Syncretism refers to the combining of two or more religions into a new belief system. This blending of faiths typically happens either when a culture with religious traditions is conquered by or assimilated into another with different faiths. Religious syncretism tends to occur when two or more faiths are practiced by groups in close proximity. This was the case with the emergence of a new faith in Nigeria known as Chrislam.
The Foundations of Chrislam
Christianity and Islam are the world’s two largest religions, with 2.4 billion and 1.9 billion global adherents respectively. Both of these faiths are centered on the God of the Hebrew patriarch Abraham, making them Abrahamic and monotheistic; however, one is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the other on the teachings of Mohammad. Historically, there have been tensions and conflicts between Christians and Muslims, especially in Nigeria.
With over 195 million citizens, Nigeria stands as the largest nation in Africa. Nearly half of Nigeria’s population is Muslim, while the other half is Christian, with the split being geographic between the north and south. Nigerian history has been marked by periods of tension and harmony between the two religious groups.
Tensions came to a head in the late 1970s when Nigeria moved toward civil political government from military rule. Many wondered if the country would adopt a secular form of government or follow Sharia law, religious law based on Islam. With almost half the country being Christian, the idea of Nigeria being governed based on Islam escalated tensions throughout the land. These tensions were further exacerbated by the growing wealth gap between the Christian south and the Muslim north.
The Emergence of a New Religious Movement
A portmanteau of “Christianity” and “Islam,” Chrislam can best be described as a Christian expression of Islam based on merging the beliefs and practices of both. Adherents of Chrislam ascribe to a more inclusive version of Islam that looks for and celebrates commonalities with Christianity. Just as Islam and Christianity are represented by specific geographic regions in Nigeria, Chrislam emerged from a small southwestern region of Nigeria known as Yorubaland. Many Muslim and Christian Yorubans place more importance on their ethnic identity than their religious affiliation. Since 1976, there have been multiple Chrislam movements in Nigeria:
- Ifeoluwa: In 1976, former Muslim Tella Tella began to embrace Chrislam based on revelations he received from God. He became a preacher of Chrislam and described his mission as “The Love of God Mission,” which translates to Ifeoluwa in Yoruba. Tella led services for a small group of followers in Lagos on Saturdays (as Fridays and Sundays are the holy days for Islam and Christianity). These Ifeoluwa services combine elements of both faiths, and sermons are preached in Yoruba and English.
- Oke Tude: In 1989, Samsindeen Saka launched a different Chrislam movement after returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca. Saka believed God gave him a mission to unite Muslims and Christians. Oke Tude is Yoruba for “The Mountain of Losing Bondage.” Saka operates worship centers in multiple locations. Oke Tude focuses on the shared origins of both faiths, and sermons include the Quran and the Bible.
- Ogbómòsó Society of Chrislam: In 2005, a group of college students formed this society citing a vision from God. These students believed Christianity, Islam, and indigenous African religions came from the same source and needed to be unified as one religion. Adherents combine teachings and practices from all three faiths, believing there is one God but many prophets and divinities.
The Reach of Chrislam
Although syncretic religions are quite common in Africa and the African diaspora, Chrislam is still a marginal religious movement. Although it is not widely practiced, you can find populations of Muslims who venerate the Virgin Mary and Christians who acknowledge indigenous religious customs. Chrislam and other syncretic faiths underscore the similarities in various belief systems.