People feel differently about African idols and deities, and this has been a conversation for a long time from people who fail to reach common ground on the topic. Veteran Nollywood actor, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, however, has weighed in on the subject, sharing his sentiment on African deities.
In his argument, he stressed the importance of not throwing away tradition because we have the ‘white man religion’ while also stating that there is some part of the African tradition that needs to be abolished.
He further stated that African deities are powerful and that is why the whites are returning the stolen deities back to Africa after so many years of taking them from Africans.
Bob-Manuel Udokwu said this during an interview with BBC Igbo while stressing how modern religion has affected the African culture.
“As white people came to our land, they took away our artifacts, deities, insignia, and other valuables. If you look up the news, you find that they’re returning them because these statues are tormenting them.
“The white people brought modern Christianity but included the part where we’re being made to pray in the name of some of their saints and adherents who have died. These are dead people we never got to know.
“If you pray in the name of white saints, make sure you include those of your home country.
“If your father is dead, know that he has joined the saints and ancestors that would do intercessory prayers for you wherever God is.
“It doesn’t amount to worshiping deities. And even worshiping African deities is nothing bad.
“There are some customs that are not acceptable. Let’s stop those. And some have indeed ceased to exist. Let’s not dispose of both the baby and the bathwater.
The veteran actor also stressed how important it was following the African way of doing things, hinting at the need for some of those things to remain the way it was.
“Before the whites came, we had herbalists who treat various ailments. All of them were categorized as native doctors and spiritualists. The whites came and made us believe that native doctors are a bad omen.
“Today, where are those traditionalists who cure insanity, iba, diarrhea before white people came? Open your eyes.
“I’m educated. I agree that sick people should use the hospital but let’s give what’s to Caesar to him and what’s to God to him. Breaking kola is no different from the Holy Communion we take in church.
“The white people who told us these things are demonic are taking back their words because our deities they stole are tormenting them.”