Hiplife and the Power of the African Gods

image source: http://www.ghanaflash.com/

Great video by hiplife (Ghanaian hiphop) artist Obour [1][2][3]. Click here to view video from Facebook. 

The video has lots of evocative imagery about the power of African spirituality[4] (along with Japanese Samurai and Indian Hindu images). It strikes me as a counterpoint to an annoying trend in Nollywood (Nigerian) films which featured stereotypical depictions of African Traditional Religions being used for evil or to inflict harm. The "evil" African religion was always triumphed over by the benevolent power of the Holy Ghost [5][6].

I am also reminded of a recent conversation I had with a Ghanaian friend:

ghetto intellectual: So you mean you would never go to a [traditional religion] shrine?

Akos: Eiiii! Kwame, you talk about such things too much! People go to the shrines to do evil.

GI: You mean the shrines are only for evil?

Akos: Yes!

GI: Africans go to the shrine to ask for long life. Is that bad?

Akos: No.

GI: Africans go to the shrine to request bountiful crops. Is that bad?

Akos: No.

GI: Africans go to the shrine to pray for good health. Is that bad? 

Akos: No.

GI: You see? I think you will agree that African religion is not always used for bad. Also note the implication that our Ancestors were engaged in evil acts before the coming of the white man and Christianity. 

Akos: Yes...I even recall my grandmother leaving food at a shrine for good health. I'm not sure if the Gods actually ate the food, but I see your point. African religion was not always used for evil.

GI: Yes. All religions have been used for good and bad. Christianity is no different. In fact  the whites annihilated people all over the planet in the name of the Christian God.

Now I don't imagine that "Akos" is planning on abandoning Christianity. But I think its really important that we challenge these negative depictions of indigenous African ritual life that have been internalized and perpetuated by us Africans. It is good to see Obour taking up the challenge too. 

Notes:

[1] Official Website of Obour
[2] Another great tune by Obour, in collaboration with Samini (then known as "Batman"), is Konkontiba (Tadpole). This tune is about a tadpole growing into a frog--a clever metaphor that is actually a critique of ageism or the gerontocracy (overrule of elders) in Ghana. The message is that young people should be given a chance to do big things.
[3] Obour "Youth for presidency campaign"
[4] Another good vid is Congo-based: Baloji feat Konono n 1 - Karibu ya bintou
[5] MARRIED TO A WITCH is one of numerous examples of "good" Christianity/"bad" African religion themes. It also happens to be an entertaining movie so check it out.

[6] For a good critique of this tendency in Nollywood, have a look at the essay The Near Nullity of Nollywood - Making African Movies  by Unoma Azuah. Note the essay is a few years old. Nollyhood is slowly moving away from this theme. I should note too that from what I have heard, Yoruba language films depict African spirituality in a far more favorable light.


tags: African traditional religion, Christianity, film, media, nollywood, stereotypes, Nigeria, ghana, gerontocracy

See also:

• Can we be a free people while taking on the values of the people that enslaved us?
• White Jesus indoctrination vs. Black Jesus on the Margin
• Office Hours with J. Lorand Matory on African-Inspired Religions
• Rastafarian pilgrims still searching for respect: Africa Review
• "The Pestilence of Imported Gods"
• Archbishop Sarpong: Innovator of the Africanization of Catholicism or cultural imperialist?
• Do Christian missionaries serve some useful purpose or do they contribute to "mental slavery"?