By By Sola Adebawo
THE harmattan wind usually carries a certain crispness at this time of year in Nigeria, swirling through the streets of towns and villages with a sense of shared anticipation. It is a season when the air feels lighter, thick with the scent of jollof rice, chicken, and the warmth of neighbourly 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 neighbour, or even engaging in commerce during this season, is an act of spiritual compromise. These directives seek 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 within local communities, a wave of dissenting Muslim voices has risen to reclaim the narrative of harmony. These individuals are not merely 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 one another’s lives.
Religious harmony in Nigeria has always been less about formal theological debates and more about the lived experience of neighbourliness. It is found in the Christian family that helps prepare the ram during Eid, and the Muslim shopkeeper who offers a discount on a Christmas dress. These interactions are the quiet threads that weave our social fabric together. When we share food, we are doing more than consuming nutrients; we are participating in an ancient ritual of trust. To sit at a neighbour’s table, or to invite them to yours, is a profound declaration that their humanity matters more than their dogma.
Tolerance, while a noble starting point, is often too thin a concept for a society as vibrant as ours.
Tolerance suggests a mere putting up with one another, a gritted-teeth endurance of a neighbour’s differences. True inclusion, however, demands an active embrace. It is the realisation that the other is not a threat to our faith, but a mirror reflecting our own capacity for kindness. When a Muslim voice rises to condemn the exclusion of Christians during the holidays, it is not simply tolerance at work; it is the practice of a deeper love that recognises we are all navigating 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 shaped 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 finds common ground over a bowl of jollof rice.
As we navigate the complexities of modern life, we must remain 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 offered 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 neighbour’s celebration is a cause for joy, not suspicion. It is the triumph of a community that refuses to let digital vitriol sour the sweetness of its shared reality.
This Christmas, the most powerful response to voices of division is not found in loud arguments, but in the simple clink of a spoon against a plate. It is found in laughter shared over a fence and in the quiet acknowledgement that, despite our different paths, we are all walking home together. In the end, the meals we share become the most sacred prayers we offer for the peace of our land.
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, Government, Joint Venture and External Relations at Heritage Energy. Adebawo is also an author, scholar and ordained minister, known for his writings on socio-economic issues, strategic communication and leadership.
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