On late Junior Pope Odonwodo: It’s both amusing and absurd to witness how many people confidently assert their ignorance as fact, calling for debate on such matters, not minding their ignorance.
Following the recent tragic boat mishap claiming the life of actor Junior Pope and others, there have been debates regarding beliefs and rituals, prompting some to seek a sense of correctness over others.
One of those topic is the practice of pouring Fanta and other beverages into rivers, purportedly as offerings to appease river spirits. While some dismiss such claims with arguments against using foreign items for spiritual rituals, it’s worth noting that many religions incorporate imported elements into their practices. For instance, Christians use various wine brands and bread for communion.
Those who react strongly to discussions on traditional beliefs often overlook the fact that all religious practices are human inventions, tailored to fit cultural contexts. Deities themselves have never dictated how they should be worshipped; rather, humans devise and adapt worship methods to their preferences.
If people believe that offering Fanta and similar items to deities is acceptable, then it becomes so by consensus. This phenomenon is not unique to African traditions but extends to all belief systems.
In Catholicism, for example, the priest consecrates foreign wine and local bread, symbolizing the body and blood of Christ, and the faithful accept this ritual without question. So, why the fuss over traditional adheretns who opt for choice beverages for their own ritual and communion?
Beliefs and rituals are shaped by cultural norms and are deemed acceptable by the communities that practice them. There’s nothing inherently wrong with offering drinks to spirits in rivers, just as there’s nothing inherently wrong with other religions practices, such as animal worship.
No religion holds inherent superiority over another; each is valid within its cultural context. If those who worship river deities conform to using Fanta and other beverages for rituals and offerings, it’s inherent within the cultural norm of our people to offer light drinks to female spirits, and this choice of beverage is not exhaustive.
My forebears performed rituals with locally made hot drinks peculiar to their time, yet, nothing forbids me from offering or performing rituals with 21-year-old Glenfiddich or other foreign whisky if I can afford them.
It’s still humans who tailored various method of worship and these methods are subject to change with incorporation of MODERN tools.
Note: My piece does not support the narrative that the boat mishap was caused by anyone’s refusal to pour Fanta, as much as I believe that disobedience to consensus protocols has its consequences.
