table and allow for objective discourse.

Yorubas are tolerant generally, as per religion, we are too mixed not to. The religious tolerance is within limits sha, the MO is to respect the other person's choice and rituals.

hercules07: Yorubas are tolerant generally, as per religion, we are too mixed not to. The religious tolerance is within limits sha, the MO is to respect the other person's choice and rituals.

It is the tolerance which gives rise to the many mixtures otherwise intolerance would lead to conflict and consequently - a dominant religion.

To understand the basis of tolerance, one must understand Yoruba philosophy and cosmology. Yoruba philosophy makes it possible for the Yoruba to assimilate any religion rather than being consumed by it.

I don't think so. I just feel that they have no choice to tolerate one another because the population of Christians and Muslims are sort of like 50-50. It could have been a different case if one religion was a majority and the other minority just like it is in Northern Nigeria.

afam4eva: I don't think so. I just feel that they have no choice to tolerate one another because the population of Christians and Muslims are sort of like 50-50. It could have been a different case if one religion was a majority and the other minority just like it is in Northern Nigeria.

Remember that both religions are foreign and they did not come at the same time, that means there were times when the population of one religion was more than the other.

Yes, they are number one

I think Yoruba are generally like that, even here in the North they live peacefully with their neighbours regardless of your religion.

abes:

Remember that both religions are foreign and they did not come at the same time, that means there were times when the population of one religion was more than the other.

And you are forgetting to add that the indigenous religion was not replaced.

Geomac: I think Yoruba are generally like that, even here in the North they live peacefully with their neighbours regardless of your religion.

Yes, you're right. I'm still trying to understand why it's so. Though i have some reasons which i think are responsible for this kind of situation apart from the demographics scenario i gave earlier.

Katsumoto:

And you are forgetting to add that the indigenous religion was not replaced.

can you help me explain the other articles the op johnie posted?

Btw, here's a related thread that i created some days back https://www.nairaland.com/1019490/why-yoruba-people-too-liberal

afam4eva: I don't think so. I just feel that they have no choice to tolerate one another because the population of Christians and Muslims are sort of like 50-50. It could have been a different case if one religion was a majority and the other minority just like it is in Northern Nigeria.

Not true! Islam is still the majority religion in the west and a lot of us were born into muslim families before converting to christianity. Also, there are the traditionalists who though have become minorities; are still highly respected and still maintain a strong foundation of our roots as Yorubas. Most Yorubas have 'Ifa', 'Osun', 'Ogun', 'Awo', 'Esu' prefixes in their surnames to identify their family background but are non the less muslims or christians. We are just too intertwined to start looking myopically at religion as our identity. If anything, we would look toward our traditional roots and that is part of what makes us unique and the security to embrace others into our folds because despite the new age religions, we still know where we hail from and pay homage to our roots.

Desola:

Not true! Islam is still the majority religion in the west and a lot of us were born into muslim families before converting to christianity. Also, there are the traditionalists who though have become minorities; are still highly respected and still maintain a strong foundation of our roots as Yorubas. Most Yorubas have 'Ifa', 'Osun', 'Ogun', 'Awo', 'Esu' prefixes in their surnames to identify their family background but are non the less muslims or christians. We are just too intertwined to start looking myopically at religion as our identity. If anything, we would look toward our traditional roots and that is part of what makes us unique and the security to embrace others into our folds because despite the new age religions, we still know where we hail from and pay homage to our roots.

You have a point there. But about Islam being the majority religion, i beg to disagree.

in my home town,
there was a church situated on a street, 20 meters away from it, there was this mosque and almost opposite the church a shrine and by the shrine a joint.
there was never a clash.

God bless the Yoruba Nation

We are too sane for this contraption called Nigeria

The way real Human beings should live together.

Geomac: I think Yoruba are generally like that, even here in the North they live peacefully with their neighbours regardless of your religion.

probably because we were already civilised and secure as a people before the invasion of the colonial masters who brought their own brand of religion.

We had our deities, our own brands of religion which were revered and which worked for us. It's like the Hindus,really. Despite the invasion of the west, their religion is still waxing strong because their religion predate colonialism and was already deeply entrenched in the people's psyche.

kunlekunle: in my home town,
there was a church situated on a street, 20 meters away from it, there was this mosque and almost opposite the church a shrine and by the shrine a joint.
there was never a clash.

Why should there be a clash?

afam4eva:
You have a point there. But about Islam being the majority religion, i beg to disagree.

Rebut my claim, then.

Are you Yoruba?

Desola:

Rebut my claim, then.

Are you Yoruba?

I don't have to be Yoruba. I live in lagos and have Yoruba friends, so you can come and tell me that Muslims are the majority in Yorubaland. At least there's no census to support your claim. That's the reason i left it at 50-50.

johnie: Are the Yoruba the number one in religious tolerance?
August 24, 2012 by Azuka Onwuka

When it comes to religion, are the Yoruba people of Nigeria the most tolerant race in the whole world? It may not be wise to say yes because of the absence of any endorsement of such a position by a global body like the United Nations. But having travelled to many parts of Nigeria and some parts of the world; having read books about several peoples of the world, I can comfortably say that I have not seen or heard of any country or people that tolerate one another on the issue of religion like the Yoruba of Nigeria.

As a child growing up in Igboland, I thought the Igbo were the most tolerant in matters of religion. For example, the only mosque in my hometown Nnewi was built right at the gate of the Diocesan Church Centre of the Anglican Church, which was the central church for Anglicans in the town when the head of the diocese was in Onitsha. The mosque was owned by the Hausa-Fulani community. Items like sugarcane, carrot and kulikuli were sold beside the mosque, and cobblers took care of people’s shoes there. I never missed the sugarcane and kulikuli any time I had cause to be at the church. Christians never bothered that Muslims (who were not sons and daughters of the community) situated their mosque by the gate of the central church of the Anglican Communion in the town.

There was no Muslim in my primary school; in my secondary school, there was a Muslim boy – a boy whose father was a policeman posted to the town. On Thursdays when we had our moral instruction classes, the chaplain of the school who was also the vice-principal, always announced that the Muslim boy was the only one exempted from participating in moral instruction classes because the school had no Islamic teacher. Other pupils must either be at the Roman Catholic section or the Protestant section. We all envied the boy for the preferential treatment he always got as the only Muslim boy in our school.

With this type of background, I grew up with the assumption that the Igbo must be the most tolerant in matters of religion in Nigeria. But there were events that made me have a rethink later in life. When I was growing up, my community had two major Christian denominations: Anglicans and Catholics. Almost all the schools in the town were founded by the two churches. Parents usually sent their children to these schools based on their Christian denominations, even after the state government took over the schools. At the close of school each day, there was usually a point where pupils of the Anglican Church-founded schools met pupils of the Catholic Church-founded school. Preachers, church teachers and parents had indoctrinated the children that only their denomination was the one endorsed by God. So at such meetings, taunting songs would be sung and a fight would ensue between Anglican and Catholic children.

But that was not all. Many young men and women could not marry one another because one was Anglican and the other was Catholic. Especially from the Catholic community, it was always an uphill task for a girl to be allowed to be married by an Anglican or a member of the Protestant Church. But one thing that was shared by all the Christian denominations was that no married woman was allowed to attend a church different from the one her husband attended. The few who insisted on continuing with the church of their birth while in their matrimonial homes either caused a deep rift in their marriage or even lost their marriage entirely.

Compare that with a typical Yoruba family. A couple with six children could have a family like this: the man is a Muslim; the wife attends the Celestial Church of Christ; the first child started as a Muslim but converted to Christianity and is now a member of a Pentecostal church; the second child is a devout Muslim; the third and fifth children are members of the Methodist or Baptist church; the fourth child attends no church or mosque but prefers the Yoruba gods whenever he has any spiritual needs; and the last child is an Anglican.

One would assume that with this seemingly cacophony of religions in this family, there would be constant religious tension, hatred, quarrels and fights in it. No. In Yorubaland, no one disturbs the other because of religion. Interestingly, during Islamic festivals, Christians join their Muslim relatives to celebrate. Also during Christian festivals, the Muslims join their relatives to celebrate. For example, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, is a Muslim, while his wife is a Christian.

In the larger Yoruba society, the issue of religion is not a factor while considering a candidate for an elective post. For example, Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, did two terms as Lagos State governor and handed over to Fashola, a Muslim, who is doing his second tenure in office now.

Such high level of religious tolerance is not even obtainable in countries that are known for freedom and rights like the United States of America and the United Kingdom. In such countries, even though there is religious freedom, there are certain social and political positions that some people may never dream of.

This wonderful trait of the Yoruba needs to be publicised. If such a trait were from an American community, several documentaries, films and books would have been produced based on it. If the Federal Government would not publicise such, it behoves the Yoruba nation to sponsor the production of such materials.

In addition, the Yoruba nation should embark on a religious-tolerance campaign across the federation and even the world. That will offer them the opportunity through which they will teach other races how they have mastered the art of religious tolerance. There is no denying that religion is a major threat to world peace today. Nigeria is getting its share of violence. Therefore, any effort that will help to reduce the threat will be a welcome development.

•Onwuka, a brand management strategist in Lagos, wrote in via azonwuka@yahoo.com

http://www.punchng.com/opinion/are-the-yoruba-the-number-one-in-religious-tolerance/

What an arrant nonsense. Some dingbats such as the author of the above post who were bred in Lagos should keep their wealth of ignorance in their pockets.

afam4eva:
I don't have to be Yoruba. I live in lagos and have Yoruba friends, so you can come and tell me that Muslims are the majority in Yorubaland. At least there's no census to support your claim. That's the reason i left it at 50-50.

You've attempted this in the past, trying to put Yorubas at loggerheads as to which religion has the majority over the other but it didn't work.

The point with you migrants is that you visit one Yoruba state and conclude that you've seen it all. Lagos, as i've warned you long ago, is not the yardstick for religious representation. Reason being that we have a lot of you migrants there too who come from your enclaves to build churches due to the rights granted you by the Nigerian constitution. Go to other states within Yorubaland and carry out an emperical research and come back to relay your findings. My own assertion is based on origin and first hand experience. Yours is based on sight only.

Desola:

You've attempted this in the past, trying to put Yorubas at loggerheads as to which religion has the majority over the other but it didn't work.

The point with you migrants is that you visit one Yoruba state and conclude that you've seen it all. Lagos, as i've warned you long ago, is not the yardstick for religious representation. Reason being that we have a lot of you migrants there too who come from your enclaves to build churches due to the rights granted you by the Nigerian constitution. Go to other states within Yorubaland and carry out an emperical research and come back to relay your findings. My own assertion is based on origin and first hand experience. Yours is based on sight only.

I guess you saying that Yoruba Muslims are more than the Christians are not trying to put the Yorubas at loggerheads abi? But when i say the opposite then i'm a war monger.

The fact that you're Yoruba doesn't make you more knowledgeable about Yorubaland more than me because i've lived here most of my life and have traveled throughout the south-west and i can conclude that if anything, the Christians are more. But i just said it's 50-50 just to be fair. If you can provide proof to dispell my assertion the we'll have to agree to disagree.

afam4eva:
I guess you saying that Yoruba Muslims are more than the Christians are not trying to put the Yorubas at loggerheads abi? But when i say the opposite then i'm a war monger.

The fact that you're Yoruba doesn't make you more knowledgeable about Yorubaland more than me because i've lived here most of my life and have traveled throughout the south-west and i can conclude that if anything, the Christians are more. But i just said it's 50-50 just to be fair. If you can provide proof to dispell my assertion the we'll have to agree to disagree.

That you've lived all your life in Yorubaland and travelled extensively within it does not make you know didly squat! You might know a bit through research but you didn't live it as a Yoruba. There are some core values which are invested in us as Yorubas that you, no matter how much you rub shoulders with us or even marry into our tradition that can never be prof-erred upon you. Aside that, there is travelling and there is living it. You, have only lived your life as an ibo man in the west but not as a Yoruba man. The different is stark.

Desola:

That you've lived all your life in Yorubaland and travelled extensively within it does not make you know didly squat! You might know a bit through research but you didn't live it as a Yoruba. There are some core values which are invested in us as Yorubas that you, no matter how much you rub shoulders with us or even marry into our tradition that can never be prof-erred upon you. Aside that, there is travelling and there is living it. You, have only lived your life as an ibo man in the west but not as a Yoruba man. The different is stark.

So, be cause of the Yoruba core values instilled in You, you now knoe the religious demographic of Yorubaland? Chineke onye ebere. I no fit laugh.

Please, please and please! Afam4eva and Desola shld not bring rifts between my yoruba people cos it won't work. We are the most tolerants. Shikena