(By Reuben Abati) - This is about Stephen Nyitse, the young man who on the
day of the coronation of the new Tor Tiv managed to beat security and went
straight to where the king’s coronation seat, stool, throne had been placed and
sat on it. We are told this caused a stir, and not a few in the crowd must have
shouted: “abomination!”, Even the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of
Nigeria, Benue branch, Bishop Mike Angou considered Nyitse’s action
sacrilegious. He went to the seat, to anoint and rededicate it. Bishop Angou’s
intervention obviously was meant to cast out whatever demons Nyitse must have
inflicted on the already consecrated kingship throne. It is possible also that
the ordinary people in attendance and the chiefs of Tivland interpreted it as a
bad omen. Africans including the educated live in a world of spirits, demons
and magic. Every act or gesture among them, is considered spiritual or
religious.
The other side of it has to do with social hierarchy and
customs. Our social life is heavily stratified. People are expected to know
their place. Young persons are not supposed to disrespect or question elders.
Wisdom is necessarily attached to old age, even if that is definitely untrue.
Women are expected to submit to men, and that remains the case for all women in
many of our communities. The poor are expected to worship the rich. Employees
are expected to be loyal obedient servants.
This is the content of our socialization in traditional
communities,
