Suliat Lawal & Oluwanifemi Ibikunle
The Ogun State chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria has called for a balance between the preservation of Yoruba traditional religion and culture and the protection of constitutional rights in Nigeria.
The call was made at a symposium on culture, tradition and human rights organised by the association at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, with the theme, “Yoruba Traditional Religion and Human Rights: Balancing Cultural Heritage, Religious Freedom and Constitutional Rights in Contemporary Nigeria.”
The symposium brought together traditional rulers and custodians, Ifa practitioners, lawyers, government officials, security agencies, academics, journalists, cultural organisations and other stakeholders to examine the place of indigenous religion and cultural practices in a constitutional democracy.
Among those who participated were the Guest Speaker, Chief Ifayemi Ayinde Elebuibon, Araba Awo of Osogboland; the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni; Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abeokuta Branch, Baamofin Kayode Aderemi; and renowned Ifa priest, Oluwo Nla Solagbade Popoola, who has Orisa worship centres in 75 countries.
At the end of extensive presentations and deliberations, participants agreed that cultural preservation and human rights should not be treated as competing objectives.
The communiqué issued at the end of the symposium stated that Yoruba language, traditional religion, philosophy, indigenous knowledge, festivals and traditional institutions remained important components of the identity and heritage of the Yoruba people.
However, participants expressed concern over the gradual erosion of indigenous culture, particularly the declining use of the Yoruba language among younger people, abandonment of indigenous names and diminishing knowledge of traditional history and practices.
The symposium consequently called on families, schools, traditional institutions, governments and the media to intensify efforts to teach, document and promote Yoruba culture responsibly.
The participants also called for equal protection and respect for Christianity, Islam and Yoruba traditional religion in Nigeria’s plural society.
They maintained that no citizen should be discriminated against on the basis of religious belief, stressing that religious freedom must be exercised with respect for the rights of others.
The gathering advocated stronger interfaith dialogue and tolerance, warning that the exercise of one person’s religious rights should not become a means of infringing on another person’s rights.
The symposium further stressed that religious activities must comply with the law, citing instances such as prayers conducted on public roads and excessively loud sound systems that could obstruct traffic, disturb residents or constitute public nuisance.
It noted that the principle should apply equally to churches, mosques and traditional religious institutions.
The controversial relationship between the Oro festival and citizens’ freedom of movement also featured prominently in the deliberations.
Traditional stakeholders explained that restrictions associated with the Oro festival were rooted in spiritual and communal considerations and were not intended to oppress or harm women.
The legal perspective, however, emphasised that no cultural, traditional or religious practice could supersede the Nigerian Constitution and applicable laws.
The symposium therefore called for sustained dialogue among traditional institutions, communities, government and security agencies to develop practical and lawful arrangements for festivals such as Oro.
The participants said such an approach would enable communities to preserve their cultural heritage while protecting the fundamental rights of citizens.
The symposium also acknowledged that some practices historically associated with traditional societies were no longer compatible with contemporary Nigerian law and standards of human dignity.
It specifically cited human sacrifice, killing of twins, unlawful punishment, coercion, forced banishment, discriminatory inheritance practices and other forms of abuse.
Participants agreed that cultural preservation should not be interpreted as an obligation to preserve every historical practice regardless of its consequences.
They maintained that tradition must evolve where necessary to conform with the law, human dignity and contemporary realities.
The legal presentation also addressed the use of traditional medicine and charms in criminal activities.
Participants were informed that traditional practitioners could face criminal liability where they knowingly use their practices to facilitate criminal activities, including assisting fraudsters or thieves.
The symposium therefore urged traditional medicine practitioners and spiritual practitioners to maintain professional integrity and distance themselves from criminal enterprises.
It also noted that where traditional methods were genuinely employed without fraudulent intent, the circumstances and intention behind their use remained important considerations under the law.
The gathering expressed concern over the portrayal of traditional priests in Nigerian films and other popular media as people primarily associated with evil, rituals and criminal activities.
Participants argued that repeated negative portrayals could reinforce misconceptions about African traditional religion and contribute to the stigmatisation of its adherents.
The symposium consequently challenged Nollywood filmmakers, scriptwriters, broadcasters and other content creators to produce more balanced narratives about traditional religion.
It urged the industry to portray traditional practitioners in other contexts, including healing, counselling, wisdom, cultural preservation and community development.
The participants stressed that responsible storytelling should reflect the diversity of experiences within traditional religious practice.
The symposium observed that many traditional practitioners and members of the public lacked sufficient knowledge of the laws governing traditional practices.
It therefore called for stronger collaboration among FIBAN, the Nigerian Bar Association, traditional institutions, government agencies, security organisations and educational institutions to organise regular public enlightenment programmes.
The association particularly urged broadcasters to play a leading role in simplifying constitutional and legal principles for ordinary citizens.
The gathering also called for systematic documentation, research and responsible review of Yoruba traditional practices.
Participants stressed that traditional religion should not be frozen in the past, arguing that traditional institutions should be willing to review practices where developments in law, science, human rights or public safety made reforms necessary.
The symposium rejected what it described as the two extremes of suppressing indigenous religion in the name of modernity or using culture and religion as justification for violating human rights.
It emphasised that the recognition of cultural and religious rights must be accompanied by respect for the rights and dignity of other citizens.
The participants also urged adherents of indigenous religions to understand their constitutional rights and pursue legitimate claims through lawful and respectful channels.
They called for regular engagements involving traditional rulers, Babalawo and Iyalawo, lawyers, religious leaders, academics, government agencies, security institutions, media professionals and civil society organisations.
According to the communiqué, such forums would help address emerging questions surrounding traditional religion, human rights, cultural preservation, traditional authority, public order and contemporary social realities.
The symposium concluded that cultural preservation and human rights were not necessarily opposing principles.
It said Nigeria could preserve its ancestral identity while embracing constitutional democracy, human dignity, equality and individual liberty.
The participants therefore advocated “knowledge before condemnation, dialogue before confrontation, reform where necessary, and mutual respect among all faiths and cultures.”
Ogun FIBAN, in the communiqué signed by Chief Olalekan Shoyinka and Comrade Soliu Owoyabu, expressed appreciation to traditional rulers, government officials, legal practitioners, security agencies, academics, media organisations, cultural stakeholders and other participants for their contributions.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to using broadcasting and other media platforms to promote cultural preservation, responsible religious discourse, public enlightenment and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
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