The Irony of Africa’s Struggle with Foreign Faiths
By Wasse Marlvine
Abuja, Nigeria – March 30, 2025
What began as a religiously fueled protest in Abuja—marked by clashes between Nigeria’s military and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN)—has sparked a wider conversation about the role of foreign religions in shaping Africa’s political landscape. The IMN, a Shiite Muslim group, took to the streets in solidarity with Palestinians on International Quds Day, a global event meant to rally support for the Palestinian cause. However, their demonstration quickly turned violent, resulting in the deaths of 12 people, including 11 protesters and one soldier. But beneath this tragic event lies an even deeper, more pressing issue: the irony of Africa’s continued embrace of religions that were largely introduced through conquest and foreign influence.
Religious Protest, Political Tensions: The IMN’s Fight for Recognition
The IMN is a Shiite Muslim group in Nigeria, a sect that makes up about 5% of the country’s Muslim population, and is heavily influenced by the Iranian Revolution. While the protest itself was presented as a show of solidarity with Palestine, the broader objectives of the IMN are intertwined with their ongoing demand for an Islamic state in Nigeria—one that is heavily inspired by foreign ideologies. Despite the group’s ban in 2019 by the Nigerian government for alleged extremist ties, the IMN has continued to organize protests, with their most recent clash highlighting the deepening rift between the Nigerian government and the nation’s minority religious groups.
What’s most striking about the IMN’s ideology is the foreign nature of their religious and political motivations. The sect’s advocacy for an Islamic state in Nigeria follows a template established by the Iranian Revolution of 1979—a movement rooted in Persian history, not African tradition. The very faith driving the IMN’s protest, Shiite Islam, is one of the many foreign religions that have shaped political and cultural life in Africa—often by force.
The Irony: Foreign Religions and Africa’s Long History of Resistance
It’s hard to ignore the irony of Africans fighting for the dominance of religions that have little historical or ancestral ties to the continent. Christianity and Islam, both major players in the religious and political landscapes of Africa today, were largely introduced through conquest, colonization, and the spread of foreign empires. Christianity spread in Africa largely through European colonization and the missionary work that accompanied it. Similarly, Islam was brought to Africa by Arab conquerors and traders—leaving its mark as a foreign influence, particularly in North and West Africa, through military campaigns and trade networks.
For many Africans, the connection to these religions is not one of voluntary choice or indigenous belief systems, but rather one forged through conquest and domination. To this day, many African communities maintain their spiritual practices rooted in their traditional beliefs, but these have been marginalized by the widespread influence of imported religions.
The IMN’s insistence on establishing an Islamic state is an ironic reflection of this ongoing struggle. Here is a group advocating for a foreign ideological system, rooted in the very same religion that was once forcibly introduced to Africa, and whose followers now clash with Nigerian security forces. The irony becomes even more striking when you consider the fact that many African nations are still grappling with the scars of colonialism and the imposition of foreign systems of governance, religion, and culture.
The Implication for Africa: Embracing True African Unity
This situation poses critical questions about the future of African identity and unity. How long can Africa continue to fight for the spread and dominance of ideologies that have little connection to its indigenous history? Is the future of the continent to be defined by foreign religions that were forcibly introduced, or is it time for a reinvention of spiritual and political leadership rooted in African traditions?
This protest, fueled by Shiite Islam’s foreign influence, reflects the challenges African nations face in reconciling their ancestral heritage with the imported faiths that have shaped much of their modern political and social structures. If Africa is to ever break free from the chains of its colonial past, it must look inward, re-establish connections with its roots, and rediscover the powerful leadership potential embedded in its own history.
At a time when the continent is striving for greater unity, economic autonomy, and independence from external influences, the continued embrace of foreign religions—especially those whose introduction was marred by violence and conquest—remains a paradox. It is crucial for African leaders, intellectuals, and citizens alike to start a conversation about the true essence of African unity, not one based on foreign ideologies, but on values and traditions that resonate with the continent’s history, culture, and people.
Conclusion: A Call for Reflection and Action
The deadly clash in Abuja, while tragic, serves as a wake-up call. Africa’s future cannot be shaped by foreign ideologies, whether religious or political. The IMN’s protest and the violence it sparked are just a symptom of a deeper issue: Africa’s struggle with foreign religions and ideologies that were imposed upon it during the colonial and post-colonial eras. As the continent continues to move forward, it must reckon with this irony and begin to champion leadership that is truly African in its essence. Only by embracing its indigenous roots, values, and spiritual beliefs can Africa break free from the long-lasting effects of conquest and embrace a future that is genuinely its own.
