Under the surface
Door: Thessa
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Thessa
01 December 2008 | Nigeria, Suleja
It sounds so romantic: the Giant of Africa, home to numerous ethnic groups and religions. The cultural display at the Abuja Carnival of only a week ago was astounding, and this December month we’ll enjoy quite a few holidays because in this country we celebrate both Christian and Muslim holidays.
Celebrate? Under the surface another reality lives. This weekend I was supposed to go to Jos for my colleague’s wedding. Some kind of local elections made that impossible. It seemed that the one who won the elections wasn’t of the right indigenous ethnic group, or perhaps some people were angry that their own people didn’t get to benefit from the money a good political position generates in this country. Nobody really knows. In any case, the political fight soon got a religious turn; both churches and mosques were burnt to the ground, and numerous people were killed. One of my friends in Jos was trapped at the university, another lost her house to the fire, a colleague had to be evacuated and a business acquaintance saw a man chopped to pieces at his front gate. And these were only a few of the stories we heard.
It’s the first time this happened in Jos since 2001, but hey, that was only 7 years ago. Once a while violence erupts out of the seemingly peaceful coexistence of all these ethnic groups and religions. Jos is one of the loveliest cities in the country; I have been there often to hike in the nice hills, to enjoy the pleasant climate, to visit friends, to enjoy the nice atmosphere. But yes, just under the surface it boils.
It always surprises me that this country is not always in a state of war considering its history, political & religious make-up, and its diverse, massive population. I know Igbos who have survived the Biafran War and now live next to Hausas. Christians live next to Muslims, and they do business with each other. People have found a way to coexist –but the events of last weekend have shown how fragile this coexistence is, and how much hate boils only just below the surface.
The sky on the wedding pictures may have been coloured black from the burning car wrecks, but my colleague got married. Life goes on, even in times like these.
Celebrate? Under the surface another reality lives. This weekend I was supposed to go to Jos for my colleague’s wedding. Some kind of local elections made that impossible. It seemed that the one who won the elections wasn’t of the right indigenous ethnic group, or perhaps some people were angry that their own people didn’t get to benefit from the money a good political position generates in this country. Nobody really knows. In any case, the political fight soon got a religious turn; both churches and mosques were burnt to the ground, and numerous people were killed. One of my friends in Jos was trapped at the university, another lost her house to the fire, a colleague had to be evacuated and a business acquaintance saw a man chopped to pieces at his front gate. And these were only a few of the stories we heard.
It’s the first time this happened in Jos since 2001, but hey, that was only 7 years ago. Once a while violence erupts out of the seemingly peaceful coexistence of all these ethnic groups and religions. Jos is one of the loveliest cities in the country; I have been there often to hike in the nice hills, to enjoy the pleasant climate, to visit friends, to enjoy the nice atmosphere. But yes, just under the surface it boils.
It always surprises me that this country is not always in a state of war considering its history, political & religious make-up, and its diverse, massive population. I know Igbos who have survived the Biafran War and now live next to Hausas. Christians live next to Muslims, and they do business with each other. People have found a way to coexist –but the events of last weekend have shown how fragile this coexistence is, and how much hate boils only just below the surface.
The sky on the wedding pictures may have been coloured black from the burning car wrecks, but my colleague got married. Life goes on, even in times like these.
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01 December 2008 - 08:32
Ro:
Damn! Dat is geen best nieuws.
Succes met de omstandigheden sis! -
01 December 2008 - 09:54
Deddy:
Hi Doddy, we lazen het al in de krant, en moesten terugdenken aan onze mooie wandeling in de heuvels van Jos, het hotel en de mensen daar. Wat een verschrikking, wat er gebeurd is. Fijn te weten dat je niet in Jos was, toen het gebeurde, en dat je safe bent.
Sterkte met de situatie!
Deddy
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