By Sola Adebawo
The harmattan wind usually carries a certain crispness this time of year in Nigeria, swirling through the streets of towns and villages with a sense of shared anticipation. It is a season where the air feels lighter, thick with the scent of jollof rice, chicken and the warmth of neighborly gestures. Yet, beneath the festive lights, a quiet tension has flickered online: a debate over the simple act of sharing a meal.
In recent weeks, voices from the fringes of religious scholarship have attempted to draw lines across the dinner table. Some extremist Islamic clerics have issued warnings, suggesting that accepting a Christmas plate from a Christian neighbor, or even engaging in commerce during this season, is an act of spiritual compromise. These directives aim to build walls where Nigerians have historically built bridges, attempting to turn a season of goodwill into a period of isolation.
Fortunately, the soul of the country has begun to speak back. Across social media and in local communities, a wave of dissenting Muslim voices has risen to reclaim the story of harmony. These individuals are not just defending a meal; they are defending a way of life that has defined the Nigerian identity for generations. They remind us that the beauty of our society lies not in the uniformity of our prayers, but in the sincerity of our presence in each other’s lives.
Religious harmony in Nigeria has always been less about formal theological debates and more about the lived experience of neighborliness. It is found in the Christian family that helps prepare the ram during Eid, and the Muslim shopkeeper who offers a discount for a Christmas dress. These interactions are the quiet threads that weave our social fabric together. When we share food, we are doing more than just consuming nutrients; we are participating in an ancient ritual of trust. To sit at a neighbor’s table, or to invite them to yours, is a profound declaration that their humanity is more important than their dogma.
Tolerance, while a noble starting point, is often too thin a concept for a society as full of life as ours. Tolerance suggests a mere putting up with one another, a gritted-teeth endurance of a neighbor’s differences. True inclusion, however, requires an active embrace. It is the realization that the other is not a threat to our faith, but a mirror to our own capacity for kindness. When a Muslim voice stands up to condemn the exclusion of Christians during the holidays, they aren’t just being tolerant; they are practicing a deep form of love that recognizes we are all moving through the same world of hope and struggle.
The foundations of a peaceful society are built on these small, everyday choices. If we allow the edges of our community to be defined by those who preach separation, we lose the very essence of what makes us resilient. Nigeria’s strength has always been its ability to hold multiple truths at once, to be a nation of deep, passionate faith, yet one that can find common ground over a bowl of jollof rice.
As we move through the complexities of modern life, we must be wary of any ideology that seeks to shrink our world. Inclusion means making room at the table, even when the person sitting across from us reads a different holy book. It means understanding that a gift given in the spirit of a holiday is an olive branch, not a snare.
Living victoriously in a diverse society means winning the battle against our own prejudices. It is the victory of a father who teaches his children that a neighbor’s celebration is a cause for joy, not suspicion. It is the victory of a community that refuses to let digital vitriol sour the sweetness of their shared reality.
This Christmas, the most powerful response to the voices of division isn’t found in a loud argument, but in the simple clink of a spoon against a plate. It is found in the laughter shared over a fence and the quiet acknowledgment that, despite our different paths, we are all walking home together. In the end, the meals we share are the most sacred prayers we offer for the peace of our land.
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Sola Adebawo is an accomplished business leader and communications expert with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry. He currently serves as the General Manager of Government, Joint Venture, and External Relations at Heritage Energy. Adebawo is also an author, scholar, and ordained minister, known for his writings on socioeconomic issues, strategic communication and leadership.