When MC Oluomo/ Nollywood goes to Church.
Some years ago, there was a celebration of the 3000 years of King David's reign. As much as I liked David, for reasons that I still do not fully comprehend, I have always had reservations about how the baddest boy of the bible became the most celebrated and revered. Everybody loves to bear his name; I am yet to see anyone named Judas. My Pop once preached a sermon titled "Bad boys and the God that loves them." David was one of the baddest. However, I have always wondered who is worst: A man who sleeps with the grand-daughter of his foremost and most competent adviser (Ahithophel), who was a married woman---Bathsheba, and killed the husband (Uriah), one of his most loyal, faithful soldier/employees in what many considers the most treacherous leadership betrayal of an ardent follower or the guy who sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Someone told me that Judas played a role in the divine plan because Jesus needed a betrayal to go to the cross; what was David doing? Satisfying his genitalia needs?
Church leaders endorsing and associating with "sinners" have always evoked attention and criticism through time and space. Leaders have responded in defense that Jesus associates with tax collectors and prostitutes. Still, others have pointed out that the bible calls for separation from the world. 2 Corinthians 6:17 reads, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate." So it seems the debate is on whether Christians should be isolated/separated. I do not want to go into the separation of state and religion discourse.
Similarly, I recalled a Global Think Tank session titled " The Polemics between pulpit and politics," held at my Church in 2017 and moderated by former White House Correspondent April D Ryan. PoP tackled one of his spiritual daughters, who called for angels from Africa during an election in America. While I could relate to Bishop's point and criticism (though I have questions), he has been a personal spiritual adviser to several presidents, both Republican and Democrat. Nevertheless, most people judged that he had done it with the most extraordinary finesse.
One of the research outputs I look forward to is that of Professor Mojubaolu Okome on female leadership of the Aladura churches. I look forward to how she interprets Reverend Esther Ajayi's entry and relevance in neutralizing the male club of what Professor Obadare calls the theocratic class or ecumenical elite.
Beyond this, I am considering a guy from the margins of the ecumenical elite/ cult who seems to be affirming, contradicting, and adding a new dimension to religious politics; however, within the context of celebrities(entertainers/ Nollywood), not politics (the lines can be blurred sometimes). In my forthcoming presentation at ASA 2022, I will present on celebrity spirituality and Pentecostalism. My proposed paper is titled "He is not my pastor": Celebrity Spirituality, Pentecostalism & Public Gaze in Nigeria." Alternatively, my paper is titled "When Nollywood Goes to church." The entry point to my presentation is Idabosky (The Liquid Fire) and Nollywood Actor Zubi Micheal in the theatrics that heralded further visibility of the controversial Anambra prophet in 2020.
Whatever you do, join LSA; they plan to stream presentations via Zoom.
Posted on Facebook on September 5, 2022.
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Watch the video of my presentation courtesy of the Lagos Studies Association.
