Nigerian Religious Centres and their Neighbours (Part 2)

The reality of noise pollution as a major threat to the environment is no longer questionable. Experts have said that its effect ranges from sleep disturbances, speech impairment, to other health and psychological challenges. Taking root from industrial activities, automobile, air traffic, all night disc jockey ‘gbedu’ of hotels and bars, and household generator sets, the environment suffers the aftermath of these continuous bombardments. Added to this is religious-oriented noise. This results from the daily activities of different religious groups in relation to their environment. Yesterday we discussed the sources and effect of religious noise among the two major religions in Nigeria: Christianity and Islam, here is the concluding part;

It has been discovered that sources of religious noise in Nigeria includes the use of ear-shattering loudspeakers by Christians and their Muslim counterparts during morning and night worship sessions; and the drum beats of partisans of African Traditional Religion during their festivals. The effect of such noise pollution includes sleep disturbances, disruption of personal meditation and rest, speech disturbances, and the ability to aggravate high blood pressure among patients and potential victims, among others.

Induced by resounding Public Address Systems, the tempo and rhythm of music and songs in typical Nigerian churches is noisy. The noisy music induces dance to the point that worshippers are sometimes made to feel guilty, if they refuse to dance. This is a departure from the quiet, contemplative prayer style as was notable in the days of our fore-fathers to vibrant and noisy prayers that are expected to compel the negative forces (spiritual and elemental) against who, prayer is employed as a spiritual weapon. Some of these prayers are repetitive, dramatic, and full of ‘fire’.

Therefore, during worship or ‘deliverance’ sessions, worshippers shout, scream, jump, and mutter incoherent words. Given the fact that most of these churches are located within residential areas these worship activities distract and disturb the peace of those in the neighbourhood. To worsen the matter, some of these churches hold vigils in a musically charged atmosphere and shouting prayers which generate untold noise. All these would have been gratifying and motivating if they weren’t exercised in residential areas, not like they still aren’t but they won’t have gotten negative reactions from members of the public.

Such combination of religious noise charges up the environment disturbing and disrupting the sleep of those in the neighbourhood, some Pentecostal churches even go in groups singing and clapping.

This is no different with the Islamic faith. One common area where noise pollution is pronounced in Islamic worship is in the call to prayer. The Salah, one of the five pillars of Islam requires that Muslims pray five times daily, in the morning, at noon, late afternoon, just after sunset, and later in the evening. Prior to the commencement of the prayer, a human voice calls the faithfuls to prayer from the minarets. However, in order to extend the call to others, loud speakers are used. Most times, the loud speaker is so tuned high producing outrageous noise that encapsulates the entire environment. The noise of loud speakers blasting call to prayers by Muslim clerics every 5o’clock is a complete nuisance.

This situation has become a global concern. In Germany as well as other parts of Europe, there have been strong protests against the use of loudspeaker from the minaret of the mosque. In 2011, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support for a law that would ban mosques from using loudspeaker systems to call people to prayer. The so-called Muezzin Law applies to all houses of worship but the practice is prevalent only in mosques. There are hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens who routinely suffer from the noise caused by the muezzin’s calls to prayer. Yet, these worshippers show no sense of concern but rather abuse those who speak against the ear-shattering loudspeakers. The same challenge exist in India where sometimes the call begins at 4am cutting short the sleep and comfort of those in the neighbourhood. In Nigeria, the case is not different. The noise of loud speakers blasting call to prayers by Muslim clerics every 5o’clock is a complete distraction.

Though some religious adherents may have their reservations about the menace of religious noise on the environment, it still doesn’t change the fact that this situation needs to be addressed. There are little kids that need their sound sleep, what about people that belong to other faith? I wonder if such level of noise pollution is observed in places like Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island or are there are no mosques/churches in these areas?

The situation is indeed worrisome in the sense that the one-time serenity the people enjoyed in the past has been eroded with a diversity of religious noise pollution.

These no doubt raise some environmental challenges which affect the peace and well being of the society. The fact that some of these boisterous, ear-shattering religious noises do not take place in places like Ikoyi, Lagos, and many government reserved areas show we know our awareness of the extent at which noise could impair and or disrupt the human mind and comfort.
The above environmental concerns constitute part of the reasons why the Lagos State Government started its clampdown on religious houses that placed public address systems outside their worship houses in 2007. Although seen as anti-religion in some quarters, such move is a bold step in alleviating the overall impact of noise pollution. However, four years after the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency started issuing threats to religious organizations to put in place soundproof materials or face sanction, noise pollution is still a problem in the state