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Nigerians before the advent of the Arabs and later the Europeans worshiped what they saw in nature, today described as animism. beliefs prevlebt in many traditionl societies before the advent of intensive agricultgure and civilization.Religion is very important in Nigeris. Most all Nigerians identify with a relgious faith. There are far fewer induvuduals identufying as atheists or agnostics than in Europe amd Ameioca. Most Nigerians now identify as either Mulim or Christian. Islm arrived first, Christianity much later. The country is divided on a largely geographic, but also tribl basis. The north is more traditiional and Islam tends to dominate family life. Christianity dominates the south. There are also indigenous animist religions. Fewer Nigerins now identify with traditionl religions, but these beliefs have influenced the two major religions.
Nigerians before the advent of the Arabs and later the Europeans worshiped what they saw in nature, today described as animism. beliefs prevlebt in many traditionl societies before the advent of intensive agricultgure and civilization. Nigerians projected the strength of nature into their own lives giving strength and order in a very uncertain life. These indigenous religions were widely adopted and helped to maintin a moral order. Traditional worship often unvolved an intermediary who offrd favor after a blood sacrifice. This is what became a major part of Voodoo in Haiti where many Youruba and other Nigerian tribal people were enslved. The first major world religion to reach sub-Saharan Africa was Islam (8th century AD). Mulims tried to supress traditioinl animist religions. Muslims especially objected to sacrifices. Islam became firmly established in the north. Christianity arrived centuries later (16th century). Unlike Islam, there was no real attmpt at convdersion for several centuries (19th century). British Proitstant missionaries became active in central and southern regions of Nigeria. It should be stressed that today Nigerians are today either Christian or Muslim. There are very few professed atheidts or agnostics. And only a smsall numbr who beliece in traditionl religion. As recenly as the 1940s, traditional belifds dominated Nigeria. [ARDA] ]Islam has expnded somewhat. The major chnge as been the expnsionm of Chrisdtiamity. Even so trdigional beliefs have not disappeared, Nigerian beliervers commonmly mingle traditionl beliefs in ewith both Chridstin nd Muslin wortship. This mix of religious practice is in part of Nigerias traditional belief in freedom of religion. In recent years Islam has been inceasingly affected by violent fundamentlist groups. Boko Haram hs commiotted terrible satrocities, all too commonly against children.
We know that the twe major reigions in Nigeria are Christisanity and Islam. The numbers involved are comparable, roughly equal (over 40 percet). [ARDA]. Some estimtes show a lger prportion of Chritosmnd, others lrger proportiom of Muslims, but precise numbers do not exist. We see various estimates. Some suggest Christianity has the most adherents. Others that Islam has the largest numbers. Existing numbers are all estimates, but the numbers ppear reltively close.
About half of Nigerians are Christians. Protestantism dominates Nigeian Christianity. This reflects Nigeria's history as a British colony. Christionity is more diverse than Islam while Prorstnbtism dominates, there re several Proterstanbt denomintions as well as Roman Catholics. By the time that Britain colonized Nigeria, the principle of religious freedom was becoming increasinly established. Protestant converts increased with the expansoopm of nissionry sctivity afyter World War II. For mosdt prt Christian missionry vctibity was not welcomed in the Islamnic north. Protestants are concentrated mainly in Yoruba areas. The Anglican Church at first dominted, but other denominations hav in recent years more active missionry efforts. The Nigerian Baptist Convention is now the leding denomintion. The Evangelical Church of West Africa has only lightly less. The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria is also imprtant. There are also substabtial numbers of Roman Catholics. The Catholics are concentrated mainly in Igboland. Nigeria has the largest number of Catholic priests in all of Africa. Nigeria also has Catholic traditionalist churches in the form of the Society of St. Pius X and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. The Catholic Church also operate seminaries and universities. While Caztholics are a small percentage, Nigeria is such a populsc country that the actual numbers asre substabtial. Unlike Haiti, Catholic beliefs in Nigeria have not played a role in what bedcame Vudou in Haiti.
The other half of Nigerians are Muslims. The vast majority live in the north dominated by the Hausa-Fulani and Kanuri is predominantly Muslim. primarily Sunni Mulims. The Abuja National Mosque built bon 2984 is the Nigerian National Mosque. The most popular sect is Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence. Smaller numbers adhere to the the Shafi madhhab. The diiferencs are not always clear cut. Sufi brotherhoods also include subsrantil Sunni Muslims. There are also Shi'a Muslims. The Shi'a are a rlstiv recent addition to Nigerian islam. They are especially important in Sokoto state, the state in the far northwest bordering Niger. Ibrahim Zakzaky, an Islamic cleric and imprtant Muslim leader, played a major role in introducing Shi'a Islam as a student (1979). Zakzaky pursued protests, but weith civil disobedience tactics. Ahmadi Islam is also present in Nigeria, but with only tuny number of adhetents. It was introiduced by Alhaji Jibril Martin as a youth leader (1940s). The wider Islmic communmity tended to view Ahmadi Islam as heretical. Eventually, the Ahmadi movemnt split based on theocratic fifferences. One group aligned with the Sunis. Mohammed Yusuf, a funmentalist Islmacist founded Boko Haram (2002). The goal was to first 'purify' Islam in northern Nigeria amd to eventully to overthrow the Nigerian government. Nigeria’s with Boko Haram and other insurgent groups as well as continued government corruption threaten the counry's stability and political integrity. Boko Haram emrged as th largest Islamist militant groups in Africa. TYhey have conducted terrorist attacks on both Muslim and Christian religious and political groups, local police, and the military, as well as well as rampages killing civilians in crowded markets and villages. The mot notble acrion was the kidnapping of over 200 girls from their school (April 2014). The group's attcka have suince subsided and has since been less active since splintering, but deadly attcks continue.
Traditional religious nelifs still exist in Nigeria, although very few Nigerians secribe traditional relion as their personal faith. Rather it almost always Christisn or Muslim. Even so, Nigerians have introduced traditionl elements into therir Chrisdtian and Muslim worship. One observr explains the importance, "Traditional religions are often affiliated with the seat of the king of indigenous Nigeria. This is an affirmation of the legitimacy of the king’s rule over hinterland communities in the country that influences morality and ethics. As a way of life, it is connected to the fertility of the people and land. Its economic link is also important in tourism with seasonal carnivals that draw tourists to Nigeria."
The Assocition of Relihion Dara Archibes (ARDA). "Nigeria".
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