By Rambi Ibrahim Ayala Esq.
“Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty, there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population.” -Albert Einstein
In today’s diverse and interconnected world, tolerance is more crucial than ever. As people from different cultures, religions, and backgrounds come together, it’s essential to recognize the value of tolerance in fostering harmony and understanding.
One of the profound lessons I have learnt from my father while growing up was that of tolerance. My father was a very devout Muslim while his only surviving sister then was a devotee to the worship of Yekku (The Tangale Traditional Religion and its Deity). My father and his sister whom we referred to as Goggo whose real name was Lapangutong, both of blessed memories, were fond of each other. While my father had his Mosque in the compound for his daily and regular prayers according to Islamic dictates, my Aunt on the other hand had a round hut where she brew local beer called Meen or Burkutu on the other side of our compound. She, in fact, use to be a lead singer (zabiya) during the Yekku festival.
Although a devout Muslim, my father had no issues allowing and respecting his sister’s religious preference, of course he had tried persuading her to embrace Islam but to no avail. He would always guard his sacred place of worship jealously, he wouldn’t stomach any attempt from anybody trespassing on his sacred place of worship and at the same time never infringed on the rights of his sister and her fellow Yekku worshippers from exercising their liberty when it comes to personal and religious choices.
Our humble abode used to be a melting pot. We had people of different race and religious persuasions come to mingle with us from time to time. We were taught to respect and accommodate others’ points of view without passing judgment predicated on our own convictions.
TOLERANCE DEFINED
Tolerance is the ability or willingness to accommodate the existence of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with. It is the backbone of a harmonious multicultural society, where diverse cultures, beliefs, and values coexist. It’s the bridge that connects differences, fostering understanding and acceptance. Tolerance doesn’t mean agreeing with everyone, but rather respecting their rights to hold different views. It’s about embracing diversity, not just accepting it.
In a multicultural society like ours here in Nigeria, there is always the tendency for people to be trapped in the pitfalls of ethnocentrism.
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one’s own culture as the norm and to evaluate other cultures in relation to one’s own. When you try to use the lenses of your own group, be it religious, ethnic, racial or political and make it a benchmark with which you want to judge others, the bad news for you is that you are already being ferried on the high sea of ethnocenltrism.
For instance, if and when a Gwari man feels his ethnic group is superior over that of Ngas, Jukun, Tangale, Fulani, Yoruba or Igbo and vice versa, then such an individual needs help so that the ethnocentric garment be unroped. Overcoming ethnocentrism requires a conscious effort to recognize and challenge one’s own biases and assumptions.
Some strategies for overcoming ethnocentrism include cultural self-awareness: Recognize your own cultural biases and assumptions; active listening: Listen to perspectives from other cultures without interrupting or judging; practice humility: Recognize that you don’t have all the answers and be willing to learn; empathy: Try to understand the experiences and worldviews of people from other cultures and cultural immersion: Engage with different cultures through travel, language learning, or cultural events.
Others include critical thinking: Challenge your own assumptions and biases by seeking diverse perspectives; education: Learn about different cultures, histories, and belief systems; open-mindedness: Embrace uncertainty and be willing to learn from others; avoid stereotypes: Don’t make assumptions about people based on their culture or ethnicity and seek diverse perspectives: Expose yourself to different viewpoints and experiences.
By implementing these strategies, you can overcome ethnocentrism and develop a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of the world.
On the other hand, some benefits of tolerance in a multicultural society like Nigeria include, it breaks down stereotypes and misconceptions, fosters inclusivity and sense of belonging, encourages open-mindedness and empathy, promotes peaceful coexistence and understanding and celebrates diversity and individuality
In conclusion, it is worth noting that most of the avoidable challenges we seem to be webbed in as a people in our match to greatness may be linked to deficiency of tolerance of divergent views.
Without tolerance, diversity can lead to division and conflict. Tolerance is not a one-time achievement but a continuous process. It requires effort and dedication from all members of society.
Let’s strive to create a society where everyone feels valued, respected, and tolerated. Where diversity is celebrated, and everyone has the freedom to be themselves without fear of judgment or persecution.
Tolerance is the key to unlocking the full potential of a multicultural society, making it a beacon of hope and harmony for generations to come.
Let these lines in the Nigeria Anthem keep resonating in our hearts always,
“Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood, we stand.”
Ayala Esq., PhD, writes from Gombe.
