The decision of a Catholic priest to ban Igbo music from his church has led to a debate among Catholics of various tribes on social media.
The Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Lagos, Rev. Fr. James Anelu, recently banned Igbo songs and choruses in his parish.
According to reports, during the second collection, the priest became enraged and abruptly interrupted a soul-lifting song, stating that Igbos could not continue to dominate other people in his Catholic church.
Although he has now been suspended, the issues has stirred diverse reactions from Catholics from various tribes on social media.
Reacting, Nigerian journalist, Moji Danisa supported the priest’s stance and accused Igbos of always trying to “colonise” anywhere they go.
Women’s rights activist, Laila St. Matthew-Daniel, also weighed in on the matter in defense of the suspended priest.
Laila St. Matthew-Daniel accused the Igbos of wanting to take over wherever they find themselves. In her opinion they are not different from “fanatical Muslims”.
In her words,
“I have Igbos in my family so I speak in love. I also love the BEAT of the Igbo tune but makes no sense to me if I don’t understand what they are singing or shouting about. The issue I have is the need for the Igbos to be so domineering and wanting to take over a situation. It is in their DNA. Believe that.
“I can’t remember one of the Colonialists, when giving an analysis of the different tribes did say the Igbos are stubborn, opinionated and unwilling to be led. YES – the war was a sad situation BUT HOW did it start? I don’t see any difference really in the Igbos and some faction of fanatical Muslims who go to a place and want to take over the place.
“Latin is the universal LANGUAGE of the Catholic Church – so people should not go there. If they juxtapose English with it – then people would understand. I don’t think it is the language as such but a ‘take over’ attitude and behaviour. When I was coming back on a trip on Turkish Airlines, it was horrible most of the time. The LOUD banter in the Igbo language was grating. The Yorubas also do same but not as much.
I am going to TURN OFF Notifications because I don’t have time for those who don’t think deep before commenting – and are ready to exhibit their DNA. By the way – character DNA can be controlled. It takes a willingness because I have very confident Igbo relatives. Coming to the priest, he should have been more tactful. But I am not privy to his experience before this. Yes Igbos fill the church most times but it is not THEIR church but it belongs to everyone.”
I only see jealousy in you
As his name implies ewu which is goat in igbo.you want to start a fight with God yout creator.be wise
It is quite unfortunate this situation. When you fail to understand a people, you misjudge them. The Igbos are a happy people that make life very lively anywhere they are. The Igbos are very acomodative,. They go to a place, they feel at home and join the people to do everything believing that where you live is where you eat and where you eat is where you live. This is the reason you can find them everywhere with full involvement in the development of the place. Go to that church and make inquiry of the composition of the parishioners. By the way who are the choir members that were singing Igbo songs? Are they yoruba or efik, Edo or Hausa? I do not believe that the majority Igbos in tbe choir will sing all through Igbo songs. If we read the priest’s statements, you would point out an anger of his certain experiences. He was burning in himself that an Igbo bishop is in his place Edo. He was boiling because he went for a burial mass and he was not allowed to say the mass because he was not Igbo etc. Those were special cases which he knows were not true as he presented them. I am sorry to say that he was not lead by the spirit at that time rather sentimental. Check the time the songs were rendered.second collection, that is offering when choruses are rendered through inspirations, if the people were in spirit, your spirit will connect to the beats and melody that will lift your soul to dance to the altar. You will not even mind the lyrics. But because of his hate of the Igbos which is personal, he was interested in checking the language of the songs. Even though The choir as I would believe is made up by Igbos has raised only yoruba songs, would he have stopped them to complain?
I don’t really understand what people mean by domineering. Igbos can be stubborn yes. They are stubborn in a cause they believe in. They believe in one Nigeria that is why they are stubbornly penitrating every part and establishing in those places. They are stubborn yes that is why they developed Oshodi market, but were removed from it, they were settled at ladipo they developed it and are very stubborn to still go any where they are chased to. But their stubbornness does not transmit to dominion.
The Igbos are very stubborn to remain in Nigeria even with the structural injustices, denials, maginalizations. If all parts of the country are not happy with the Igbos, may we compel the government to cut the Igbos off Nigeria so that their excesses will not be felt anymore.
But if we must remain united, there is need to Re-humanize our humanity to accomodate, cherish, trust, and relate with one another
These type of people are those that Chris Jericho of wwe will call “stupid idiots”. Let them come to churches in Igbo land and observe that songs of other tribes are used in the church. In any Catholic church around Nigeria the Igbo population is outstanding, why won’t Igbo tunes frequently echo.
The issue was handled immaturely. If d priest is not ok with it he should discuss it with management together they would have taken a decision that will agree with all. Then u d Matthew woman, u need to work on your supposed Christianity cos there should be no tribalism or ethnicity attached to Christianity
Has anybody stopped you from also traveling and trying to dominate other tribes? Beauty without brain!!!
Tell me any part of Igbo land developed by any tribe in Nigeria? Then tell me any state in Nigeria without a major development from them.
Has anybody stopped you fhrom also traveling and dominating other tribes? Beauty without brain!!!
Tell me any part of Igbo land developed by any tribe in Nigeria? Then tell me any state in Nigeria without a major development from Igbos.
Please brethren our God we worship are universal, so also his church,non can limits him, to culture, tribe, language or even races, Catholic Church belongs to all, the church is well structured so that she can accommodate all, thanks.
It is very unfortunate why any sane person will support the Priest in his tribal and politically motivated action.
Why did he not ban them from donating to his church, or rejecting their offering.The igbos are republicans they have no king everyone is independent of the other.How many Yoruba families have Reveren fathers or sisters,in Igbo land especially in Imo,Enugu,Anambra all till this moment see it as a thing of pride and honour to have atleast one reveren father or Sister in the family.Till today All the Pentecostal churches in Nigeria of Yoruba extraction where they employ ,transfer pastors to every state.In Rivers State for instance in RCCG parishes Youruba songs are like National anthem.they do not have interpreters to hrlp the illiterate old women and fatgers to understand them,so if the ikwerres etc decide the ban Yoruba songs how will he fill, for the woman supporting nonsense,she should say her problems with igbos,in the Uk Yourubas dint hide themselvex too will it be enough to ban their activities?
It’s ironic, she says they’re caught between dominant Fulanis and dominant Igbos but only Igbos r begging to be allowed to go in peace- is that the disposition of one with an inclination to dominate? The Fulani on the other hand are taking lives. I have to consider that these poor lives mean nothing to this woman for her to male the comparison that she has made.
Ordinarily, if u don’t like someone’s disposition u send them away, or move away from them; keeping yourselves together almost smackd of an evil intent. As someone who has family members, both Christians and Muslims, from all over Nigeria and all over the world, I make bold to say we live everyone but simply suffer from being too full of life.
It’s ironic; she says they’re caught between dominant Fulanis and dominant Igbos but only Igbos r begging to be allowed to go in peace- is that the disposition of one with an inclination to dominate? The Fulani on the other hand are taking lives. I have to consider that these poor lives mean nothing to this woman for her to make the comparison that she has made.
Ordinarily, if u don’t like someone’s disposition u send them away, or move away from them; keeping yourselves together almost smacks of an evil intent. As someone who has family members, both Christians and Muslims, from all over Nigeria and all over the world, I make bold to say we love everyone but simply suffer from being too full of life. The numbers of churches and mosques in Nigeria should point not just to a greater tolerance but to Love amongst all Brethren
It’s ironic; she says they’re caught between dominant fanatical muslims and dominant Igbos but only Igbos r begging to be allowed to go in peace- is that the disposition of one with an inclination to dominate? The Fulani on the other hand are taking lives. I have to consider that these poor lives mean nothing to this woman for her to make the comparison that she has made.
Ordinarily, if u don’t like someone’s disposition u send them away, or move away from them; keeping yourselves together almost smacks of an evil intent. As someone who has family members, both Christians and Muslims, from all over Nigeria and all over the world, I make bold to say we love everyone but simply suffer from being too full of life.
The numbers of churches and mosques in Nigeria should point not just to a greater tolerance but to Love amongst all Brethren
Once more on this issue: it has ready been stated that Igbo bear no ill-will towards no tribe. And given the negative feeling borne towards Igbos it must be stated that many would not be in permanent residence in other parts had the Fed govt invested in Capital Developments in the East as it has in other parts. There is a grave paucity of opportunities which would not be there had the ports in that region been opened up, roads in functional condition, railroad tracks built, uncountable extortionate checkpoints removed. Denying such a mercantile ppl trade routes(international airports, etc) is to drain them of lifeblood. Nonetheless we strive with what we are vouchsafed.
So we have the untenable position: give them infrastructure, No! Let them work and trade in peace in Nigeria, No! Then let them go! Again, No!
One has to ask just what are the ppl afraid of?