The group, Patriots for the Promotion of Black Culture Foundation (PPBCF), has called on filmmakers in Nollywood to desist from misrepresenting African traditional religion and culture in films.
The founder of PPBCF, Prince Ayinla Oniru, made the call while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday, in Lagos. Oniru, who is a traditionalist, said most of the films produced in Nigeria portray traditional religion as nothing but fetish.
He noted that the religion is such that values and respects humanity, and also frowns at everything fetish as being portrayed in movies. Oniru said that this has done a lot of harm to traditional cultures and beliefs that many now attach evil to them.
“Traditional religion was perfectly practised before the advent of Christianity and Islam in Nigeria. It is not in line with traditional religion to cut people’s head for money rituals as being portrayed in films. Also, witchcraft is not synonymous with traditional religion.
“Engaging mystical powers to disappear from a terrorising scene, display of wickedness in killing people prematurely, altering people’s destiny and all are not part of traditional religion. We value human lives and hate wickedness,” Oniru said.
While appealing to filmmakers to stop misleading viewers on what the traditional religion truly is, the traditionalist urged Nigerians to embrace traditional religion, stating that countries where traditional religion is being practiced like Cuba, Brazil, Mexico and all, have enriched themselves through religious tourism.
