The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has bowed to pressure after a number of Christians and Christian organizations reacted in outrage to the proposed Conference on Witchcraft.
Despite the fact that a literary and social critic explained what the conference is about and said it is not a gathering to promote witchcraft , Nigerian Christians still continued to condemn and pray against the conference.
As a result, the organizers of the conference have had to change the theme to avoid a scene and to appease religious Nigerians.
Though the theme of the conference was changed from "First International & Interdisciplinary Conference on Witchcraft" to another theme that doesn't include witchcraft, witchcraft will still be discussed at the conference which holds tomorrow in UNN.
Christians in Nigeria have been reacting in anger after it was revealed that a conference on Witchcraft will hold in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) this month.
The conference poster invites members of the public to the "First International & Interdisciplinary Conference on Witchcraft" where the "meaning, factor,s & practices" of witchcraft will be explored.
A number of Christians have declared spiritual warfare following the revelation. Some have been praying against it; that it will not hold and even if it does that it won't be successful.
Reacting to the outrage, Literary and Social Critic, Daniel Chukwuemeka told Nigerians that the conference is not a meeting of witches neither is it an avenue for the introduction of witchcraft into the community.
He went on to school his followers on what the conference is about and why people are kicking against it.
He wrote: "An upcoming conference on witchcraft at the university of Nigeria is sparking outrage among members of the university community and its neighbours. They accuse the organisers of the conference of attempt to promote, spread and institutionalise witchcraft in Nsukka.
"Over the week, since the emergence of the conference poster, the organisers of the conference have been painstakingly offering explanations for the themes of the meeting, making it clear that such academic gathering is only meant to discuss the historical permutations, critical factors and embedded meanings associated with the art of witchcraft, and not a coven where witchcraft in itself will be re-energised to be re-introduced to the university and Nsukka community."
Addressing those condemning the conference, he said: "If you're in Nsukka and partake of this currently pervasive phobia, gee m? nt?. The work of university lecturers does not end in teaching and setting exam questions. As embodiments of the conscience of every human society, they're also tasked to question received notions, social constructs and epistemic categories that shape our lives.
"In the conference, they will discuss and explore the origins, beliefs and practices of witchcraft, and then examine the illogics and fallacies that sustain its notions, and attempt to answer some questions regarding the efficacy or redundancy of witchcraft. They are not going to evoke witchcraft spirits -- whoever thinks they will is either being deliberately mischievous or outright mentally retarded.
"I'll go with "deliberately mischievous," because they, especially religious leaders, see this conference as a threat to their trade, as they wouldn't want the public to learn that the notion of witchcraft can be questioned, let alone be dumped."
Mr Chukwuemeka ended his post with a piece of advice for Nigerians.
"Go and learn," he said simply.
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