Film Guide The Imam and the Pastor

Transcription

1 Film Guide The Imam and the Pastor June 2013 Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs

2 Abstract This film guide covers The Imam and the Pastor, a 2006 documentary film about two men one Muslim and one Christian who once led rival Nigerian militias but now travel their country together as friends to promote peace and inter-religious harmony. The film focuses on their efforts to forge understanding and cooperation between Christian and Muslim clergy and train them in conflict prevention. Topics discussed include previous violent conflicts in Nigeria and what religion says about forgiveness and cooperation. This guide features a synopsis of the film, information on the historical context of the ethno-religious hostilities across Nigerian society, a list of key terms, and discussion questions. This film guide is appropriate for use with the Berkley Center s Religion and Conflict Case Study Nigeria: Rivalries Split Along Ethno- Religious Lines. About this Film Guide This film guide was crafted under the editorial direction of Eric Patterson, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Government and associate director of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University. This film guide was made possible through the support of the Henry Luce Foundation and the Luce/SFS Program on Religion and International Affairs. 2 BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

3 Contents Synopsis Historical Context Key Terms Discussion Questions Citation Title: The Imam and the Pastor Original Release: 2006 Run Time: 40 minutes Producers: David Channer and Alan Channer Director: Alan Channer Language: English or Arabic with English or Arabic subtitles DVD Release: 2006 (FLTFilms) FILM GUIDE THE IMAM AND THE PASTOR 3

4 The Imam and the Pastor (2006) SYNOPSIS The documentary begins by introducing the audience to Imam Ashafa and Pastor James. The two describe their childhoods, the role religion played in their upbringings and how it has guided them. The two men describe the violence that rocked Nigeria in the 1980s and 1990s and how they came to be embroiled in the conflict. The violent confrontations were typically between two religious groups Christians and Muslims. The two men came to have legitimate grievances against groups within the other faith. The imam and pastor discussed how they were hostile to members of the opposing faith and that their thoughts centered on revenge for years. But in 1995, the two met unexpectedly at a leadership meeting and they were challenged by a fellow acquaintance to make peace. The imam started by making several overtures to Pastor James and, eventually, the two built a friendship based on trust and respect. The remainder of the film follows the men as they do their work for the Inter-Faith Mediation Centre. The imam and pastor also travel with colleagues across Nigeria spreading their message of peace to parts of Nigeria. They explain to their countrymen that both of their religions call for forgiveness and cooperation with one another. The film culminates in a festival of peace in the Nigerian state Yelwa Shendam. HISTORICAL CONTEXT The area that is today Nigeria has a rich history and is abundant in resources. Nigeria boasts Africa s largest population about 150 million people in an area roughly twice the size of California. Although over 250 ethnic groups are present, the major tribes are the Hausa and Fulani, who are predominantly Muslim and dominate the North, and the Yoruba and Igbo (or Ibo), who are largely Christian and predominate in the West and East, respectively. In the 1800s, British explorers mapped the river routes of Nigeria linking the interior waterways, setting the stage for serious trade. A single Islamic state, Sokoto, was founded in the northwest in By 1886, the British had seized control of the entire region and in thirty years time it became the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Nigeria was granted increasing autonomy following World War II, culminating in Nigeria s independence in Since Nigerian censuses do not note religion or ethnicity, it is difficult to determine the numbers of the Muslim and Christian population. It is estimated that Nigeria is 50 percent Muslim, 40 percent Christian, and the remaining 10 percent have indigenous beliefs. The most politically influential groups are the Hausa and Fulani, who compose 29 percent of the population, Yoruba 21 percent, Igbo 18 percent, Ijaw 10 percent, and Kanuri with 4 percent. 2 Hostilities between tribal groups were often driven by population issues. In the past, the majority of Nigeria s population resided in the northern regions (Hausa and Fulani territories), giving the Northerners control of the federal government in addition to their own regional assembly. Starting in January 1966, there were a series of southern- and northern-led coups and assassinations, cycling different regions and their particular predominant ethnic and religious groups in and out of power until the country s first democratic elections in 1999 following three decades of military rule. The Biafra War of is a case in point. A northern-led coup in July 1966 put a Christian at the head of the Federal Military Government. This did not stop Igbos, largely Christian, from being attacked in the North, leading to countermassacres 4 BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

5 throughout the country. To ease the tensions and bring stability, Nigeria was divided into twelve states in May That solution was far from satisfying to the Igbos because the division cut off one of their states from access to the Atlantic coast. A civil war broke out that month when the Igbo declared that the eastern region was seceding from the North and forming an independent nation, the Republic of Biafra. This intense, bitter war involved various international players and caused the deaths of an estimated one to three million people due to violence, disease and starvation. 3 Just as Vietnam shaped the mentality of many current senior United States leaders, the chaos and destruction of the Biafra War is indelible in the minds of the current Nigerian leadership. They remain hawkish but are hesitant to do things that will increase prospect of a protracted deadly conflict. The prime example of this reluctance is tied to the perennial issue of Nigerian censuses, which are highly controversial and often alleged to be rigged since they can determine where federal money is spent and therefore which ethno-religious groups benefit and how power and representation will be divided within the government. Key Terms Identify and discuss the following: Hausa Fulani Tarok Yoruba Igbo (Ibo) Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida Gen. Sani Abacha Maj. Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo Alhaji Umaru Yar Adua Inter-Faith Mediation Centre The Kaduna Peace Declaration of Religious Leaders Festival of Peace Shendam Peace Affirmation Christian Association of Nigeria Jama atu Nasril Islam FILM GUIDE THE IMAM AND THE PASTOR 5

6 Discussion Questions 1. Analyze Imam Ashafa s statement, We have a zeal of protecting, reviving, reformatory spirit about bringing back Islam and the glory of Islam. People expect to see us in that (7 m 8 s). Discuss how that sentiment has been used or potentially could be used both to promote conflict and to promote peace with non-muslims. 2. Pastor James talked about being in a Christian militia. Explain how a Christian might reconcile participating in such a group with his or her religious faith. Compare this rationale to the about-face Pastor James does and the tenets of Christianity that inspired him to change his view. What were these tenets? 3. Discuss the similarities and differences between what inspired Pastor James reformation toward peace and what inspired Imam Ashafa s reformation toward peace. 4. The imam and pastor give several reasons based in their respective religions as to why they ought to work with one another (See 20 m, 21 m 28 s, and 21 m 40 s). What are the similarities and differences in these religious justifications of cooperation? Also discuss and craft universal (non-religious) arguments in support of the idea that people ought to work with another one. 5. The film shows the pastor and imam engaging the public, from small meetings to larger events like the Festival of Peace. Analyze the effectiveness of these different interactions. Is it more constructive to have a top-down or bottom-up approach to promoting religious toleration and mutual trust? Islam is not as hierarchical as Christian religions; explain how that might aid or hinder an imam in spreading a message to the Muslim community. Contrast that with Christianity: might a grassroots movement be more or less effective than a respected Christian leader preaching a message to his or her fellow Christians? 1 For additional information please see and asp?historyid=ad Olayemi Akinwumi. Crises and Conflicts in Nigeria: A Political History Since Munster: Die Deutsche Bibliothek, p and Globalsecurity.org, Biafra War, Global Security, January 27, BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY