Colonialism and Religious Transformation in the Central Nigeria: The Tiv Experience
Abstract
The paper colonialism and religious transformation in the Middle Belt or Central Nigeria makes a critical inquiry into the religious landscape of the middle belt prior to and after the incursion of colonialism on the African soil and Nigeria in particular. The hub of the discourse shall be on the Tiv of Nigeria. The paper is qualitative in nature and heavily draws information from library sources. It adopts the historical and descriptive methods. The research used the primary and secondary sources for data collection. The primary sources of data collection involved oral interviews and the observation methods; whereas in the secondary sources, information was obtained from published texts, journals, newspapers/magazines and electronic sources. Findings in the paper shows that prior to the introduction of colonialism in the middle belt of Nigeria and Tivland in particular; the ethnic nationalities and the Tiv were engaged in the worship of God via the indigenous or traditional way. The Tiv for instance, worshipped Aôndo – the Supreme Being through akombo (rituals/mystic forces) Ujijingi (spirits) and Tsav (witchcraft). However, colonialism altered that religious landscape and, in its place, introduced Christianity and western European cultures labelling the former with uncomplimentary and derogatory names such as barbaric, juju, animism, heathenism and paganism to mention just but a few. Tiv culture was tagged crude/unrefined and thus needed to be abandoned for the invading culture. This scenario left a wide void and devastating impact on the Tiv, their culture and their religious practices. The Tiv who mostly have now abandoned their indigenous religious practices for Christianity largely as there are few Muslims among them have been caught in a religious cul-de-sac. The Tiv have become “anema” kind of Christians not rooted in their indigenous religion or Christianity. While not advocating for a return to the pre-colonial Tiv society in its entirety; the paper calls for an eclectic or middle path approach in which Tiv religious practices which are good and can enhance the socio- cultural, political, economic and technological advancement of Tivland can be adopted for the benefit of the Tiv and Tiv society; whereas, the negative elements be discarded. This is because, it is NOT everything about Tiv culture that is bad as was erroneously propagated by the Euro- Christian missionaries and colonialists. They had simply given Tiv culture a bad name to condemn and hang it. Key words: Colonialism, Religious Transformation, Middle Belt, Central Nigeria, Tiv
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