Faith, Power, and the Untold Price: My Journey Through Religion’s Shadow Over Africa

Imagine entering a world where, before you even speak your first word, the odds are stacked against you. It’s not just economics or politics shaping your path; it’s something more insidious — an invisible force masquerading as divine truth. For centuries, religion has been both a refuge and a weapon, and its duality has left scars that stretch across continents. As a Nigerian living in America, I see this play out in history’s echoes and in Africa’s present-day struggles. Religion — meant to liberate — is too often used to control.

This isn’t a story about faith versus atheism or science versus spirituality. It’s about power: who holds it, how they wield it, and how they cloak oppression in the guise of morality. Whether you believe in God, science, or just the dignity of the human spirit, we need to confront the truth. Religion has shaped the world we live in, but it has also stalled the progress we desperately need.

The Holy Lies That Fueled the Slave Trade

In 1444, Prince Henry of Portugal — celebrated as a visionary explorer — launched his expeditions to West Africa. The story sold to the world was one of discovery and salvation. Backed by the Pope himself, Henry claimed he was spreading Christianity to “heathens.” In…