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thing as ‘Satan’ in the Yoruba language or religion. But in being the first person to translate
the Holy Bible from English
to Yoruba, Samuel Crowther misconstrued a segment of Yoruba culture forever. To this day, a particularly bad child is called ‘Omo Esu’ (child of the devil). The Yoruba deity has been permanently linked to
evil, vice, and sin. Osun, the deity that Beyoncé mentioned in particular is associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. Because Osun is normally twinned with sensuality and fertility, this was a deity that was especially feared during colonialism due to the wariness of black people’s ‘rampant sex drive’.
Apart from language, associating traditional African religions with evil has roots in racism. African spirituality was demonized because of its link to slave rebellions and uprisings. Slave and colonial masters felt that the spiritual traditions and cultures of African people would encourage them to unionize and fight for their independence. So these religions were banned and discredited.
Of course, we cannot forget the important role that our media has played in this. Hollywood and Nollywood are two of the most influential entertainment industries in the world. Neither of them has had anything positive to say about traditional religion. Nollywood especially has depicted traditional religions
Language is a powerful and influential part of our humanity and we as people must err on the side of caution and resist demonizing that which we do not understand
whiteness, being able to decide what is bad and good continues to persist in all aspects of our society.
The main argument against these traditional religions is that they have been used to harm people. That is an undeniable fact. But all religious practices are knives with the ability to harm or to heal. The Abrahamic religions that came to our shores four hundred years ago came by force. Through pillage, destruction, genocide, disease, and the attempt to erase our histories. The fact that Beyoncé or anyone else can even name a single deity from a single ethnic group is a testament to the resilient spirit of black people everywhere.
If we can divorce the evils and the destruction that Abrahamic religions have brought on people of color all over the world, we can extend that understanding and moral complexity to our own religions. Whatever religion one happens to be, to demonize one’s roots is the height of disconnect of oneself. Beyoncé has started an important conversation, whether she knows it or not. Colonialism and racism have taken so much from us. Why should we let it take our history as well? Before we rise
to the bait of calling Beyoncé a witch, let’s ask ourselves why blackness at its most traditional is associated with evil. One cannot help but get the feeling that none of us will like that answer.
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as backward and evil. The plot
of most of these films usually ends with an Abrahamic religion prevailing over the ‘base’ and ‘evil’ traditional one.
So what does this have to do with Beyoncé? The fact that even uttering the names of deities of traditional religions has led to Beyoncé being called a witch or in a pact with the devil shows just how deeply colonial laws, language, and pop culture depictions have embedded themselves into our society. Reclaiming your history-and
all parts of it like Beyoncé is attempting to, will lead to all sorts of name-calling. The power of