Nigerian Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has given reasons why he prefers African Traditional religion to Christianity and Islam.
Stating his preference, the Nobel Laureate said the deepness of faith in Islam and Christianity does not match tha of traditional Orisa worshipping.
He stated that the Orisa worship fascinated him a lot more.
According to him, Orisa worshipping is one of the African religions that eschews violence and is more creative.
Speaking to CNN’s Larry Madowo, during an interview, Soyinka said, “I was fortunate to be born in two worlds – the Christian world and traditional Orisa worshippers. My grandfather, until he – poor man – also got converted – he was an Orisa person and a chief. And his (grandfather’s) side (of Orisa) fascinated me a lot more.”
“For me, it (Orisa worshipping) was more artistic, creative, and also more mysterious. I don’t find much of the mysterious in Christianity and even less in Islam. And that is for a simple reason that I didn’t grow up in a Muslim environment, the playwright added.
“Orisa is open, and very ecumenical. And that is why these foreign religions were able to penetrate it and even distort the truth. Because of the generosity of this spirit (Orisa), it is not violent. It is one of those African religions which eschew violence.
“I don’t believe in the Islamic or Christian God. And for the adherents of these religions if that makes me an atheist, so, I say, I am an atheist.
“I insisted that all human beings have a certain spiritual core in their being. And I believe myself to be a more spirit-sensitive person,” Soyinka said.
The Laureate also revealed that he said he doesn’t like to watch anything adapted from his life or works.
He said, “Let me put it this way. Turning anything in my life into what other people can watch pains me.
“It makes me extremely uncomfortable. It’s wrong to say it’s terrific. Let me just say I’m detached from it.
“It takes me a while to bring myself to watch me.”
source: PUNCH
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