The relationship between art and spirituality as well as the therapeutic effects of art on human souls form the theme of a group art exhibition, Art and Spirituality, which featured works by seven contemporary Nigerian artists. They are Tola Wewe, Sam Ovraiti, Duke Asidere, Angela Isiuwe, Erikan Ekefrey, Emman Ekefrey and Zinno Orara. The group exhibition, curated by Paris-based Nigerian curator Bose Fagbemi held recently at the Conference Hall, St. Ignatius Centre in Surulere, Lagos, a newly built centre by the Jesus Society (Jesuits) of the Catholic Church.
Each artist expressed his inner thoughts about the theme, using different media and styles. The 31-piece collection was enriched not only by the creativity of each artist, but by the influences of the different Arts Schools the artists were trained in. But, the Ekefreys (Emman and Erikan) exhibited works that drew from same cultural milieu and style of presentation, which is almost exclusive to the duo.
Art and Spirituality was organised by the Jesuits as another platform to show the connectivity between art and spirituality, as well as to increase the appreciation of works of God as created by artists. It was the first art exhibition to be held at the conference hall since the centre was opened on September 30, 2016.
Of the 31 works, paintings such as All for love, Praise, Study, Little being, Men of honour, Transition, Life travels, Heaven and Earth, Focus on creation, Reflection and Mysteries of Life captured the essence of the theme. Interestingly, most of the paintings have been produced long before the exhibition was conceived. Yet, almost all the paintings were in consonant with the theme.
Angela Isiuwe’s Praise, All for love and Sam Ovraiti’s Heaven and Earth, Focus on creation, and Duke Asidere’s Transition are very instructive and representative of the theme. For instance, Isiuwe’s Praise, an acrylic on canvas is a simple rendition of a figure of a man raising his two hands up in praise of the almighty. Presented with simple black bold lines on a white canvas, the artist gives the image a prime focus. In a way, Isiuwe used her painting to praise and celebrate God as part of man’s spiritual life. But Asidere’s Transition, a memorial in honour of one Nigeria’s contemporary artists Mr. Ben Osaghae who died in January, is a commentary on the transient nature of life. Other works on display include Mask Figure, Kakaki, The Hunter, The artist, Couple, Womanhood, The Independent and Should be in.
Rev. Father Nweke, a Jesuit, described the exhibition as a wake-up call on Nigerians to preserve human patrimony as represented by the collection on display, adding that it will also help people to see the link between art and spirituality.
“In most of our communities and houses we have art. It is difficult to go to any Jesuit community without seeing art. You find lots of artworks in them, ranging from Benin bronze, to sculpture, carving and paintings. This is the first exhibition and hope it will not be the last,” he said.
Condemning the increasing destruction of priceless works of art across the globe by fanatics, Rev Father Nweke said: “See what the ISIS is doing to art. Human patrimony is being blown away by them every day. Also, we still witness the destruction of works of art by our people because of their beliefs. Some of us are more sensitive to art than others and as such we don’t appreciate art same way. The catholic spirituality is very sacramental unlike the Pentecostal, which is less sacramental. I mean what you see around you is a pointer to what you don’t see.
All these works of art are pointers to the unseen supreme God. But a work of art becomes fetish when it turns God and you embrace it. However, there are holy places where people go to worship.”
Tag: spirituality
-
Connecting art with spirituality
-
Obi calls for genuine spirituality among Nigerians
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has called for genuine spirituality among Nigerians.
Obi spoke yesterday at the Vatican City in Italy after the canonisation of Mother Theresa.
The former governor noted that the life of St. Theresa of Calcutta, India, was an illumination of service to God by serving His people.
Urging Nigerian churches to emulate St. Theresa’s heroic virtues, Obi decried those who used the church to deceive the people.
The former governor said God would pay people according to the merits or demerits of their deeds.
He renewed his call for close collaboration between the church and state to serve the people well.
According to him, the lives of people, like St. Theresa of Calcutta, inspired him.
Obi said: “People like St. Theresa of Calcutta strengthened my resolve to render certain services to our people through the church, such as the return of school to them and the collaboration with them on health.”
Mother Theresa of Calcutta was canonised yesterday by Pope Francis XVI at St. Peter’s Basillica in Rome.
-
God, spirituality and science
We now live in an age of enlightenment, where information is easily available to anyone wishing to educate themselves on any subject of interest. It is therefore no longer fashionable for any sane person to remain in ignorance, or to be fed with information that offers no help to their mind.
What this global advancement of knowledge entails is that: we are now being challenged individually and collectively to re-evaluate our beliefs, to re-imagine our states of existence in order to prompt healthy growths in the various sections of life. Interestingly, the survival and the progression of any society are largely strengthened by the givens patronized by the people of that society. And so, it is significant to consider the implications of what ideas make the greater role in the knowledge-base of a people.
One idea that cannot be separated from mankind is that of God. Throughout the ages, various concepts of God and the meaning of living have been explored, accepted, debunked, and some have even been thrown to extinction. On and on, God is evidenced by universal phenomena—scientific study being a link. While all possible chances are being explored, there is a general misconception about the compatibility between God and Science—the subject of science is not always allowed to match with God.
Based on extensive researches, I wish to share my views on this topic. I would like to start by explaining that: God is the source of all manifestations, both visible and invisible, ranging from environmental forms to human cultures and what not; Science is the study of these manifestations and their source, where its intelligence is perceived as ‘God’. Various logical links have been established between God and Science, which brings to the term ‘Spirituality’.
Spirituality is the connection or communion with God or this Source Intelligence. It is not doubted how significant Science has functioned in the development of cities, medicine, and many other creative ventures. Considering that ALL knowledge emanate or belong to God, it is however ironic that Africans give little or no importance to Science—the focus on religion has not only handicapped the African people, it has held back beneficial inventions that come with keen exploration of science. An evidence of neglecting Science and Innovation is the sad state of education presently in use in Nigeria and other African countries. It is unarguable that the reliance on religion does horrible things to a system—not only is there deterioration in key sectors of the economy, citizens indulge in not accepting responsibilities for their lives. It is now common habit by Nigerians to hold God responsible for deaths that could have been averted by safe roads, functional health facilities, or by even safe eating habits.
It must be reinstated that Science and God are compatible, that a godly or religious person can relate with Science. In Europe and America, for instance, during the early stage of them accepting religion, they equally made the mistake of discarding Science; though they have come to realize that Science plays a major role in the development of a society and the living standards of a people. The human brain or mind is an extraordinary resource given by God to be used optimally. It is therefore the duty of human beings to maximize their reasoning and intellectual capabilities. The essence of being human is conjoined to the ability to work out ideas, create, revolutionize, and solve problems. But when this resource is not put into purposeful use, it inevitably becomes atrophied.
The way forward for us as a people is to begin to repair our mentality, in order to thrive in this 21st century. Nigeria will thrive, Uganda will thrive, South Sudan will thrive, and catch up with societies like Europe, America, Asia; but this is only possible when we embrace Cosmic/Spiritual dispositions that will allow us to warmly embrace Science.
Cosmic spirituality enables people to take the responsibility of their lives rather than waiting for God. This is what obtains in most civilised societies. Because, we cannot thrive without Science. Proliferation of churches in Nigeria is never going to be a solution to myriads of problems facing us as a society; but rather developing our educational sectors and also empowering ourselves with dynamic scientific methodologies and tools that would pull us out of the quagmire we have found ourselves. We are aware that Nigeria has not had any major breakthrough in Science and Technology. We have continued to rely on countries like Europe, America, China and India majorly for the manufacture and supply of our products, and we just cannot continue with this trend. Otherwise, our future generations are going to suffer!
I would like to commend the position of the present Nigerian government in focusing on science and technology as the way forward for Nigeria to favourably compete with other advanced societies. We must continue to support their effort in bringing sanity back to the system through focus on science and technology. Fortunately, the present government has kindly agreed to award scholarships to students wishing to study science in our tertiary institutions. Obviously, this is a step towards a right direction.
- Oviawe-Jones, is a psycho-spiritual teacher and analyst based in UK
-
A nation under spell of spirituality
Nigeria may not be Rome, but whosoever underestimates the influence of religion on its political direction does so at his or her own peril. In a country dominated by adherents of Christianity and Islam, it is an unwritten law that whenever a Christian emerges as a party’s candidate in a governorship or presidential election, the running mate must necessarily be a Muslim and vice versa. And when a cabinet is being constituted at state or federal level, the balance must be carefully weighed to ensure that the two religions are equally represented. Even organisers of public functions ensure that everything waits until prayers are said. And they must make sure that if the prayer session is being led by a Christian, a Muslim is also on standby to take his turn.
Defined as an art of communion and communication with God, prayer is that moment when an individual or group seeks an audience with their Maker to express appreciation for what He has done for them or make supplications as to what they desire from Him in the form of guidance, protection or provision for their needs. This is done in the belief that there is a supreme being who orders the operations of the universe.
Prayer is one of the most critical elements of religion, the very pivot on which it revolves, and it is as old as human history. But from the simple art of communion and communication with God, prayer is increasingly becoming a scientific endeavour; so sophisticated now that some smart Nigerians who boast of their ability to intercede with God on behalf of others are making a career of it, parading themselves with such designations as pastor, prophet or alfa.
Regarded in general terms as spiritual consultants, they have succeeded in building a multi-billion naira industry that now constitutes a huge drain on the nation’s finances. From one administration to another, there have been tales of a section of the Presidential Villa being carved out for marabouts and other hawkers of prayers whose job is to constantly draw the President’s attention to the threats of invisible enemies plotting to destabilise his government or eliminate him completely. In return for these unverifiable alerts, the President sets aside a huge slice of the national cake for their personal enjoyment.
One of the major tasks that confronted the administration of the late former Nigerian president, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua barely one year after he assumed office was the effort to get to the roots of the allegation that a former chairman of the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC) spent a mind-boggling sum from the corporation’s money on spiritual consultations. The then President had directed former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to find out how the then NDDC chairman spent N1 billion to secure the services of a sorcerer whose task was to employ spiritual means to enable chairman secure contracts from the Akwa Ibom State Government. The then NDDC chair was also alleged to have burnt the sum of N270 million at a cemetery in Port Harcourt, which he later bathed with in order to realise his wishes from the functionaries of Akwa Ibom State Government.
A statement the sorcerer himself made at the Zone 5 Police Headquarters in Benin, Edo State, quoted him as admitting that the former NDDC chair paid the sum of N15 million into his executive savings account in Ughelli, Delta State branch of a new generation bank to make some sacrifice in order to retain his position as NNDC chairman when the board was dissolved. He also said that he received three different requests from his client, namely to work on the mind of the then Akwa Ibom State governor in order to secure contracts from him; to kill the then Managing Director of NDDC to enable him have his way in decision making processes and to also work on the then Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to secure his backing if any move was made to remove him as NDDC chair. For the above tasks, the sorcerer admitted charging N570 million which the then NDDC chair paid in installments of N220 million, N50 million and N40 million, with N260 million as the balance outstanding.
The relationship between the sorcerer and the former NDDC chair was said to have turned sour when the period set for the former NDDC managing director expired without any news of his death. The former NDDC chair demanded a refund of the sum he had committed to the project while the witch doctor said the job could not be done without payment of the outstanding N260 million. The ensuing face-off prompted the former NDDC chair to report the matter to the police, alleging that he was defrauded by the sorcerer, adding that he was under a spell when he made the payments. “The amount of money the fraudster collected from me through the hypnotic spell is about N800 million. The extortion spread over months and were always with death threats to my person and family members, friends and staff,” he said.
One of the high points of the last general election was the allegation that a Presidency official masterminded the distribution of a sum ranging between six and seven billion naira among clerics to secure their support for the then President Goodluck Jonathan as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last year’s presidential election. And one of the most shocking revelations of the sum of $2.1 billion arms money allegedly mismanaged by the Office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki is the alleged admission by a former governor that the sum of N4.6 billion he got was meant for spiritual assignments!
Nigeria is a nation that thrives on spirituality. Superstition clings to us like a cloak. Our undue commitment to non-empirical ways of doing things is the reason why we are where we are in spite of our heavy endowments. We are faced with the choice of recognising this primitive oddity and dealing constructively with it, or ignoring it and leaving in bondage to it.
-
“Divine spirituality: A whole new level of power”
Having read his book, “The Greatest Encounter,” and listened to some of his messages, I think and rightly so, that there is yet another exemplary prophet of God in Nigeria. He is not one of Nigeria’s most popular television evangelists and has never craved to be one. He does not blow the trumpet on the rooftops to be heard or court power to enjoy special privileges and favours. But with a simple, courteous and unassuming mien, Bishop Kleham Kings Degaya has been speaking the mind of God to Nigerians and people all over the world, who care to give heed to his message.
Perhaps, if he were from another part of the world and carries just a pint of the anointing God has deposited in him, Nigerians from all walks of life would have scrambled for visa and tickets and pay huge sums in hotel bills to get to be in his presence and to listen to his uplifting and spiritually refreshing messages. But because Bishop Degaya doesn’t just do the showmanship thing that has been the hallmark of contemporary Nigerian preachers and evangelists, a lot of people have unwittingly lost out on his amazing story, his awe-inspiring result oriented teachings and his easy-to-follow Christian principles.
Nobody, who has had the opportunity to sit under his voice, as he expounds the mysteries of God and explicates on the awesome power Christians command over situations, nature, negative spiritual forces and satanic principalities; has ever been the same. While a lot of people have criticized and even brand him a spy, Bishop Degaya has constantly challenged anybody who is in doubt of his conversion and anointing to do the needful: Seek discernment from God and God alone, who calls and empowers His apostles, prophets, ministers, evangelists, preachers and teachers of His Word.
Born as Abdullazeez Abdulkabir Alhassan Dan Fodio, a grandson to the legendary Uthman Dan Fodio, Bishop Degaya said his life took a new turn when he had “an encounter with Jesus Christ Glorified.”
With a Ph.D in Neuro Science and an odious involvement at the highest and deepest levels of the occult, Bishop Degaya said he is the first person in his linage to be born again and who has openly confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Before the Lord of lords, Jesus Christ personally arrested him and changed the course of his life, Bishop Degaya said he was “Bahamah-Appysinail” and enjoyed all the pleasures that the kingdom of darkness could offer. But when Jesus personally revealed Himself to him in the magnificence of His glory, he said, “I found myself operating on strength, different from the one I had acquired from the satanic enclave…. The God of impossibilities penetrated the deepest darkness and beamed His Light of Love on me and decided that this mortal being (me) is for Him.”
Freed from the yoke of satanic manipulations and the forces of darkness, Bishop Degaya said Jesus gave him a “Royal Assignment” after his arrest and conversion, which lasted three hours, his Transfiguration experience that lasted three months and the last appearance of Jesus to him.”
For over 21 years, he has been sharing an amazing and compelling message of salvation through Jesus Christ Glorified and the mysteries of the Word of God with Christians and non-Christians all over the world.
Bishop Degaya has revealed the secrets to success, good health, personal freedom, unlimited power and salvation in messages that have touched the lives of many, in more than tangential ways.
In one of his atypical messages, he said mankind has been a problem since creation because he is easily carried away by little things. According to him, “Man is always in a hurry and always desperate and even when he doesn’t know where he is going. He is a chronic abuser of grace and disobedient to God. And despite all these regrettable qualities, man is still unique and special because, there is a life in him and that life is the spirit from the righteous God and has been active from Blessed eternity. God emerged from Blessed eternity and the only thing that emerged with God from Blessed eternity is Man.”
Bishop Degaya insists that although most children of God are sincere, they still face problems because most of the things they do are fabricated. “Most of what children of God do don’t exist in the realm of negative spirituality and they don’t exist in the realm of positive spiritually and that’s why they are not effective.”
He also spoke on the growing
helplessness among Christians
in contemporary times. “In Christianity today, there is a level of helplessness, especially with sincere people. You are asked to give your life to Christ, you have done that. You are asked to come to church and you have done that. You are asked to attend Sunday school and you have done that. You are asked to be consistent in Church and you have done that. You are asked to pay tithes and you are doing that. You are asked to pray and you are doing that. You are asked to fast and you are doing that. You are asked to observe some guiding principles instituted by your Churches and you are doing it. The question is, after doing all these, what are the results?”When all these fail to deliver, Bishop Degaya said Christians need to enter the realm of Divine spirituality. “Divine Spiritual practicality” he said, “is what Christians need to know to be powerful and to be above all satanic principalities and powers.
With teachings that dig into the womb of some of the most powerful occult groups in the world, his followers have concluded that Bishop Degaya is backed by a Force that is above all the satanic principalities and powers operating in the heavenlies and on earth.
But he is quick to point out that the Church is yet to attain the height God had purposed for it from the beginning of time. He, therefore, insists that, “Most churches are powerless because they don’t know the powers that they have in God.” Because of this, he has consistently asked, “If magicians have something that works for them, occultists have something that works for them and even the herbalist, what is it that works for children of God?”
It is, therefore, the failure of men of God to stay connected to the flow of God’s Divine power, that he said, makes many of them to go fabricate things and use them to entrap their members.
Bishop Degaya, therefore, shares some simple but very effective principles that deliver solutions to a wide-range of human needs and problems.
For instance, he said it is possible to stop untimely death and protracted death in the society. I can hear someone say, “This is a huge joke.” Fortunately, it’s not a joke. “You don’t even need to be a believer for this to work for you,” says Bishop Degaya.
Continuing, he said, “You can take your faith and put it in the boot of your car or hang it somewhere. You don’t even need faith for this to work for you. What I am about to tell you will make a difference between life and death, between the life of deliverance or that of affliction, poverty and sudden death.”
Anybody confronted with the spirit of sudden death and or protracted sickness that leads to humiliating death does not need a long fast or a thunderous prayer session.
For one confronted with the mark of sudden death, Bishop Degaya advises you say, “Bahaly: Stop and be Quiet,” and for protracted sickness that could lead to death, “Balamas: Stop and be Quiet.” Period.
He further explains that before death comes knocking, humans are put on a seven-year notice by God. That is, God gives signs of an impending death seven years before time.
However, if such a person is ignorant of the signs and or unable to interpret the dreams through which God communicates and the person ultimately dies prematurely without being born again, that person would become a waste to the kingdom of God. “And there is nothing that hurts God more than a wasted man. God doesn’t care whether an angel or an archangel dies because they were not created in the image and likeness of God,” he says. We should, therefore, not excuse our ignorance when we allow bad things to happen and attribute them to God’s will.
But Bishop Degaya teaches that decrees and intercessions are by far, the most effective tools of attracting positive experiences.
Continuing, he said, “Don’t be help less when you have a problem.
The problem you have is an indication that you need knowledge and information.”
To access the blessings of God, Bishop Degaya advises children of God to eschew pride, bias and hate, adding that the measurement of human perfection is not in the hand of man but in the Almighty God.
Have you experienced a decrease in any sphere of life? Are you inadequate in your profession or spiritual life? If your answer is yes, then something is wrong. “God created everything to grow and if you are not growing, it is not the fault of God. He loves man so much that he does not want man to be destroyed. Those who are destroyed, willingly offer themselves.” Degaya would say with an air of finality.
Are you tormented by witchcraft and other satanic forces? Degaya insists that by operating within the realms of Divine Spiritually, Christians can easily defeat and trample upon these elementary powers.
Don’t be driven by the fear of death and poverty and sickness to accept ephemeral solutions from the deceiver of the brethren. Don’t spend your life fasting and praying for deliverance without divine inspiration.
You can be the best in life through Jesus Christ Glorified by learning, knowing and applying His Word in your situations. “Seek Jehovah El-Kleham, the Lord God your Greatest Destination, says Kleham Kings Degaya, the Divinity Bishop of the HolyGhostants Generation, Owerri, Imo State, South-East Nigeria.