However, contrary to what obtained in the past, this annually. Abstract Egungun festival is one of the most widely celebrated traditional religious festivals among the Yoruba of SouthWest Nigeria. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Their descendants preserved Yoruba traditions. The Egungun festival is a part of the Yoruba traditional religion.It is performed to mark the death of important personalities, the festival is common among the Egbas, Egbados, Oyo and other parts . Calabar Carnival Calabar Carnival is a totally awesome fun-filled fiesta. On September 9, USIP and Mercy Corps hosted a discussion of new research and evidence that examines the complex linkages between the political, economic and identity-based conflicts that are driving broader conflict in northern Nigeria — as well as the implications for policy and programmatic interventions. festivals in Nigeria, some of which date to the period before the arrival of the major religions in this ethnically and culturally diverse society (museum collections 2013). WASHINGTON, D.C. - Family Research Council, along with 46 interfaith international religious liberty groups and individuals, signed onto a letter calling on President Biden to re-designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC) after a recent spate of targeted violence against Nigerian Christians. In a few days, Akwa Ibom, a state in Nigeria's south-south region, will be in the global spotlight with the return of the Akwa Ibom Carols Festival, one of the biggest carols festivals in the world.This year's edition of the carols festival is tagged "The Return" obviously because the event, which has remained an annual festival since its maiden edition in December 2008, could not hold in . Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 7:32 AM by Onyirioha Nnamdi. Some people called it the Adamu Orisha Play, a Yoruba festival that transforms the commercial Lagos Island to be stunning white. The local festivals cover an enormous range of events, from harvest festivals and betrothal festivals, to the investing of a new chief and funerals. In July, officials in northern Nigeria invited prominent local preacher Sheikh Abduljabar Nasiru Kabara to defend his alternative . A broad array of religious freedom advocates has banded together in asking President Biden to put Nigeria back on the State Department's list of countries of particular concern (CPC) on religious freedom, citing the ongoing violence, killing and displacement of Christians at the hands of Boko Haram, Fulani militants and other mostly Muslim aggressors. In a statement, the association's national president Samson Ayokunle, said Christians all over Nigeria, are still facing persecution from terrorist . Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria has reacted to the United States decision to remove Nigeria from the list of countries blacklisted for engaging in violation of religious freedom. 1. Garba Shehu Nov 22, 2021. Additionally, there are widespread instances of intercommunal and militia violence, rampant . Since Nigeria was included in December 2020, during Donald Trump's administration, it took 11 months for this decision to be reversed under the Biden administration. IGBO RELIGION IGBO RELIGION . Until the mid-twentieth century the overwhelming majority of Igbo were farmers, raising yams as their staple crop. Ramadan is a month-long observation of fasting. Paraphrasing the words of Lianas and Nina, the media play an important role in society. "There are four adults dead — three males and one female — and a 10-year-old boy died in the incident," Ibrahim Farinloye of the National . At about 345 people per square mile, it is also the most densely populated country in Africa. They report current events, provide . This is possibly due to the large number of people that celebrate them or because of the attention that it receives. Yoruba people of south western Nigeria are one of the major tribes in Nigeria. Some do not approve of a secular government at all with or without the socio‐economic "proof" of its failure . The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in April recommended that Nigeria remain on the list, citing "violence by militant Islamists and other non-state armed actors, as well as discrimination, arbitrary detentions, and capital blasphemy sentences by state authorities" in the country. Festivals in Nigeria, some of which date to the period before the arrival of the major religions in this ethnically and culturally diverse society.The main Muslim and Christian festivals are often celebrated in ways that are unique to Nigeria or unique to the people of a locality. Nigeria removed from religion violator list. The Egungun festival is a part of the Yoruba traditional religion.It is performed to mark the death of important personalities, the festival is common among the Egbas, Egbados, Oyo and other parts of southwestern Nigeria. Bagudu made the commendation when he met separately with religious organisations, comprising Kebbi State Council of Ulama and the State branch of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN at the . Dec 10, 2021 Updated Dec 10, 2021. An international legal group has joined the outcry over the U.S. State Department's decision to remove Nigeria from this year's watchlist of countries with the most egregious violations of religious freedom. this festival and if government could harness this potential, it will lead ultimately to sustainable development in Nigeria. Religious Festivals . Argungu festival begun as four different religious rites serving as a communal affair prior to the time of Surame Gungu of Kebbi Kingdom. NADECO spoke against the backdrop of Nigeria's removal from the list of countries with religious freedom concerns. Nearly one in six Africans is a Nigerian. as cultural and religious festivals in the rural areas of Nigeria. In the Sacred Forest of Osun, is a one week colourful festival to honour and reverence the river goddess, Oshun of Osun State. During the annual Ifa celebration, which falls at the time of the yam harvest , there is a sacrifice made to Ifa, as well as a ritualized cutting of the new yam. 2. Most of religions have grown starting from the onset based on the ideal history of the nation, of a wise man who spoke to the people a perfect way of life. Lela Giblert is Senior Fellow for International Religious Freedom at Family Research Council. The removal of Nigeria from the religious violators watch list by the Biden-led US administration in the run-up to the visit of Anthony Blinken, the . Until 1960 Nigeria was a British colony and the Yoruba were British subjects. On the 10th January each year Benin holds a national celebration day in honour of its traditional religion and of the cults associated with it. Peter said, "the role of religious and traditional leaders in the history of Nigeria and their impact on Nigerians cannot be . Religion in Nigeria Today . Argungu festival presents an opportunity for the different tribes in the north to unite and compete healthily for fun. Nigeria has many local festivals that date back to the time before the arrival of the major religions, and which are still occasions for masquerade and dance. Days ahead of Easter and two weeks before Ramadan, the World Health Organization on Wednesday cautioned against crowded indoor . A religious organisation, the Religious Sisters of Charity (RSC), Nigeria Region, in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking . Buhari hosts U.S. Secretary of State, speaks on Nigeria's removal from religious watchlist Mr Buhari hosted the U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, at the Pesidential villa, Abuja on Thursday The removal of Nigeria from the religious violators watch list by the Biden-led US administration in the run-up to the visit of Anthony Blinken, the . The federal government continues to persecute the leadership and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMNi), a Shi'a minority group. The main Muslim and Christian festivals are often celebrated in ways that are unique to Nigeria or to the people of a particular society [2]. COVID-19: WHO sounds warning over upcoming religious festivals. Read Also: Awon Mass Wedding Festival in Shao, Kwara State, Nigeria In the Philippines and many other former Spanish colonies, the Spanish word fiesta is used to denote a communal religious feast to honour a patron saint. Religion in Nigeria plays an important role in the lives of the people. However, some of the religious festivals have become more popular than others. LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Gunmen attacked a rural village in northern Nigeria, killing 16 worshippers at a mosque and kidnapping others, said a local official. According to a 2010 survey conducted by the Pew Forum, Nigeria's population has both Christians and Muslims in a nearly equal ratio, with a small percentage of the population following other religious beliefs such as indigenous faiths and no affiliations at all. Ladun Liadi. People actually come here to get their solutions to their problems. Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson, has explained why Nigeria was removed from the list of countries blacklisted for "engaging in violation of religious freedom" by the US. During the hours of sunlight no one must eat or drink; some very religious people will not even swallow. It is performed to mark the death of important personalities, the festival is common among the Egbas, Egbados, Oyo and other parts of southwestern Nigeria. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in April recommended that Nigeria remain on the list, citing "violence by militant Islamists and other non-state armed actors, as well as discrimination, arbitrary detentions, and capital blasphemy sentences by state authorities" in the country. The gunmen are mostly young men from the Fulani ethnic group. The calls for the re-designation came after the Biden administration's State Department . Nigeria designates gunmen in troubled north as terrorists. 3. LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — A gas explosion in Lagos, Nigeria's biggest city, on Tuesday killed at least five people, including a child, an emergency services official told The Associated Press. The Egungun festival is a part of the Yoruba traditional religion. Abstract The Igbo are the largest ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria, numbering about fifteen million people in 2000. Since Nigeria was included in December 2020, during Donald Trump's administration, it took 11 months for this decision to be reversed under the Biden administration. A given religion is elucidated by particular elements of a set of believers. Gunmen have killed at least 15 people in Nigeria's northwest, the Sokoto state governor said, the latest incident in a spiral of . "Nigeria is a highly religious nation" she said, "this platform helped us reach as many persons as possible so as to demystify these norms and believe the vaccine was there for their good." On that point, Rev. The foremost pro-democracy group in the country, in a letter dated November 19, 2021, expressed . The main event in the Islamic calendar is the festival that celebrates the end of Ramadan. There are also about 380,000 New Apostolic Church parishes constituting about 6.5 million believers|New Apostolic Christians in Nigeria include: 1) The Redeemed Church, 4) Deeper Life Church, 5) Overcomers' Ministries and other new springs. Skip to main content Accessibility help We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Other churches will also host their programs. Corpus ID: 54788389. The United States has excluded Nigeria from its list of religious violators. Paul Samasumo - Vatican City. For travelers who wish to explore Yoruba land, below are list of 7 most popular festivals celebrated in Yoruba land. For example, the federal government subsidizes and organizes both Muslims pilgrimages to Mecca during the Hajj and Christian pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Nigeria boasts of a plethora of customs and traditions, cultures and festivals, that would appeal to the tastes of the average tourist. 732 N. Capitol Street, N.W., Suite A714 Washington, D.C. 20401. This is common among south-western states of Nigeria. In 1893, the Yoruba kingdoms in Nigeria became part of the Protectorate of Great Britain. Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo of Oyo Diocese, in Nigeria, has joined a growing chorus of persons and organisations critical of the decision by the United States State Department to exclude Nigeria from its annual list of nations it considers among the world's violators of religious freedom. Festival is an event in form of entertainment usually celebrated by communities with the same religious beliefs or tradition. 5 Christian festivals 6 Muslim festivals 6.1 Kayo-Kayo Festival 7 Other Important festivals 7.1 Afan National Festival 7.2 Argungu Fishing Festival 7.3 Ikeji Arondizuogu 7.4 Calabar Carnival 7.5 Carniriv 7.6 Eyo festival 7.7 Olojo Festival 7.8 Igbo New Yam festival 7.9 Igogo Festival 7.10 Nnewi Afiaolu Festival 7.11 Omabe Festival It is performed to mark the death of important personalities, the festival is common among the Egbas, Egbados, Oyo and other parts of southwestern Nigeria. Phone: (202) 523-3240 As I speak, House on the Rock has concluded plans for this year's edition of THE EXPERIENCE in a couple of weeks. Nigeria is location to some of the largest religious events and crusades. Nigeria could hardly be more deserving of this designation. US should call out Nigeria's horrendous religious freedom record. Religious Tourism and Sustainable Development: A Study of Eyo Festival in Lagos, Nigeria @inproceedings{Emmanuel2014ReligiousTA, title={Religious Tourism and Sustainable Development: A Study of Eyo Festival in Lagos, Nigeria}, author={Obasola Kehinde Emmanuel}, year={2014} } Celebrated in the month of August in Osun state, Nigeria, the Osun-Osogbo festival is a two-week long event showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Osun people. This is common among south-western states of Nigeria. (In the Northern States of the country, the customs, cultures and traditions of the people who are mainly Hausa/Fulani, Nupe, Kanuri, Igalaand Tiv are governed by the Musfim religious traditions). Beliefs < /a > religion in Nigeria Today a href= '' https: //whbl.com/2021/11/17/u-s-removes-nigeria-from-religious-freedom-list-ahead-of-blinken-visit/ '' > violators. With Religious freedom concerns — Nigeria has designated armed groups blamed for hundreds of abductions and killings in areas. 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