The Shadow of Foreign Faiths: A Lament for Africa’s Lost Spirituality
As I stand on the sacred soil of my ancestors, I gaze upon a continent in chains. The once-vibrant tapestry of African spirituality has been shrouded by the imposing veil of foreign religions. The echoes of our forebears’ whispers have been drowned out by the deafening din of dogma.
The arrival of foreign faiths has brought with it a trail of destruction, leaving in its wake a people disconnected from their heritage. Our youth, once steeped in the wisdom of their elders, now parrot the teachings of distant lands. The ancient rituals that honoured the land and our ancestors have given way to sterile practices that neglect the very essence of our being.
The foreign religions have sown discord among our people, fostering a sense of superiority and division. Brothers and sisters, once united in their quest for harmony with nature, now find themselves at odds over the dictates of a distant deity. The reverence for life, which once flowed through our veins like the mighty rivers of our continent, has been supplanted by a culture of fear and judgment.
Our leaders, once wise and just, now pander to the whims of foreign powers, sacrificing our sovereignty on the altar of political expediency. The sacred sites of our forebears have been desecrated, replaced by grandiose structures that serve as testaments to the hubris of foreign faiths.
Yet, amidst the ruins of our spiritual heritage, a glimmer of hope flickers. A new generation of Africans is awakening to the realization that their ancestors’ wisdom holds the key to a brighter future. They are seeking to reclaim their lost heritage, revive the ancient rituals, and honour the land and their forebears.
Let us join hands and my friends and cast off the shackles of foreign faiths. Let us rediscover the beauty of our own spirituality and, in doing so, reclaim our rightful place among the nations of the earth. For it is only when we embrace our true selves that we shall truly be free.
Idris Ibn Mohammed
