I grew up in the 90s when traditional religious worship existed comfortably with Christianity. People went to church and still participated in cultural festivals dedicated to deities and ancestral spirits.
But times have changed. Spiritual revival has come to Nigeria, and sitting on the fence is no longer an option. Now, being a Christian means denouncing all other religion and choosing Christ as your ONLY Lord and Saviour. There’s no in-between.
Interestingly, some Africans, especially those in the diaspora, are now resisting this stance. In their opinion, Christianity is robbing us of our culture. But how true is this?
The Argument For African Spirituality
This conversation has become louder in recent years. On social media, you’ll often see people arguing that Christianity was forced on Africans by European colonizers, and that returning to African spirituality is the only way to reclaim our identity. To them, abandoning traditional practices feels like abandoning our ancestors.
On the surface, that argument sounds compelling. Culture is important. Our language, food, clothing, and traditions are what make us uniquely African. No one wants to lose that.
But when we talk about spirituality, we have to look deeper than cultural pride. We have to ask a more serious question: What exactly were those traditional spiritual practices, and were they truly harmless?
Growing up, I heard stories — some whispered, some openly discussed — about the darker side of certain traditional religious practices. These were not just innocent cultural rituals. In some communities, spiritual devotion involved practices that were dangerous and, frankly, terrifying.
Human sacrifice, for instance, was not just a myth. Historical records and oral traditions confirm that some deities demanded blood offerings.
There were also complicated rituals that had to be performed regularly, sometimes under strict conditions. If a family stopped performing them, they were told that terrible consequences would follow: sickness, madness, or sudden death.
Then there was idol worship and the summoning of spirits. Priests and spiritual mediums would invoke unseen forces, and people believed these spirits could control events in the physical world.
Once someone became tied to such practices, leaving them was often difficult. Many believed they were spiritually bound to these deities for life.
Even today, you still hear stories of mysterious deaths or unexplained misfortunes linked to abandoned shrines or broken covenants with local gods.
When you step back and look at it objectively, it’s not hard to see why many people describe these systems as forms of spiritual bondage.
They demanded fear, blood, and constant appeasement. And that raises a difficult but necessary question: Is every cultural practice worth preserving?
The Argument Against Christianity
Now, to be fair, critics of Christianity are not completely wrong about history. European missionaries did not arrive in Africa in a perfect way. Colonial masters and slave traders often twisted the message of the Bible to control people.
Some slave owners even used selected Bible verses to convince enslaved Africans that obedience was their Christian duty.
That part of history cannot be ignored. However, there is another side of the story that often gets overlooked.
Christianity did not start with European missionaries in Africa. Long before colonization, Christianity was already thriving in Ethiopia and other parts of North and East Africa. In fact, Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian nations in the world.
So the idea that Christianity is purely a “white man’s religion” is historically inaccurate. Beyond that, Christianity brought some undeniable changes that benefited African societies.
Many harmful cultural practices began to disappear as Christian teachings spread. Ritual killings, child sacrifice, and other brutal traditions were gradually abolished in many communities.
Education is another major example. Missionaries established schools across Africa, often offering tuition-free education.
Many of Africa’s early leaders, scholars, and professionals were educated in mission schools. These institutions opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed for millions of people.
Of course, the missionaries were not perfect. They carried their own cultural biases, but the educational opportunities they created helped shape the modern Africa we live in today.
The Truth About Christianity
Then there is the core message of Christianity itself. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ came to remove the barrier between humanity and God.
In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
That statement changes everything. Many traditional religious systems relied on intermediaries: priests, shrines, or spiritual objects, to reach the divine. People had to perform elaborate rituals, offer sacrifices, or consult spiritual gatekeepers.
Christianity presents a completely different idea. Through Jesus, believers can approach God directly. No shrines. No idols. No blood sacrifices. No fear of angering unseen spirits. Just prayer.
For me, that simplicity is powerful. Instead of navigating complicated rituals or appeasing multiple deities, Christianity teaches that God is accessible to everyone, everywhere.
You can speak to Him in your room, in your car, or even while walking down the street. No middlemen required.
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