Peace on earth . . . and in Plateau State

I thought a lot about this story in December 2008, shortly after the crisis in Jos, when my family scrounged to find food and blankets to share with over a hundred people who had fled into our compound seeking refuge from the fighting. I thought about the cycle of history, about imperialism, corrupt politicians and […]

I thought a lot about this story in December 2008, shortly after the crisis in Jos, when my family scrounged to find food and blankets to share with over a hundred people who had fled into our compound seeking refuge from the fighting. I thought about the cycle of history, about imperialism, corrupt politicians and unemployed youth, the political and economic implications of “indigene” and “settler,” and how religious language, when twisted by extremists and copied by the ignorant, can become a deadly weapon. I also thought about how the peace and love, patience and forgiveness, truth and justice taught by Jesus, that child born in Bethlehem nearly 2000 years ago whom both Muslims and Christians revere, provide us with the ideal tools we need to solve violent conflict. In this way, the message the angels brought two millennia ago really is “good news” to a wounded and traumatized world. In the midst of all of the bad news coming out of Jos, this December, I have some “good tidings of great joy.”

Since early this year, the Jos-based interfaith organization Young Ambassadors for Community Peace and Interfaith Organization, has been bringing thousands of Christian and Muslim youth and elders together to talk about peace in Jos North, Jos South, and Riyom Local Government Areas. On July 1, a peace rally, which included representatives from all over Plateau State, was held in the Jos Rwang Pam stadium. This December, about 160 young men from communities affected by the crisis in Jos North and Jos South were selected to participate in a two-week peace-building football camp. Christian and Muslim youth, many of whom had been fighting each other during the crises, were now joined together on nine football teams, each of which were equally balanced with Muslims and Christians. The two winning teams representing Jos South and Jos North played in the Peace Cup finals on 21 December 2010, at the Bukuru Stadium.

I took over five hundred photos at the event, and what struck me as I was reviewing the photos were all the smiles and laughter my camera caught in this mixed Christian-Muslim audience of elders and youth, the feeling of communities coming together, despite political, religious, or ethnic differences, to cheer on their local teams. There were the usual speeches by community leaders, some of the most powerful sentiments expressed by the three women who spoke. Representing the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Mrs. Sarah Pam pointed out that youth were always on the receiving end of violence. Pointing to the politicians at the event, she said “Politicians, don’t be deceiving our youth.” And to the youth, she said, “Don’t listen to any politician who is deceiving you.” The state secretary of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Barrister Nafisat Lawal Musa appealed to the youth, “the bedrock of society,” to break the cycle of violence. “Shun all kinds of violence. Embrace a culture of peace,” and the state head of the women’s wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mrs. Rose Agur, pled on behalf of the mothers of the state, “Politicians’ children are safe in faraway places. We are tired of mourning our children. Shun politicians who ask you to go and kill.” Other speakers made the point that the government should make sure to treat the residents of Plateau justly, and religious leaders should not instigate their followers.

Politicians who attended the event made their speeches (limited to one minute each), but they were also required to do several things on behalf of the community. First, much to the entertainment of the audience, the legislators of Jos North and Jos South played a novelty football match which ended in a draw. Second, politicians were asked to sign a five point declaration which pledged to condemn the use of violence in pursuit of political objectives, to bring to order any supporters who use violence, to conduct the 2011 political campaigns and beyond in a peaceful and law-abiding manner, to end exploitation of youth as political thugs, and to pursue understanding between various groups for the good of Plateau State and Nigeria.

Beyond all the speechifying and pledge-signing by elders, the youth were given voice in the performances of star singer Jeremiah Gyang, and rising Plateau-based musicians the mixed Kataf-Fulani-Angas-Tiv-Igbo rock band Threadstones (AJ Kafang, Umar Jawfu, Sele Dagok, Terver Akindigh, and Charles Udeh), and the Hausa hiphop group Japs (Sani Japs, Nazeefy Shuiabu, Salis S. Sulaiman, and Salisu Lafazi), all of whom performed free of charge. A high energy football match between the Jos South and Jos North teams followed, ending in a 3-3 draw. Jos South eventually won the match in a penalty shoot-out that ended 4-3. In the joyous celebration, the enthusiastic embraces, the jubilant carrying off of the Peace cup by the Jos South team, and the graceful acceptance of the silver medals by the Jos North team, I saw hope for a newly renewed community, in which there was not just tolerance between groups but real love and friendship.

The musicians perhaps said it best. “All our wounds were self inflicted cause we burned down our bridges,/ then we realized that hope was all we had,” belted out the Threadstones in their “Miracle for a Lost City.” Hiphop musician Sani Japs told me, “What religion has shown us, both in Islam and Christianity, is peace. The Quran has shown us we are all one, but the best one among you is the one who forgives and forgets. So what I think will bring peace is if all of us think of ourselves as One Nigeria, brothers and sisters.” This sentiment was also expressed by Jeremiah Gyang, who sang, “Zo, mu rera wakar Nigeria, Zo mu rera waka sallama.” Come let’s sing the song of Nigeria, Come let’s sing the song of peace.”

And my thoughts wandered back to that old Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night”: “Truly He taught us to love one another; / His law is love and His Gospel is peace./ Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother/ And in His Name all oppression shall cease.”

Barka da Kirismati. Happy Christmas. May the peace of God be with us all.