- Nigerian pastor Tobi Adegboyega has ignited controversy with a viral video.
- He claims Christianity is a “social construct” imposed on Africans during colonization.
- Adegboyega argues that Christianity was used as a means to control and subdue African populations.
Controversial Nigerian pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, has sparked fresh debate online after a viral video showed him describing Christianity as a “social construct” introduced to Africans during colonisation.
In the clip, the cleric said Christianity was used as a tool to control and subdue Africans.
“The white man came to Africa when he came to colonize us. He told us he was sending to us a bigger religion,” Adegboyega said. He also alleged that certain biblical teachings, including instructions about masters and slaves, were used to justify oppression and enforce obedience.
He further claimed that Africans were “tricked into submission” through religion, stating that both leaders and citizens were influenced in ways that benefited colonial powers.
Referencing the transatlantic slave trade, the pastor said Africans were transported in ships under the banner of Christianity.
“How are we still going to practice the construct, the social construct called Christianity?” he questioned, insisting that the faith, as practised in many African societies, reflects cultural and historical influences rather than purely spiritual origins.
Adegboyega also criticised what he described as rigid religious systems that dictate how and whom people should marry, arguing that many of these rules are not explicitly stated in the Bible but were added over time.
Calling for what he described as a “liberated generation,” he urged young Africans to embrace spirituality over religion. He explained that spirituality involves seeking knowledge, asking questions, and developing confidence through intelligence rather than blind obedience.
The pastor added that churches should prioritise empowering members with knowledge and transparency, while criticising systems that restrict access to leaders or provide limited clarity about church-owned properties.
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Read some comments below:
@Rise_Forge:”I think that take is mixing truth with exaggeration. Yes, during colonial times some missionaries and colonial authorities twisted Bible passages to control people that part of history is real and painful. But that doesn’t mean Christianity itself was created to enslave Africans. The same faith later empowered many Africans to fight oppression, pursue education, and build strong communities. On marriage, the Bible may not give one cultural method (white wedding, bride price, etc.), but it clearly talks about love, commitment, responsibility, and covenant. Culture handles the “how,” faith speaks to the “why.” At the end of the day, religion didn’t enslave people power did. And power will always try to use whatever tool people believe in.”
@solomon_eazi:”The fact that most Africans think Europeans brought Christianity to Africa. Christianity started in Africa.”
@serhaykay:”I have been waiting for this day all my life, that’s one of the pastor clearly letting you know he has achieved a lot of profit in the business of Church and now it’s time to say the truth. They knew God cannot commit those atrocities attributed to him by the Bible writers, we are just waiting for them to come out and say it.”
@deminolovathome:”A pastor saying this What does that mean? Religion na scam?”
@Dlion_Dwolf:”When he said what makes people confident is “INTELLIGENCE”, I knew this was no Pastor…. but a motivational speaker…. But my question is…. why does he carry the title or office of a pastor tho, is it a rage-bait tactic?”
@dualSpartan:”This same man used pulpit to accumulate wealth. Christianity is not a social construct. Spa.c whatever was a social construct. Have you forgotten this man, he used the pulpit to force church members to take loans, beating members and all. Christianity is not the problem, is it?.”
