Do you want to know more information about religions in Nigeria? Then read this article and find out – 'in Nigeria: which religion has the highest population?'
Religions in the world
World religion is spread among the peoples of different countries and continents. Religion unite people of common faith regardless of their ethnic, linguistic or political ties.
There are three main world religions – Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.
List of religions in Nigeria
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. The country is almost equally divided between Islam and Christianity. But now the number of the non-religious population is also growing. (5%)
The different types of religions help Nigerian people to stay focused and morally upright. A religious leader is respected and feared but also loved.
Which religion has the highest population in Nigeria?
A lot of Nigerian Muslims are located in the northern region of the country. Christians are in the south. In 2010, The Pew Forum compared reports from several sources. The Nigerian census for 1963 showed that 38% of the population was Muslim, 36% Christian, and 26% other.
A lot of Christians are Protestant but about a quarter is Catholic. Since the 1990s, visits to Protestant churches have begun to grow. Among them are Winner’s Chapel, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Redeemed Christian Church of God, and many others.
There are also other main Protestant churches:
- The Assemblies of God Church;
- The Church of Nigeria of the Anglican Communion;
- The Nigerian Baptist Convention;
- The Synagogue Church of All Nations.
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Islamic religion
First of all, we should talk about the Prophet, Muhammad. He earned his living by trading in Mecca, Arabia. Muhammad began to preach the first series of revelations in A.D. 610. These revelations were given to the Prophet by God through the the angel Gabriel. Muhammad received them during his solitary visit into the desert. After that, he dedicated all his life to the revelations. After the Prophet's death, the Quran appeared. These were the words that were believed to be sent directly from God. They were composed by Muhammad's followers in a document that is now known the Quran - the holy scripture of Islam.
Other teachings of the Prophet became the Hadith. From all these sources people built Muhammad's practice and imitated it. The documents have become a guide to the ethical, social, and spiritual life of Muslim believers.
The Islamic religion had a lot of supporters in the South Western - Yoruba part of Nigeria. A number of central mosques were established in the region.
Nigeria has the largest population of Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa. Speaking of the ethnic minority groups in the country, the Hausa ethnic group is mostly Muslim in the Northern part. The Yoruba tribe of the West is divided among Christianity, Islam, and traditional religions. For the Igbo people of the East and the Ijaw in the South, they are mostly Christians.
Today, the Muslim population in Nigeria is 56%. Islam appeared in the country in the 11th century. In fact, by the 16th century, it had been adopted in major regions of Nigeria. Shehu Usman Dan Fodio founded the government in northern Nigeria on the basis of Islam. Also, during the time of Mansa Musa’s Mali Empire, Islam appeared in the South Western Yoruba-speaking areas.
Islam in Nigeria has become heterogeneous as a result of the appearance of many Islam sects. The Izala movement is a notable example.
There are also Shia, Sufi, Ahmadiyya, Quraniyoon, and Dural Islam in Nigeria.
Christianity in Nigeria
Of course, Christianity is a very famous and popular religion in Nigeria. It appeared in the 19th century. Christianity is one of those things that were brought in by the British in Nigeria.
The missionaries served the people. They preached the message of Christ and also healed the sick people. First, they appeared in the eastern part of Nigeria which was populated by Igbos. And then, they entered the village councils. The heads of the villages gave them lands for building local churches.
As of 2005, there are more than 50 million Christians in the country.
Traditional religions
Although Christianity and Islam are the two leading religions in Nigeria, there are also people who have chosen to follow the traditional religion. There were gods which were believed to have sovereign power until the emergence of modern religions. They talked to people through an intermediary in person of a priest. There were so many names such as Urashi, Iku, Amadioha, Ikuku, Ogwugwu.
Some people also practice Hinduism. This religion came into Nigeria as a result of immigration of Indians from India and also the missioners of Hare Krishna. Generally, there are 25,000 Hindus in the country. A large percentage of them live in Lagos.
Chrislam is a mixture of Christianity and Islam. This religion refers to people that follow both the Bible and the Quran.
Nigeria has become an African hub for Grail Movement. It was inspired by the work of Abd-ru-shin - In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message.
There is one more group called The Reformed Ogboni Fraternity. It was created in 1914. Membership is available for the adults who accept a non-idolatrous faith in God. The ROF is located in Lagos.
As you can see, Nigeria is populated by Muslims and Protestant people for the most part. Islam and Christianity are two leading religions. They came into the country a very long time a go. Now, you know the main facts about religions in Nigeria!
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