The Transformation of Aladura Christianity in Nigeria

The study examines the transformation of Aladura Christianity in Nigeria, focussing on three major strands of Aladura churches, namely Cherubim and Seraphim, the Church of the Lord Aladura, and Celestial Church of Christ in three major cities of Lagos, Ibadan, and Jos. In Nigeria, there are lots of different religious groups that compete for members and relevance. Among the different religious groups, the new Pentecostal churches’ use of media technologies makes them more visible all over the place, giving the impression that the Aladura Christianity is no longer existing. In the study, interviews, questionnaires, observation, and historical documents were used to obtain relevant empirical and historical data. From the data obtained, the study reveals that the diverse religious groups in Nigeria and the competition among them, including migration and globalisation make Aladura churches to transform themselves. The Aladura churches compete for members and relevance across inter and intra religious boundaries. To remain widely accepted and relevant, the churches introduced some changes into their respective organisational structure and integrate zealous street preaching, healing rituals, media technologies, social services, and repackaged spiritual commodities in their evangelism strategy. The churches deploy these strategies to achieve success in church administration, compete successfully among other religious groups, and to meet the spiritual and secular needs of members and visitors. In spite of the influence of migration and globalisation, Yoruba religious and cultural elements have persisted in the belief and practice of Aladura churches in Yoruba and non-Yoruba speaking areas where Aladura churches are found. Also, the membership of the churches is largely dominated by the Yoruba people from the south west of Nigeria. The study also reveals that the churches are both conservative and largely innovative in their activities, drawing and sustaining their population from marriage and procreation, and conversion that is largely from other Christian churches, while few members are drawn from traditional religion and Islam. The continued existence and success of Aladura churches are linked to their function of addressing the political, economic and social inadequacies that reflect in the lives of their clients and the larger society.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Universität Bayreuth

Year

2014

Author dc:creator

• Baiyewu, Timothy Olu Wilson

Contributors dc:contributor

• Berner, Ulrich

Repository record source_url

https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/2588/

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:epub.uni-bayreuth.de:2588