CRYING out over discrimination, traditional worshippers, in this report which is the second in the series ‘The others‘, say they should be respected and accorded equal status like adherents of Nigeria’s major religions, Christianity and Islam.

Traditional religion adherents known as Isese in Yoruba land, in the Southwest part of Nigeria, include persons who worship different gods like Sango, Obatala, Osun, Esu, Oya, Obaluaye, and Yemoja. They also believe in the supreme entity, Eledumare which according to them represents the ultimate source of existence.

Ifalake Ifadara, an Osun worshipper and herbalist, was traumatised for weeks after a teacher in his school forcefully cut his wrist beads, which he considers a symbol of his Ifa religion.

“All I heard was a sound, and my beads went spilling on the floor. I was traumatised for weeks because that was unfair to me.

“There are Muslims who put on hijab, and Christians that wear the cross. I used my beads to the school, and he preached to me to remove them. I asked if he could tell the Muslims to remove their hijab or the Christians to remove their cross which are symbols of their religion? For me, this is the symbol of my religion,” he said.

According to Ifadara, ironically, when the teacher fell ill , he was brought to his father where he was treated after performing some traditional sacrifices.

Ifadara is not the only one with such tales. A female Osun worshipper based in Osogbo, Tunrayo Semilore Egbetunmise, said she was forced to practice other religions to conform due to constant attacks over her choice of religion.

“I used to be traumatised but not anymore. There was a time while growing up when I and some of my family members, to be honest, were not proud of Isese (traditional religion).

“We had to practice a bit of other foreign religions for some years so as to ‘feel among’. There was a time when I attended a Christian school. I also attended a Muslim school and during those periods we were forced to do Muslim and Christian things.

“We were not bold enough to tell people that this is what we do in our house. We were hurting ourselves,” she said.

An Osun worshipper, Gbemi Osunkeye pointed to a loud sound coming from a Church speaker in Ilesa, Osun State.

“Repent or you shall go to hell fire. Accept Jesus Christ today, he is the only God; no other god can save you…,” were some of the words coming from the speaker.

“These are the kind of things we face daily here; we are constantly harassed with the threat of hell fire. They will tell you only their God is good, while all others are bad. The Muslims will soon start their own,” Osunkeye said.

For Osunkeye, the constant early morning sermon from the Mosque close to her house frustrates her. “All they do is insult other religions; they call us all manner of names because we are not serving their God. They even threaten us. Imagine waking up to this every morning, it is frustrating,” she lamented.

Although the majority of people in Nigeria are either Christians or Muslims, there were other religious systems like traditional beliefs in existence before those two emerged.

According to the World Factbook, demographics show that Muslims in Nigeria account for 53.5 per cent (126,659,714), Christians: 45.9 per cent (108,666,932) while indigenous/traditional religions have 0.6 per cent (1,420,482).

It is also assumed that Muslims and Christians make up the majority of the population in the southwest of Nigeria. Some traditionalists acknowledged that the advent of Islam and Christianity in the southwestern part of Nigeria resulted in a decline in the region’s acceptance of traditional worship.

This, according to traditional worshippers, has led to marginalisation, harassment and stigmatisation of their religion by people of other faiths.

According to Kayode Faniyi, the Agbongbon Awo of Osogbo and Baale Apowe of Oduduwa, who is an Ifa priest, traditional religion had been the custom from time immemorial; from ancestors and handed down by forefathers.

Describing it as oral literature from one generation to the other, he added that to be a Babalawo (herbalist), a person must learn and study two hundred and fifty-six Odus and be able to recite or chant at least four to six verses from each of the Odus and even chant more as time goes on.

For Faleke Fatunmbi, an Ifa priest and herbalist, one of the leaders of traditional worshippers in Osogbo, religion is the major ingredient used in the everyday running of society. Whether it is in the crowning of a king or other things.

Also commenting, the wife of an herbalist, Egbefunmi Faniyi, who is an Iyanifa, said the benefits of traditional religion are underestimated. According to her, traditional religion plays a vital role in promoting personal progress and the well-being of every society.

‘Christianity, Islam belittling traditional religion’

According to another Ifa priest, who is the Araba Olu Isese of Osogbo, Ifayemi Elebuibon, the manner the two “foreign religions” (Christianity and Islam) emerged allowed them to belittle the one they met here (traditional religion).

Elebuibon said the two religions deliberately speak ill of traditional religion so the Yoruba could accept theirs.

“If they told us, it was good, we would not accept them. But if a person is wise and researches the three religions in Africa, he or she will know that the other two religions came from abroad and their main aim was to enslave us,” he said.

He said if Yoruba people practice traditional religions and speak local languages, it will give them freedom.

“The English people that colonised Nigeria also colonised India. But India did not accept their religion,” he stated.

Elebuibon emphasised that foreign religions are relegating traditional religion popularly called Isese in the southwest of Nigeria.

He added that there is nothing in the Bible that is not in the Quran, and there is nothing in the Quran that is not in Odu Ifa.

Claims of discrimination, harassment and stigmatisation

Most traditional worshippers visited said they have faced either harassment, intimidation or stigmatisation in the past.

The Baale Apowe of Oduduwa, Faniyi, stressed that the two main religions are big obstacles to traditional religion, especially the Muslims.

“Some of them have good people among them who have a good understanding of other religions. But there are a lot of fanatics, who don’t even care if there is any other thing besides their Islamic faith.

He lamented that the constant name-calling by other religions is harassment.

“Even calling us Idol worshippers on radio, television or newspaper, is an injury to us. Some people will have vehicles with loudspeakers moving into the community and they say if you don’t have Jesus, you are nothing, and that you are going to hell fire,” Faniyi stated.

According to Elebuibon, when some missionaries set up a school, they will ask children of other religions not to come. He said they would tell their children not to marry from another religion except from theirs.

“If a Muslim sets up a school, the child of traditionalists must not attend to study. If you seek employment and you are not one of them, they will not employ you and so on,” he said.

A student at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osunkayode Adewale Ifatoyinbo, an herbalist who worships Orisa said some people insist that they cannot sit with individuals in public buses who wear certain items, such as beads, symbols, or regalia, because they believe these items are associated with diabolic or demonic practices.

According to him, they hold this belief due to their religious convictions, with some Christians viewing them as ungodly and some Muslims considering them to be idolatrous or even satanic.

He said, “There is stigmatisation. For example, do you think it is nice to enter a public bus and people are trying not to come close to you because of the way you are dressed believing that you can harm them. I am talking about my experience now, but some people’s experience can be worse,” Fatoyinbo stated. 

He added that people from other religions often disparage traditional religions without consequences yet cry blasphemy when their own beliefs are criticised.

Recounting her own experience, Egbetunmise said,” Yes, I have experienced discrimination. While I was in school, most of my schoolmates felt because I was a traditional worshipper I was using dubious means spiritually to pass my exams.

“Then some of my lecturers as well, not as if they were harsh but they tried so many means to convert me to their religion,” she stated.

She advised other religions to realise that traditional worshippers don’t kill humans, citing Ifa teachings that prohibit human sacrifice.

The president of the Traditional Worshippers Association of Osun State, (TRWASO), Oluseyi Atanda, a medical doctor who is also an herbalist said the discrimination against traditional worshippers was very high in the past but has gotten better in the last five years.

Atanda who is also the Ajana Awo of Osogbo said the discrimination is now less due to awareness and tolerance among the citizens.

“Yes, we know there are a few extremists but generally speaking, I think things are better. Here in Osun State, in the last couple of years, the government has done well, whenever there is a government function, the three religions are invited to pray, that’s the standard.

He noted that some time ago if someone entered public transport wearing beads on their wrist or neck, people would move away and avoid sitting next to them.

However, he observed that the situation has improved, and now when one enters a public bus, they are likely to be traditionally greeted by the person sitting next to them.

According to Atanda, years ago, children of traditionalists could not put on beads, (the Ifa rosary) to school because teachers would want to remove them.

“My kids attend a catholic school, there are at least ten children of traditionalists in the school who use beads, and the reverend sisters don’t frown. We go to PTA meetings, and they just say, ‘children of the herbalists’ and everybody jumps and looks the other way,” he stated.

‘We are neglected by government’

They also faulted governments’ sponsorship of pilgrimage annually with government funds.

The traditionalists lament that while Christians go to Jerusalem, and Muslims head to Mecca, traditional religion practitioners are left at home with nothing.

According to the Osun State approved 2024 budget, a total of N350 million was earmarked for religious pilgrimage subsidy.

They also accused government and security agencies of always supporting other religions during any crisis in the state.

The non-availability of traditional studies in school curriculums was also pointed out as a sign of government neglect.

Faniyi stated that the government has not been fair to traditional worshippers but gave kudos to a former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola for proclaiming August 20 as Isese day (for traditional worshippers) and making it a public holiday.

“They sent them on pilgrimage with billions. We have a place where people can come like Osun Osogbo is there now. Only Aregbesola has done something feasible that we can see, and we will want even the present governor, Asiwaju Adeleke, to follow suit. We need a good road in the Osun Grove” Faniyi stated.

The ICIR reported the poor condition of the road leading to Osun Grove, the venue for the annual Osun-Osogbo festival. You can read the report HERE.

Also commenting on neglect by the government, Egbetunmise said the underrepresentation of traditional religion adherents in government makes them feel marginalised, and that this stems from the dominance of Muslims and Christians who often fear and hate traditional religion.

In his submission, Fatunmbi condemned the unfair treatment of traditionalists and asked for an adjustment.

Clashes among the faiths 

In March 2024, several parts of Ile-Ife, Osun State, were thrown into chaos as business operations came to a complete halt when supporters of Obatala marched through the city’s streets carrying Oro, a traditional event celebrated by towns and settlements of Yoruba origin. It is a patriarchal celebration, exclusively observed by male descendants.

The traditionalists had declared a five-hour curfew in certain portions of the ancient town to facilitate the easy passage of the Oro before the incident.

In the past, there had been a tense relationship between Muslims and Oro believers in Ile-Ife that frequently turned violent.

For example, on Thursday, March 30, 2023, violent altercations broke out between five worshippers and an Imam, Abdullateef Adediran at the Ilare Mosque in Ile-Ife.

The Oro adherents were passing through the neighbourhood where the Mosque was located.

In another incident, in August 2022, an Oro traditional worshipper was allegedly stoned to death during a clash with members with some church members in Lagos. 

Speaking on the frosty relationship between traditional worshippers and other religions in Ife and the southwest generally, the Baalesu of Obatala worshippers worldwide, Olaolu Oladotun Okanlawon Dada said no fight has occurred in recent times but accused the Muslims of an attempt to start one in 2023.

“We wanted to go and worship one of our gods and they said we could not put the sacrifice by the roadside, a government road. They turned it into a crisis where people were injured.

“When they are preaching during their programmes, you won’t see any traditional worshipper there because we don’t understand their language,” Dada said.

Speaking on the issue, Atanda said the lack of a communal cooperation committee and people’s intolerance towards each other’s beliefs are the main causes of inter-religious clashes.

He said that other religions often restrict traditional practices, like the incident in Ilorin, Kwara State where an Olosun worshipper was stopped from performing her festival, and stressed the need for tolerance, as traditional religion has equal rights to shared spaces and resources.

‘Movie producers not portraying us well’

Egbetunmise faulted the media, especially movie makers for the negative way they portray traditional worshippers.

“I have watched some Christian movies, but they didn’t talk about Isese, they preach love, and they preach Christianity so that’s what I am advising Christian and Muslim practitioners to do.

“They can preach love, and stop demonising Isese, Egungun or Ifa. If you don’t have enough knowledge and you want to talk about Ifa you can come to our fathers and ask, stop assuming or using the information you got from movies,” the Osun adherent stated.

She urged the media and movie practitioners to consult traditional religious experts to ensure accurate representations, rather than relying on assumptions or perpetuating misinformation

Antidote for peaceful coexistence

The Araba of Osogbo, Elebuibon, advised the government to promote equality of all religions,

He appealed to members of other religions to stop segregating one religion from the other and let people know that it is important to respect each other.

Elebuibon said anyone who wants to take up a government position should be taken to Ogun or Obatala to swear that money in his or her possession will not go missing.

Elebuibon suggested that traditional methods should be deployed to govern in Nigeria.

“All the people mismanaging government funds, the insincere ones, the ones stealing government money and taking it abroad won’t do it again,” he said.

Atanda appealed for the creation of an inter-religious committee in every state and at the national level to promote tolerance.

On his part, Ifaleke Ifatunmbi advised that all religions should be treated equally.

Muslim, Christian clerics react

A Muslim cleric at Ilesa Central Mosque, who wished to remain anonymous, attributed the practice of traditional worship activities to the approaching end of human existence.

Meanwhile, an Ilesa-based pastor, Murewa Ola said his God does not approve of the worship of “other gods“

“My God is jealous, and you can’t serve Him and other gods. Go and read Mathew 6: 24-26, for more understanding,” Ola stated. He urged all worshipping “other gods” to turn to the “right path”.

What the law says

Section 10 of the Constitution of Nigeria prohibits the establishment of a state religion and affirms the secular nature of the Nigerian State. The section states that, “The government of the federation or a state shall not adopt any religion as a state religion.’  

Section 42 prohibits discrimination based on religion and states that no Nigerian can be discriminated against based on their religion or belief. This provision also emphasises the equality of all citizens irrespective of their religious affiliation. 

We recognise traditional religion – the Osun government

Responding to the allegation of unfair treatment of traditional worshippers, the spokesperson to the governor, Rasheed Olawale stressed the importance of religion in the society.

He said the governor, Ademola Adeleke respects tradition and appointed a traditionalist as commissioner and special assistant.

“When you are raising issues on whether we respect tradition, we are traditionalists ourselves.

“We also have a special adviser on traditional matters, Alexander Oloke from Ife Axis, a former banker, a babalawo, a Prince,” Olawale stated.

On sponsoring Christians and Muslims on pilgrimage with state funds, Olawale said the government has a better plan for them. He said if any traditionalist must go on a pilgrimage, it must be to Osun because it is the cradle of traditional religion.

He announced the proposed launch of the Yoruba Cultural Heritage Week, a global event showcasing key historical and cultural sites in Ile Ife, Osun, and beyond, which will attract visitors from around the world.

“We partly finance the Osun-Osogbo festival. We are the ones who rebuilt the pavilion centre at the Osun Grove. So, if you check our budget, you might not see it as traditional expenses, but government supports all these traditional events and activities,” he affirmed.