The Transformation of Aladura Christianity in Nigeria A Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) By Timothy Olu Wilson Baiyewu Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS) University of Bayreuth, Germany Supervisor: Professor Dr. Ulrich Berner Friday, October 17, 2014 i The Transformation of Aladura Christianity in Nigeria A Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) By Timothy Olu Wilson Baiyewu Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS) University of Bayreuth, Germany Supervisor: Professor Dr. Ulrich Berner i Declaration “I hereby affirm that I have produced the thesis at hand without any inadmissible help from a third party or the use of resources other than those cited; ideas incorporated directly or indirectly from other sources are clearly marked as such. In addition, I affirm that I have neither used the services of commercial consultants or intermediaries in the past nor will I use such services in the future. The thesis in the same or similar form has hitherto not been presented to another examining authority in Germany or abroad, nor has it been published”. Bayreuth, October 17, 2014 Timothy Olu Wilson Baiyewu ii Dedication To my wife Yinka and my children God’swill, Jacob, Elisha, and Joshua, for their encouragement and perseverance iii Acknowledgement With gratitude I express my appreciation to my supervisor Professor Dr. Ulrich Berner for his patience and thorough supervision of this thesis. His academic and moral supports contributed greatly to the successful completion of my PhD research and the entire doctoral programme. I acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Asonze Ukah who mentored me for a short period in the course of my doctoral research, but left too early for a job in the Univeersity of Cape Town, South Africa. I appreciate the immense academic contribution of Professor Gabriele Cappai of the University of Bayreuth whose expertise in sociology helped in making this work a success, particularly in the demographic section of this study. I am indebted to Dr. Magnus Echtler for reading my work and providing useful academic advice at each stage of its formation. I appreciate the contribution of Dr. Afe Adogame of the University of Edinburgh for reading the entire work and offering useful academic suggestions that made this work a success. His moral support and academic guide at a critical moment in the course of writing this thesis cannot be forgotten. I am indebted to Professor Umar Habila D. Danfulani of the department of religious studies, University of Jos, Nigeria for reading my work and offering academic suggestions that sharpened the focus of my research. I appreciate his academic mentorship and moral guide even when marital problem almost overwhelmed me. A Yoruba adage says: “we are born of a parent does not guarantee kindness; whoever you are destined to meet can be a source of blessing to you”. I thank you. I appreciate the contributions of my research assistants and other persons in Nigeria: Prophet Adebayo Kayode of the CCC, Dogon Karfe, Jos; Mrs Dupe Ogunbanwo of the CSMC, opposite TCNN, Jos; Mr Alfred Ojomo of Agbowo U.I. Ibadan; I. A. Akinduti of Challenge, Ibadan; Gabriel O. Lawal of CCC Mokola, Ibadan; Bishop Amos Ajibola and prophet Tanimowo of the TCLA, Ibadan; prophets Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye of CSMC, Apapa- Oshodi Express Way, Lagos; prophet Bomes of CCC Ijako Parish II; prophet Adewale Gbadebo of CSMC, Ojokoro; prophet Niyi Olatunji of CSMC Saint Mary’s Chapel, Oshodi, Lagos; prophetess Ayoola Ologodidan; prophetess Bayewu of C&S Evangelical, Sango; Dr O. O. Sowande, Rebecca Akinsulure and Jide Ogungbade of CSMC, Apapa-Oshodi Express Way, Lagos; Gideon Oyedepo of C&S Bible Ministry, Okota Lagos; Timothy Okunola of the C&S Faith in Christ Chapel, Lagos; John Akindele Laleye of the C&S Kingsland, Lagos; and Bishop Samson Olorode of TCLA Mushin, Lagos. They assisted me in the course of iv conducting interviews, locating various Aladura churches that were relevant to this study, and distribution and collection of questionnaires. My appreciation goes to Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS) and its management for supporting my field work and providing scholarships that sustained me in the course of writing this thesis. I am grateful to all BIGSAS students too numerous to mention who, in the course of our academic interactions at GSP, work group, colloquium and the University arena, contributed to making this work a success. This study could not have commenced and come to a successful completion without the permission and support of my employer, Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Nigeria. I appreciate the support of the entire staff of the department of Christian Religious Studies for their cooperation to fill the academic gap that was created by my leave of absence. I acknowledge the contribution of my wife Yinka Rachael Baiyewu for taking care of our children while I was away from home for a number of years. Also I appreciate the perseverance of my children God’swill Babawande, Jacob Oluwaseyi, Elisha Abiodun and Joshua Opeyemi, who thought I could have completed my doctoral study in two years, and who also at a time in the midst of Jos crisis said in a telephone conversation: “Daddy, we want to stay with you in Germany; the killing in Jos is much”. I thank God who has blessed my academic sojourn in Bayreuth through my Professors and friends, and who also decreed against negative circumstances that almost stood against the success of my doctoral programme. v Table of Contents Declaration……………………………………………………………………...…..…..……..ii Dedication………………………………………………………………………………….....iii Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………………..…..iv Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………….........vi Abbreviations….…………...…………………………………………………………….…...x Illustrations………………………………...…………………………………………..........xiii List of tables ……………………………………………………………………………….xvii Summary……………………………………………………………………………….…..xviii Chapter One: Introduction ……………………………………………………....……...1-45 1.1 Background of the study…………………………………………………….……..…......1 1.2 Areas of Study …………………………………………………………………….……...3 1.3 Literature Review ………………………………………………………….………..........5 1.4 Theoretical Approach ………………………………………………….….…............26 1.5 Methodology…………………………………………………………….…………...39 Chapter Two: Aladura, Regulation and Religious Landscape ..………….……….....46-91 2.0 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………......46 2.1 The Aladura………………………………………………………………………….......46 2.2 The Nigeria’s Religious Landscape ………………………………………………..........54 2.3 Typologizing the Aladura ………………………………………………………….……77 2.4 Unifying the Fragments …………………………………………………………….……81 2.5 Summary.……………………………………………………...…………….…….……..90 Chapter Three: Organizational Structure ..………………………………………....92-160 vi 3.0 Introduction..………………………………………………………………..…….……..92 3.1 The Structure ………………………………………………...………………………….92 3.2 The Hierarchy of Authority ……………………………………………...…………….102 3.3 The Workers ………………………………………...…………………………………107 3.4 Ranking …………………………………………………...………………….………...115 3.5 English/Model Parish ……………………………………..............................................120 3.6 Theological Institutions ……………………………………………..……….………...126 3.7 Secular Institutions ………………………………………………..………....…...........141 3.8 Finance …………………………………………………..…………………..…….…..147 3.9 Women in the Church …………………………………………………..…..…….…...152 3.10 Central Choir ……………………………………………………..………….….……156 3.11 Summary…………………………………………………..………………....….……158 Chapter Four: Aladura Spirituality………………………………………..….…….161-230 4.0 Introduction ……………………………………………………….………...…………161 4.1 Sacred Spaces …………………………………………………………………...……...161 4.2 Sacred Time …………………………………………………………………………….171 4.3 Prophecy ………………………………………………………………………..………174 4.4 Week-day Programmes ……………………………………………………………...…183 4.5 Health Care …………………………………………………………………….………188 4.6 The Hymn and the Choir ……………………………………………………................192 4.7 Liturgical Practices …………………………………………………………………….201 4.8 Band, Fellowship, and Anniversary …………………………………………………....213 4.9 Youth Fellowship ……………………………………………………………………....217 vii 4.10 Prayer ………………………………………………………………………………....220 4.11 Restrictions …………………………………………………………………….….….222 4.12 Summary…....................................................................................................................227 Chapter Five: Evangelism....………………………………………..……………….231-264 5.0 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………........231 5.1 Street-walk Evangelism (Ikede)…………………………………….………………….232 5.2 Revival (Isoji) .....………………………………………………………………….…..236 5.3 Evangelical Unit ……………………………………………………………….……...240 5.4 Evangelism and the Media Technologies ………………………………..……….......2.46 5.5 Church Planting ………………………………………………………………..……...257 5.6 Sharing the Pulpit …………………………………………………………….....….....260 5.7 Tracking the Visitors……………………………………………………………..…....263 5.8 Summary ………………………………………………………………………..…..…263 Chapter Six: Material Culture...................................................................................265-300 6.0 Introduction....................................................................................................................265 6.1 The Church Architecture................................................................................................265 6.2 The Church Interior........................................................................................................272