If you ever find yourself conversing in Yoruba and don’t understand something the other person says, you can always answer with “amin” because it will probably make sense at least 50 percent of the time. Amin means amen in Yoruba. Nigerians are very religious people for the most part and you can be sure that in any conversation you have in Yoruba, one person will say a prayer. For example, I have been talking about my upcoming exams with my Yoruba friends lately. Whenever I mention studying for an exam, everyone says “e máa se aseyori / you will pass,” and the response to that is “amen / amin”. Or if I tell someone I am returning to the U.S. at the end of May, they say “aá de layò / you will arrive in happiness,” or “Olorun yóo sin e lo / God will be with you on your journey”. Once again, the only response to this is “amin or ashé / amen.”
Nigeria is an extremely religious country. Massive billboards that just say “JESUS” in bold letters span over highways. You pass a church or a mosque every few kilometers. Every party, meeting and event almost always starts and ends with prayers. Inserting “Olorun / God” into any sentence automatically makes that point important. For example, if you say “Mo fi Olorun be / I am using God to beg you” you will certainly get that thing you want. When my mom landed at the airport in Lagos, I used phrases like “E joo, fun mi laye lati wole nitori Olorun / Please let me in because of God” and the security man escorted me through the door that is usually off limits to people receiving travelers. “Lagbara Olorun / By the grace-power of God,” is another ubiquitous phrase. People say things like “I will be in my office to attend to you tomorrow at 3 lagbara Olorun.
The 180 million people who make up Nigeria are either Christian or Muslim. Most Christians are either Baptist, Catholic or Anglican. Churches are some of the richest establishments here because they do not have to pay taxes, one of the reasons there are more churches here than schools. You see pastors riding around in the nicest cars and wearing the finest cloth. Religion is overwhelmingly divided on geographical lines. Most of the north is Muslim and the south is Christian. Politics must take this dichotomy to heart by ensuring that any president/vice-president ticket is Christian/Muslim. A Muslim/Muslim or Christian/Christian ticket will never pass. I have had so many experiences with administrators or business people here saying “Lagbara Olorun a máa pari ise yen lola / By the grace of God we will have that work finished by tomorrow,” and I am thinking You either do it and finish it by tomorrow or you don’t, God is unnecessary in this circumstance.
Nigerians also love asking me about religion. Any time I am out of my house on a Sunday, people always ask me if I went to church and or which church I go to. Questions like this, which we consider private matters and off limits for casual conversation in the U.S., are questions people ask without even knowing you here. Politics is a more sensitive subject here than religion.
I am an open minded person; I accept believers of any religion and all peaceful displays of religion. Religion is a strong part about who Nigerians are and a part of identity. I think some people are too religious in Nigeria and leave things up to God to a debilitating extent. People also use the veil of religion to validate their criminal actions, like thieves or money launderers praying that their crimes go well. The way some people practice religion here undermines critical thinking and self-empowerment. Praying can only take you so far and after a while a person needs to take matters into his or her own hands. Many Nigerians are religious but not Godly and use “lagbara Olorun” as an excuse for actually doing work. I hope extreme believers can use their minds more and not leave as much for God to work out. When this happens everyone will benefit, even God.
North of Lagos 
Putting God in all we do is symbolic to faith we have in God, Doing our work according to planned schedule is one thing and Praying to God (i:e when “Lagbara Olorun” is used) to make it a successful one is another thing. Its just like a contractor scheduled to finish a bridge in 3 month, but after 2months into the project, it was flooded and there were lots of damage. Definitely the project won’t be completed as scheduled. But putting God first (the one that over all mother nature) is believed to make everything work as planned.
Another example is this….. as a graduate with 3.8/4.0 GPA will not always guarantee a good and well paying job, that’s why we pray for Grace from God,
I love all your piece, When i got to the U.S 3yrs ago, the differences and similarities between Nigeria and U.S was a top topic i think about everyday. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly makes the survival of Human Being possible. What works here doesn’t work there and What works there doesn’t work here. Keep up the Good Work of Yours
I love the end of your comment, “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly makes the survival of Human Being possible. What works here doesn’t work there and What works there doesn’t work here. Keep up the Good Work of Yours”. It’s so true. I hope I can keep writing posts about the difference between the two places and my transition back to the U.S.
Very Interesting Titi. Keep practicing your spoken yoruba and it will surely get better.
As far as Nigerians and our faith in God, it is so deep-rooted, it will take generations to change that. This is helping us a lot in terms of general achievements especially when we move to a foreign environment where Nigerians are reputed to be very determined and resilient, basically due to our faith in God and a belief system in a better tomorrow.
I agree though that this has led to much apathy and inability to demand changes especially from our leaders because of the absolute reliance on the will of God.
The good news is that this is changing as the people are getting more educated and are able to balance their faith with self determination and action.
Yes, I agree. I think that as Nigerians become more educated they will start to use faith in God as a more sacred thing, not a crutch.
Dear Cara,
Thank you for your analysis of Nigerian religious culture. I appreciate your observations. However, I must ask myself if you are in a position to judge, if you are in a position to question and/or condemn our Afrikan practices/lifestyles. Do you have similar commentary on your home country? Either way, I would respectfully recommend that you focus on that, on analyzing your own people and their non-spiritual ways. Let this not be construed as defensive, because as a Yoruba Woman, I take on the responsibility of analyzing and constructively criticizing my people and myself; doing whatever I can to help in rebuilding us. But I do that as a Yoruba Woman. You will never catch me analyzing the faults of another group of people without first address those of my own. Charity begins at home.
How dare you *voluntarily* leave your home country, come to ours, study our rich, ancient, SPIRITUAL language and then judge our culture???
Unfortunately for you, this is not your right. As a US citizen, you have plenty of rights, including freedom of speech–especially about your people, government, culture. Coming to an Afrikan country that has bared the brunt of greed and colonialism brought on by your people and judging their practices is not one of your rights, no matter how fluent you become in our language.
Focus your efforts on correcting YOUR people, and how they start wars and pillage other peoples’ lands all over the world, taking innocent lives and creating pervasive suffering. Focus on how your people created much of the mess you see in Nigeria now and in other Ancient Rich Colored Cultures.
Well done being observant. In the future, direct your intellect and analysis at your own people.
Peace!
TITI PLEASE CHOP KNUCKLE FOR THIS POST!
Love you man!
U keep it real!
I have nothing else to add or take away from this post so I am just going to go ahead link it.
p.s- Aww can’t believe u are living Naija soon 😦
But I am almost certain you will be back 🙂
Hmm,
I think it’s more of a cliched response born out of so many unpredictables that some people have mentioned below. You can’t blame Naija too much though, it’s a miracle sometimes when things work out against all Naija odds.
However, I agree that we can really take it to the extreme, which still makes us unproductive.
What we need is a good balance of the two – do your humanly possible best (at all times), and commit the rest to God. This is what has worked for me, and is still working for me, right from my undergraduate days in Naija to my current status as a graduate student in the US.
I think that the prayers like “Lagbara Olorun” and the rest are a reflection of the idea that “Man proposes, God disposes.” It is one thing for us as humans to plan, it is another thing for the plan to be in line with God’s will. I’m Nigerian though I live in California but I still say the same prayers when people make plans around me “oh God willing” or “by God’s grace.” I don’t think it makes me any less determined neither does it make me any more religious. Nigerians are just of the idea that unless God watches over s city, the night-man watches in vain.
‘Religious but not Godly’-That’s it! I wish we’re more Godly
than religious and know that our destinies lie in our
hands(well,to a very large extent).
Ps: There is a saying that comes from the old Ifa Religion [and the modern taking, in my opinion is just as abusive of the original tenants as would relate to any of the western or eastern religions] – Orunmila states that truth is the character of Olodumare and Truth is the word that cannot fall. [OTURA].
– and I am not an Ifa worshiper. I just am aware of my own culture and history…
Welcome to Nigeria – Your plane will take off God Willing – not Engineer Willing, or Pilot Willing, or Controller Willing, at the end of May…. [How can you blame anyone for inefficiency, negligence, incompetence, or anything else, when God is involved – the ultimate cop out]…
I am still unable, in all my years on this planet, to fully comprehend, as a Nigerian, the substitution of INTELLECT for DOGMA – and the absolute pride held in doing so…
And then I turn to the conditions that were present in Europe, pre-reformation/pre-renaissance… Where the loss of political confidence, ran parallel with a descent into intellectual darkness, a type of which was encouraged by the opportunistic Church – it has leaders/”a government” with needs too – and trickled through European nations, reflecting itself among people as choruses of imploding and self defeating babble.
To see the masses in Nigeria swayed to words which even run contrary to the texts Church leaders seek to project is pitiful…
My take on church leader sermons as a mirror of their life: Jesus walked barefoot, he said that it is easier for the rich man to pass through the eye of a needle… But the Mercedes 500SL I am in everyday, and that private jet parked on the tarmac are acceptable, because – hey, they don’t belong to me, they are God’s, and I am just allowed to use them as I am doing his work – ergo: I am not truly rich – I am just showing you God’s wealth – I would be in error and living in sin if I did not do so… Even though you see me here, and may mistaken me for a heavily pregnant man, with fat folds running over the back of my neck, this is not really fat, it is God’s fat, and I, IN TRUTH, am so slim the eye of the needle looks like a tunnel… Life is an illusion… Only Gods home is real…
We have so many changes to make in Nigeria – as we watch American evangelicals making moves to incorporate many in to their enfold while not being too sure as to the nature of the very animal they are trapping – Do not think I am blaming America now: there are opportunists everywhere – and Nigerian fanatics are happy to use foreign power/dollar/strategies/management techniques, to leverage/bootstrap their own positions….
I am still waiting for the God they all speak of – the word of whom, whether brought in from abroad or fashioned locally – to build the industries, that will increase productivity, and make life easier and better…
Since Jesus is always about to make a comeback, perhaps these industries, better management techniques, etc, are going to arrive with a sudden impact, when he does…
Bayo, you made so much sense to me. So did Titi. Titi, you were right in saying that a lot of Nigerians could help themselves more towards bettering their living conditions instead of waiting for God. I have thought that, but at the same time I have also realised how un-equal opportunities are in Nigeria. A lot of people would never be given the opportunity because they do not know anyone in high places.
Apathy is rife, so religion gives people false hopes that one day, they would succeed at making a good living. Yes, there is a lot of exploitation by the so called Churches or “Money-making organisations” as Fela Anikulapo Kuti described them in his songs. The little you have, is taken to one man or woman, so you can better your life. It is sad to see.
There are so many churches, yet we do not care to look after one another. Those that “God had blessed” or is “still blessing” don’t think they should look around them to see if they could share “the blessing” with others that are less fortunate. Why does anyone need to have a private jet in a country where your fellow men and women are turned away by hospitals daily from life-saving operations because they have no means of paying for it.
So Titi, your description of Nigerians as” religious but not Godly” is apt. Bayo, your comments above is ace. You have so much insight in what goes on in that country.
We give ourselves a lot of excuses… It is the one good thing that I believe we are extremely good at… Amen! Oh make that two…
We declared independence – oh sorry – thinking of the position taken in the UN of its post WWII day, as driven by countries like the US – “Independence was declared for us”, and even after the fact that we make a big HooHaa October of every year, our abilities lie around permitting ourselves to act like children…
I am cautious about taking a very middle class view of what others are capable of doing – as I am very well assured that that same individual is quite capable of holding a gun to my head and would be quite able to justify his/her action as being driven by – as you would say – hope…
We speak of unequal opportunities – Here again I am cautious, as I am well aware of the fact that there is no problem that the solution does not partially lie in better information… Opportunities are not given – they are taken. And each woman/man is the driver of their own position.
Esu – that with European church influence is now called the devil and denoted as evil, was not always that among the Yoruba – as he was the central character builder… A very good symbol.
Iwa Pele is life – or indeed your character is your future… Esu among the ancients was he who challenges mankind in order to ensure that they are worthy of the blessings they receive – and mankind lived to be challenged – to find ways through their difficulties…
But now we have imported religions – what we have to say is – Let us pray… Amen… They are not giving us opportunities – Amen… If not for – Amen… Yet every Nigerian feels he/she is a genius among lesser women/men – and I mean it in that order…
I do believe Oduduwa, Amina of Zaria, and others – the Egun – are turning in their graves… Balogun Ogumola and Balogun Ibironke and the like, will surely be pondering our position – but who would they throw/cast/ijuba to – or are there spirits for spirits…
I like something the historian – Professor Hugh Trevor Roper once said, not in the exact words – African’s have no history, the only history they have is European, the rest is darkness… Seeing our behavior – I wonder if he did not in fact have a point…
nice observation, Titi, I’ll like to see a post about esclamations. They are usually commonly used by almost everybody,and I’ll like to know which one u’ve gotten used to…
I meant exclamations
You mentioned that you plan to return to the USA at the end of May. Will you go back to Nigeria? What produre did you go through in order to get a visa?
Hmmmmm, ok. I quite agree with lot of the points you made here. A lot of people can be quite foolish about religion. I once saw a Christian talk program about how this pregnant woman went on a one-week fast. During her labor, there were complications but she said God helped with the problems. And I’m thinking if you did not starve urself for a week, maybe there wouldn’t be complications. There is a tendency to blindly follow religion without any understanding.
That being said, I’m a Biochem major in Maryland, and I don’t make any certain statements without saying, ‘God willing’ simply because I know I can’t dictate what will happen tomorrow. I can only do my best but so many things are not certain and that is why I say it.
Also, I sorta share ur sentiments about the religious discord in Nigeria, but I make it an effort always to respect the choices of others and I try to not blindly follow what my pastor says.
Just my two kobo, the fact that we say God willing doesn’t mean we don’t plan doing anything, it just means we’ll do it if we live to that day.
Insightful post though 🙂
Tope
Interesting, Cara. As always, I love your post…AS ALWAYS!
Hugs to you,
Michele
yes we have integrated prayers in our language especially yoruba…this little prayer here and there is a default seeting.
We r very religious but not spiritual…pastors and Imam is miliki(enjoyment).
It shocking that Nigeria has more churches than schools becos they dont pay tax
Good write up and fair point on your part but the fact is God is all some Nigerians have. When you have a sick child and there is no hospital with facilities to treat that child, all you can do is pray, really.
Nigeria is a country with failing/failed institutions. You have to pray to God to protect you from armed robbers, accidents on the bad roads, kidnappers etc etc. You can’t just dial 911 and have the bad guys taken care of.
Of course they take it too far and some people are just sitting somewhere waiting for a miracle to smack them in the head.
having said that, this is a topic that has been addressed so many times from different perspectives e.g. http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/chris-ngwodo/profiteering-prophets-and-social-redemption.html
Your observation is right my sister. Just a point of correction on saying “Lagbara Olorun” ma a pari ise lola>> this virtually means” if God allow me to be alive and well , the job will be completed tomorrow.
Nija people usually use this phrase to honour and pray to God Almighty the creator of life. it is only this moment we know , we don’t have authority over the next minute of our life.
Hope this open your eyes to the hidden meaning of “Lagbara Olorun”>> All power belongs to God.
Please also note ” there is power in our confession>> I know the name of God has been used for lots of evil activities. I tell you these prayers after every word is life for us especially when living in a third world country like Nija.Bullet can fly any time.
There is no more security anywhere in world now, Japan has there own natural erthquake/ tremor , Alabama has hurricane, travellers has Osama extended group to fear . what can we do than to pray for divine safety from every evil that lurks in dark places.
Except Our God watch over us all >> any human troops will only watch in vain.
No city or man is save by multitude of armed soldiers. the eyes of God is upon those who call upon Him in truth.
So Titilayo seek for the Truth and commit your life to HIM. acknowlege Him in all your ways. do not lean on your own understanding God will surely direct your path Lagbara Olorun AAAMEN
Remain Blessed
“Religious but not Godly” i absolutely love this sentence, i’ve been looking for the perfect way to describe these people for ages and I finally found it thanks Titi. All this religion yet some of these ppl do the most f’d shit ever.
Although it’s unfair for you to say ppl should ‘chill out’ from their faith because its what they strongly believe in, I definitely know wat you mean. Like when a person doesn’t apply for a job and goes to church every single day to pray and ask ‘Jesus” to give them a job..it makes me feel like screaming. How about taking your time out from church to write up a freggin CV and maybe you’ll find a job. Definitely many nigerians like to ‘leave it all to God’ Literally ALL, EVERYTHING. Pretty annoying..
Sorry if this offends anyone just my opinion 😀
P.S I love God
You captured our sentiment on religion perfectly. When we are unable to think properly about an issue or when we wish to be mischievous, we turn GOD into a scapegoat for our own omissions.
Once He is dragged into a matter by us who claim to know Him, all arguments are expected to end.
Hi Cara,
This is by far one of your most wonderful piece on Nigeria when one takes out your magnificent ability to inmerse yourself in the yoruba culture.
I am of the opinion that most Nigerians are suffering from lack of free spirit exacerbated by a false sense of what religion should be about. I am a Nigerian, and like you have just completed a degree program here in America and have learned alot about the American culture and its people.
I wish you luck on your future endeavors and hopefully you become an Ambassedor of the beautiful people of Nigeria.
Take Care.
“people always ask me if I went to church and or which church I go to. Questions like this, which we consider private matters and off limits for casual conversation in the U.S.,”
That is certainly not the case in all of the US. I live in the south, and it is a commont question here. It is not extraoridinary to ask a person in the WalMart line which church s/he attends. I am originally from Canada, which is more of what you describe. I love it her in the Southern US where talking about God, church, religion is commonplace.
Correct observation.however, our faith has a huge influence on who we are as Nigerians and I don’t think there’s anything wrong about that. people would always take advantage of that I understand, but that you can’t tell people to ‘chill’ out from their faith… I’m sure Nigerians will miss you a lot
So which church do u go to?