With the advent of social media, marginalized and vulnerable groups all over the world found a major and veritable channel for rediscovering their voices. From dispossessed aboriginals and indigenous peoples to LGBTQ groups to gender identity groups to racial identity groups to other persons discriminated against based on age, physical disability, language, immigration status, or religious beliefs, all these persons have found social media as a formidable tool of fighting back and taking their place in a world that continues to lay claim to equality of all human beings.
One of the groups that are also using social media for this comeback is the adherents of Traditional African Spirituality. Hitherto demonized and driven under the carpet by the more popular Abrahamic religions like Christianity and Islam, the resurgence of African Spirituality is giving not a few people both concern and excitement. Not a few people have expressed both with me.
Remnants of the decimated African traditional worshippers, scattered in diverse locations, appear to have discovered themselves on social media and are coalescing to make a bold statement. Younger Africans are increasingly questioning the validity of foreign theology over indigenous worship and it is raising a lot of brows.
While those concerned fear that this resurgence will take root and threaten the market they are already controlling and dominating, those excited are hoping that this new light will chart a new course for the Renaissance of our continent. But one thing that appears certain is that there is a new generation that is not ashamed of expressing their desire to return to their African roots to search for GOD and social media is helping them discover their kind.
Social media has given its users, particularly the marginalized and vulnerable groups in society, the right to be heard and the platform for making themselves heard. It has merged technology with social communication to generate or co-create importance and ensure that cultural diversity is protected from becoming largely unitary and also help to promote equality and justice to all.
When groups or individuals are pushed to the edge of society and are not afforded an active voice or place in the community, as is done to African Traditional Worshippers, it affects society by making it less equal, less stable, and a less enjoyable place to live in. By effectively excluding some people from society, we are all deprived of the work, talent, thoughts, and culture that they could share with the rest of us. But listening to marginalized voices allows for the single story to develop into the full story. Not only does it decrease social exclusion but allows for constructive ideas for improving organizational processes and functions.
Consequently, more and more people need to start paying attention to what they say about these marginalized groups and begin to address them and their concerns with respect. Critics of these groups need to start avoiding generalizations and stereotyping. They should be willing to accept corrections and become intolerant of their intolerance. They should also seek out marginalized voices, hear from them and help educate their hostile communities. By doing so, our world will not only regain its wholesomeness, we would have helped to fulfill God’s desire to see that everything HE created was good.
Citizen Agba Jalingo is the Publisher of CrossRiverWatch and a rights activist, a Cross Riverian, and writes in from Lagos.
NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Agba Jalingo, and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.
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