WHEN CULTURE BECOMES THE VILLAIN: A CONVERSATION ABOUT YORUBA TRADITION, RELIGION, AND TOLERANCE
Recently, I found myself thinking deeply about some religious movies and the way Yoruba traditional religion is often portrayed. For many years, several films have presented traditionalists as symbols of evil, darkness, wickedness, and destruction.
As a Yoruba woman and an ambassador of Yoruba culture, a culture that I hold dearly and proudly, I believe it is time we have an honest conversation.
Let me make one thing clear from the beginning.
This article is not an attack on Christianity.
It is not an attack on Islam.
It is not an attack on any filmmaker.
It is simply a conversation that I believe we need to have as Yoruba people and as Nigerians.
For decades, religious movies have been produced to spread faith, teach morality, and encourage believers. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Every religion has the right to teach its followers according to its beliefs.
However, one question continues to disturb me:
Why is Yoruba traditional religion almost always portrayed as evil?
Why do traditional priests, shrines, and cultural practices frequently become symbols of darkness, wickedness, bloodshed, and evil powers?
RELIGION IS NOT THE SAME AS CULTURE
One of the biggest mistakes many people make is confusing Yoruba culture with religion.
Yoruba culture is:
- Our language.
- Our greetings.
- Our names.
- Our Oríkì.
- Our festivals.
- Our family values.
- Our traditional institutions.
- Our indigenous knowledge.
Religion is different.
A person can be:
- Christian and Yoruba.
- Muslim and Yoruba.
- Traditionalist and Yoruba.
Being Yoruba does not automatically mean practising traditional religion.
Likewise, being a Christian or Muslim does not make someone less Yoruba.
Unfortunately, many people condemn Yoruba traditions because they associate every aspect of our culture with traditional religion.
EVIL EXISTS IN EVERY RELIGION
Let us be honest with ourselves.
There are evil pastors.
There are fraudulent prophets.
There are pastors who use charms.
There are dishonest alfas.
There are criminal religious leaders.
There are dishonest traditionalists.
There are good and bad people everywhere.
No religion has a monopoly on goodness.
No religion has a monopoly on evil.
So why do films often portray only one religion as the source of darkness?
Why can the evil character not sometimes be:
- A corrupt pastor.
- A dishonest alfa.
- A fake prophet.
- A criminal pretending to be religious.
Why must traditional religion always carry the burden of representing evil?
LET EVERYONE STAY IN THEIR LANE
Christians should preach Christianity.
Muslims should preach Islam.
Traditionalists should preserve and practise their beliefs.
Nobody should be forced to accept another person's religion.
Likewise, no religion should feel the need to destroy another faith in order to prove itself right.
You can preach your faith without condemning another person's existence.
You can share your convictions without portraying another religion as evil.
Respect should work both ways.
IT IS TIME FOR TRADITIONALISTS TO SPEAK OPENLY
Many educated traditionalists hide their beliefs because of fear.
Fear of rejection.
Fear of discrimination.
Fear of losing opportunities.
Another example that comes to my mind is Nigerian musician 9ice.
In one of his interviews, he openly spoke about his connection to Ifá and traditional spirituality. He explained that he had kept this part of his life private because of what society would say.
The moment he became open about it, many people criticized him.
And I keep asking:
Is a traditionalist not a human being?
Must every traditionalist automatically be seen as evil?
Must every person who practises Isese be associated with darkness?
Many people hide their beliefs because society has already judged them before knowing them.
Yet we have traditionalists who are:
- Bankers.
- Doctors.
- Nurses.
- Teachers.
- Engineers.
- Lawyers.
- Civil servants.
- Security personnel.
I once met a banker who openly identified as a traditionalist. He was highly intelligent, professional, and had excellent relationships with his customers.
His faith did not make him evil.
His religion did not make him less competent.
It simply made him different.
And perhaps that is what many people fear — difference.
In a society where everyone is expected to worship the same way, anybody who chooses another path is quickly judged.
But being different does not make someone evil.
TRADITIONALISTS IN PUBLIC OFFICE
Perhaps it is time for traditionalists to participate more openly in public life.
Not to force their beliefs on anyone.
Not to compete with Christianity or Islam.
But simply to demonstrate that they are also responsible citizens.
People who pay taxes.
People who contribute to society.
People who believe in morality.
People who believe in community.
People who believe in Olódùmarè, the Creator of all things.
For too long, many have hidden their beliefs because society automatically associates traditional religion with evil.
THIS IS MY APPEAL
I am not asking anyone to abandon Christianity.
I am not asking anyone to abandon Islam.
I am not asking anyone to become a traditionalist.
I am simply asking us to stop treating traditionalists as though they are less human.
Respect cannot flow in only one direction.
If we expect tolerance for our own beliefs, we must also extend that same tolerance to others.
As Nigerians, we must learn that religious differences should not become reasons for hatred, discrimination, or condemnation.
We can disagree.
We can worship differently.
We can hold different beliefs.
And still live together as one people.
BEFORE I GO
As Yoruba people, we must separate culture from religion.
We must preserve our language.
We must preserve our traditions.
We must preserve our history.
Above all, we must learn to coexist.
Nobody should be mocked because of their religion.
Nobody should hide their identity because of society.
Nobody should be treated as evil because of their beliefs.
We all worship according to our understanding.
We all seek truth according to our convictions.
Nigeria would become a better society if we learned to disagree without condemning one another.
May we learn tolerance.
May we learn understanding.
And may we remember that before religion, many of us are first human beings.
—✍️ Omolola TalksTV
