SELF IDENTITY THROUGH THE POP CULTURE

‘SAINTS’ PATRONIZING DEMONS – WHY HUMAN SACRIFICE MAY PERSIST IN AFRICA

Despite the influence of Western civilizations on the continent, human sacrifice and so many fetish practices are still perpetuated in Africa. One wonders what kind of ‘technology’ could turn a human being to a money-making machine or the use of a fetus, human private organs or the blood from a menstruating woman to bring sudden wealth and quick fortune courtesy of the largesse of some spiritual banking institutions who probably have a reserve that can bail out Greece. The exploration of the African black magic and the establishment of houses of horror transcend Sociological/Philosophical explanation. However, we are not oblivious from the fact that it has not in any way contributed to the development of the continent in terms of science and technology, instead it has encouraged wickedness, inspired terror, ignited wars and sparked the fire of power tussle, created rooms for suspicion and distrust while it feeds on human life and devour the human aura. There are no constitutions to arrest and prosecute witches, neither are there evidences to proof spiritual bewitchment in the court of law. It operates to serve and it is also being served. Whatever it is, spirits don’t eat Porridge yet they must be fed with something other than food.

In a world constantly changing, African Black Magic is not going to go into extinction any time soon. I’m not a prophet of doom, but the writing is etched in stones. It is a culture that is being transformed and transferred. So-called men of God approach the custodian of meta-physical powers to attract crowd and perform miracles, they employ such powers to hypnotize, using Telepathy to for-see, and extreme wizardry to conjure spirits and create effects of puzzling dimensions, that would wow a Pope. Poverty stricken Africans will flock to them either in their hidden fortresses or in their legally packaged religious outfit in the name of Christ (at least who doesn’t know Christ?) to help them overcome poverty, unemployment and miracles of procreation for the barren, and single ladies desperately in need of husbands. Politicians are their biggest buyers. They cherish power and are suspicious of their fellow Political opponents and fellow African masses. They require black magic as a means of security and would do anything to get it no matter the price.

Meanwhile, blood or in proper terms, the life of man is always the currency of exchange between humanity and any acclaimed divine entity. Nothing goes for something. It is a demand and supply market environment, an exchange must take place.

November 22 1953, was a day that would be remembered by Nigerian historians as a day when raw black power was unleashed on a man with a promising career named Bode Thomas by the then Alaafin of Oyo (the title of the king in Oyo Kingdom, South West Nigeria). On this fateful day, Bode Thomas walked in as the head of an agency which was established by the Colonial masters but under the authority of the Western region government led by late sage Obafemi Awolowo. The Alaafin was a board member who had sat down as others waiting for the arrival of the young and energetic Bode who at the age of 33 was already graciously a man well respected and honored. As soon as he entered the hall, everyone rose to their feet to welcome him but of course, in Yoruba traditions, Kings don’t bow or show any gesture of respect and in this case, Bode Thomas as a Yoruba man should have known better. However, he lashed out at the king and said “can’t you stand up”? “Come on stand up, who do you think you are, if you are a king you are a king in your palace not here, I say stand up”. The king ultimately embarrassed and answered metaphorically, “are you barking at me”? While others were trying to caution Bode to respect traditional authority, and appease the King, the King uttered this, “CONTINUE TO BARK”. Bode never stopped barking until the following morning November 23^rd, 1953 when he gave up the ghost. He barked to death.

As long as this society of ‘saints’ who come out tough and cry at such cases of kidnapping and exposed cases of rituals keep patronizing these folks, such practices will continue to exist. It is a Babylonian empire that has remained strong, not even the Iranian Ayatollah is aware of its existence. At the slightest manifestation of any problem or challenges of life, or the aspirations of a better life we approach such establishments, feathers are added to their wings and their Priests will continue to flourish. As far as I’m concerned, the society creates demons, provide a platform for their expansion yet we are consequently hit by the consequences of their evil dispositions and wickedness.