Islam and Yoruba Culture: Where We Draw The Line
Over the past two days, my timeline has been filled with all sorts of vituperation from self-styled "Yoruba Nationalists." To them, there is no place for people like me in Yoruba land because I openly speak against certain cultural practices.
They claim that to be fully Yoruba, you must swallow everything whole without questioning it. I find that deeply appalling, and it is exactly why I want to make this categorical statement.
First of all, I am a fully blooded Yoruba man. My Parents are fully blooded Yoruba. I was born in Isolo, Lagos, and I spent over 25 years of my life living, learning, and building in the South West.
If there were physical stakes for being a Yoruba, my stakes would be incredibly high. None of you holds a greater monopoly on our heritage than I do, so you can keep your tribal gatekeeping to yourselves.
Beyond my ethnicity, I am a Muslim. I identify with Islam completely because I believe, with absolute certainty, that it is the only path to eternal salvation.
Having said this, let me clear up a massive misconception: Islam does not come to wipe out a people’s identity. It never has.
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) arrived in Arabia, he did not systematically destroy the existing culture. He met a people with deep traditions in poetry, hospitality, trade, and respect for kinship.
Instead of erasing those customs, Islam embraced, refined, and validated them. The Prophet famously affirmed good cultural values, saying he was only sent to perfect good character.
Our beautiful Yoruba values (e.g: the respect we accord elders, our communal solidarity, our rich attire, and our industrious spirit) are entirely aligned with the spirit of Islam. Islam leaves room for culture to breathe, thrive, and beautify our lives.
But as Muslims, this is exactly where we draw the unyielding line: Aqeedah (Faith and Monotheism).
Culture is beautiful until it attempts to compete with the sovereignty of Allah. A custom is acceptable for a Muslim up until the exact moment it crosses into Shirk (associating partners with God), or requires us to validate traditional incantations, ancestral covenants, and pagan rituals.
You cannot claim to submit to the Creator of the universe on Friday, and then celebrate Egun, Eyo or the invocation of Ayajo or traditional spells on Saturday under the guise of "cultural pride."
When a cultural practice directly violates the clear commands of Allah and His Messenger, that culture steps down, and our faith steps up.
My identity as a Yoruba man is an accident of birth; it is a geographical reality. But my identity as a Muslim is a conscious choice of submission that dictates my eternal destiny.
I will continue to love my language, my people, and the noble virtues of our heritage. But I will never compromise my Aqeedah (creed) to appease a tribal sentiment.
If standing firmly for the oneness of Allah makes me a rebel in your eyes, then so be it. My loyalty belongs to my Lord first, and everything else comes a distant second.
Allah knows best.
Wasiu is supposed to be a Muslim
Tinubu is supposed to be a Muslim
Yet, you have Muslims in the CS cheering a man openly chanting Ayajo?
Now you wonder why the North don't believe Tinubu is Muslim enough? You are a hypocrite.