Angelus Pulse Nigeria

At their father’s burial, James—the youngest of five siblings—shouldered most of the financial responsibility, contributing ₦8 million out of the ₦10 million budget. His elder brother, Cletus, 50 years old and financially strained, managed only ₦300,000. Samson, the 47-year-old teacher, gave ₦1 million, while Veronica, their divorced sister, offered ₦300,000. Jacob, a taxi driver, added ₦400,000.   Despite the uneven contributions, the burial was unexpectedly harmonious. But the fragile peace dissolved when the time came to divide their father’s estate. Custom dictated that the firstborn son, Cletus, should inherit the family house, along with a share of the remaining assets—five plots of land, six houses, clothes, and furniture.   Veronica, however, challenged this tradition. She argued that Cletus’s meager contribution to the burial should disqualify him from receiving the largest share. Aligning with Samson, she petitioned the village head. James stood firmly by t...

It’s funny how an eighteen‑year‑old boy can look at his sixty‑five‑year‑old father and think, “I’m smarter than him.” He forgets that his father was once eighteen too, with the same energy, the same boldness, and probably the same mistakes.   The same goes for the eleven‑year‑old girl who tries every trick in the book, convinced she’s outsmarting her fifty‑eight‑year‑old mother. What she doesn’t realize is that her mother once played those same games—and knows them better than anyone.   Sometimes it feels like kids today believe their parents just fell from the sky, instantly becoming “Mom” and “Dad.” They don’t see that every lie, every little scheme, is something their parents have already lived through.   Take the fourteen‑year‑old who tells her mother she’s off to see a girlfriend, but ends up under a mango tree with a boy, pretending to play house. She thinks she’s clever, but her mother knows exactly what’s going on—because she’s been there before....

  Parent-child relationships are traditionally built on respect. Parents devote themselves to providing for their children’s basic needs—food, clothing, and shelter—while children, in turn, support their parents in whatever ways they can.   African parents, in particular, are known for their diligence in raising children, ensuring they are not spoiled and correcting inappropriate behaviour, especially when it involves disrespect.   Recently, an online video sparked debate: a boy, estimated to be between 12 and 14 years old, openly disrespected his mother. Many questioned why she chose to record and share the incident instead of disciplining him, as is customary in African households.   In Western cultures, such behaviour may be tolerated or explained away, but in Africa—especially Nigeria—it is far less acceptable. Physical discipline remains common, rooted in the biblical principle, “spare the rod, spoil the child” (Proverbs 13:24).   Observ...

In certain regions of Africa, notably Nigeria, there exists a cultural belief that a man may suffer illness as a consequence of his wife’s wrongdoing. For example, if a married woman commits adultery, it is believed that her husband may fall ill. To restore the man’s health, the community often requires the woman to publicly confess her infidelity. This confession is seen as a necessary act to alleviate the husband’s sickness. Once she admits her fault, the man is believed to recover. This longstanding tradition is widely accepted and practiced, with many asserting that it plays a crucial role in promoting faithfulness within marriages and maintaining social order. Another traditional practice involves the suspicion cast upon a wife when her prominent husband dies under mysterious circumstances. In such cases, the wife may be subjected to spiritual trials to prove her innocence. These tests might include drinking the deceased husband’s bath water or performing ritualistic movements aro...

Photo Credit: Plateau Watch   Dialogue is often hailed as the most effective path to conflict resolution. Yet, the idea of negotiating peace with bandits in a sovereign nation remains deeply controversial.   Since the Boko Haram sect—formally known as Jama'at Ahl al-Sunna Li al-Da'wa wa al-Jihad—emerged in northeastern Nigeria in 2003, the country has suffered the loss of thousands of lives to their violent campaigns, particularly in the northern regions. Despite repeated efforts by federal, state, and local governments to suppress the group, military offensives have yielded little success. In fact, the harder the military pushes, the more destruction these insurgents unleash. They raid military bases, seize vehicles and weapons, and turn those same resources against the nation.   Beyond direct assaults, the bandits frequently bomb government facilities, kidnap citizens and foreigners, and extort massive ransoms—sometimes killing their victims even after payment...

Photo credit: freepik.com In Africa, particularly in Nigeria, the color black is often negatively associated with witchcraft. Despite black symbolizing power, authority, and elegance, many Nigerians—especially in rural areas—frequently label elderly, dark-skinned women as witches. This perception is unjust and harmful. It is rare to find a fair-skinned woman suspected or accused of witchcraft in Africa. This is largely because fair complexions are often associated with innocence and harmlessness. I recall an incident years ago when a spirit was consulted to identify the witch or wizard responsible for the death of a two-month-old baby boy. To the surprise of many, a fair-skinned woman was accused of being behind the tragedy. In many African cultures, colors carry profound symbolic meanings connected to nature, spirituality, and societal values. The symbolism of black and white is far more complex than a simple good-versus-evil contrast often seen in Western cultures. Black frequently r...

The daily conversations with a loved one   become cherished memories that never fade.   Each morning, the first instinct is to reach for the phone,   to hear the voice of that one dear soul.   And before night falls, you cannot rest   without sharing words with the same beloved presence.   That person may be a spouse, a close friend, a child,   or a member of your family near or far.   Whoever they are, once your thoughts remain fixed on them,   their absence reshapes your emotions,   leaving your very being unsettled when they suddenly vanish from your world.   No matter how hard one tries to silence the thoughts of the departed,   they linger stubbornly, refusing to leave.   Yet somehow, we must learn to release them,   lest our minds suffer endlessly under their weight.   Oh, my dear one—why could you not resist nature’s cal...