Nigeria, a nation rich in culture and history, grapples with a complex relationship with wealth. This article delves into the phenomenon of money rituals, exploring their roots, the impact of prosperity gospel, and the broader societal obsession with wealth in Nigeria. In Nigeria, wealth is everything. To be poor is to be invisible, even expendable. The obsession with wealth and by extension, status has contributed to a degradation of moral values and a complete societal decadence.
The question of money and how we use it is deeply human. It’s slipped into envelopes, pooled in circles, pressed into small palms. It pays for futures, celebrates milestones, and says what words sometimes can’t. Every corner of the globe has its own rituals around how we save, send, and gift money. Some of these habits are centuries old. Others are less than five years fresh. But across continents and cultures, the ways people interact with money tell quiet stories of trust, tradition, and the human side of finance.
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The Historical Roots of Wealth Inequality
To understand the present, one must trace the past. Nigeria’s wealth hierarchy and exploitative capitalist attitudes stem from its colonial legacy, which privileged extractive institutions and created a class of native elites to facilitate imperial economic interests. The discovery of oil and the boom in the 1970s can arguably be seen as the genesis of Nigeria’s problems, the systemic inequality and today’s corruption.
During this time, petrodollars were funnelled into the hands of a few while basic infrastructure and public services deteriorated. The Niger Delta region was pillaged and destroyed with little regard for the environment or the people living there, so long as billions were being extracted, nothing else mattered. Nonetheless, what is clear is that success was not based on merit but relationships and access to power-this is how contracts were awarded. Political appointments became opportunities for looting and the state evolved into a marketplace for patronage.
The Rise of Prosperity Gospel
When discussing the nature of wealth worship in Nigeria and the overwhelming emphasis on its acquisition, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of prosperity gospel. The rise of Pentecostalism in the 1990s coincided with the decline of the welfare state and rising unemployment, which left many citizens economically vulnerable. Many churches responded to this by promoting prosperity gospel to their congregation, which is a theology that equates material wealth and divine favour as ordained by God.
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Mega churches, undeniably, are architectural and symbolic embodiments of decadence and Nigeria’s declining morality. Pastors and religious leaders have become celebrities and demigods: flying private jets, living in opulence and accumulating wealth, while large swathes of their congregations continue to live below the poverty line. They operate through the exploitation of faith, preying on a flawed system that has failed its people and has created vulnerable minds who see religion as a way out or their only semblance of hope for a better life.
The result of prosperity preaching has been the significant commodification of religion as arguably one of the most profitable businesses in Nigeria, with mega church pastors such as Bishop David Oyedepo, with an estimated net worth of $150 million. More so, it has stripped religion from its communal, altruistic ethos to a hyper-individualistic practice that sanctifies selfish ambition and material gain. The modern day Nigerian prayer is to be wealthy. The theology of prosperity gospel normalises greed and excess. It provides moral cover for wealth accumulation and discourages critical discourse of the system.
The Multidimensional Nature of Poverty
It therefore would not be an exaggeration to assert that in Nigeria, money can purchase nearly anything. Wealth is revered because it serves as one of the few reliable safeguards against the harsh socio-economic precarity that defines daily life for the majority. In 2022, the Multidimensional Poverty Index survey revealed that 63% of persons living within Nigeria are multidimensionally poor, meaning that their poverty goes beyond just a lack of income, but covers various areas of deprivation such as education and health care.
Hence, wealth functions as an insulator, shielding people from the dysfunctions of an unequal and unstable system. It offers dignity, respect and power. To be wealthy in Nigeria is not only to be protected from hardship and elevated from it, but also to inhabit a realm of privilege that often enables impunity. This creates a god like status, where the wealthy live by a different set of rules. They are exempt from the shared frustrations and inconveniences of everyday Nigeria life. They skip queues at banks, flout traffic laws with egregious convoys, evade legal accountability and in many cases, obstruct others’ access to justice.
The Dark Side of Wealth Worship
Yet this veneration of wealth is also a dangerous beast. Like all objects of worship, it demands a sacrifice. It has fuelled harmful and criminal pursuits of money. The rise of ritual killings, internet fraud (popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo”), human trafficking and exploitative labour practices are all symptomatic of a society where material success is prized above all else, and the moral cost of attaining it is rarely questioned. Suffering doesn't radicalise most Nigerians but it tends to motivate them to rise above others so they’ll never suffer again.
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In a society where the state has failed to provide even the most basic facets of human security: healthcare, safety and dignity, suffering is not interpreted as a collective failure demanding collective action, but rather as a personal misfortune to be escaped by any means necessary. This has created a mentality where the ultimate goal is not to actually dismantle the structures of inequality, but to ascend them and become the one who is served, obeyed and feared, even if that means adopting the very systems and behaviours that once oppressed them.
Interestingly, the absolute authority of wealth in Nigeria has rendered the country a site where those with financial means from the diaspora can expect to be courted, catered to and elevated in ways that would be inconceivable in their countries of residence. This dynamic is perhaps most visible during the annual phenomenon of Detty December, a festive migration marked by enjoyment, spectacle and excess. For many members of the diaspora, the period represents an opportunity to indulge in a level of luxury and deference that their dollars and pounds can command in Nigeria.
Money Rituals: A Naturalistic Hypothesis
Money ritual is a phenomenon common in Africa especially West Africa and Nigeria in particular. It is an occult practice in which human beings and their organs are sacrificed to the gods or daemons in return for riches, usually monetary, purported to rain from nowhere but fill the room where the sacrifice is being made. This paper attempts a naturalistic hypothesis on the origin of the belief in money ritual. It posits that the belief possibly arose in out of an African secret but scientifically provable practice.
Perspectives on Money Rituals
These days, reports of certain killings in Nigeria, where the human body is decapitated and sensitive parts harvested are believed to be for ritual purposes. However, other people, including Christian and Muslim clerics, don’t believe in the efficacy of money rituals. By that, they mean there is nowhere in the history of humankind where anybody has made real cash appear through the means of magic. One of such clerics is Rev. Fr. If money rituals have potency, juju priests would be on Forbes’ rich list.
For Rev. He said, “The way and manner many of our youths are deviating from moral values and embracing evil just to make money are dangerous for a peaceful future. Our society celebrates rich people without questioning the source of their wealth. Likewise, faith leaders should preach sermons that will guide the young people right not misleading some of them with wrong definitions of prosperity. Prosperity is not just about having money. Values are lost. Gradually, we are becoming a valueless society.
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Islamic Perspective
According to him, to say there is nothing like money rituals is to say there is nothing like mysticism in life. Islam grants certain rights to humans before they are even born and others after their death. So, money ritual is condemnable in Islam, and the use of human body parts for making medicine, charms and amulet for any reason is haram (forbidden).
The Role of Herbalists and Traditional Priests
Mr Taofeek Moshoos, a herbalist that resides at Ikorodu in Lagos, also affirmed that killing of human beings for money rituals was real. According to him: ‘ I inherited this trade from my late father. Before he died, he warned me never to indulge in any rituals that involves human blood. Blood is potent for money ritual making. It has several types . But the only thing those patronizing herbalists who practice money rituals don’t know, is that one killing may never be enough. Killing of one person is just the introductory part.
According to the renown Ifa Priest, “money ritual is in two ways, first, the popular gruesome killing of human with a view to using their body parts for money is more of magical than ritual. Over the years of my being a priest, I have never seen or heard any Ifa corpus about killing human for money rituals. It is not a certainty but magical. If it is certain that once you kill someone and severe body part, mix it with certain things you start getting money, why are the herbalists still poor?
Global Rituals Around Money
Money might be made of numbers, but how we use it? That’s deeply human. These are the habits around how we save, send, and gift money around the world:
- Ghana: The tradition of susu and collective saving: In Ghana, susu is an ancient social safety net. Long before banks were even a thing for most people, susu groups were already doing the job, quietly and powerfully. It is a culture of communal finance that works.
- Brazil: When in doubt, just Pix it: Launched in 2020 by the Central Bank, Pix is the go-to way to pay for everything. It brought millions of unbanked Brazilians into the financial system, allowing street vendors, students, and retirees to participate in low-cost and simple money transfers.
- Nigeria: Asoebi and the art of the money spray: At weddings, the “money spray” is a beloved tradition where guests throw bills over the dancing couple as a way of saying we love you, we wish you abundance, and we are here to celebrate with you. Then there is asoebi, where family and friends wear matching outfits to show their support and unity.
- India: The shining story of gold, savings and culture: More than just decoration, gold is a form of security, a way to save, and a cherished cultural tradition. Gold is gifted but also kept as a valuable asset, especially in rural areas where banks might not be trusted or easily accessible.
- Japan: When money is a gift in every sense: At weddings, funerals, or New Year celebrations, cash gifts are presented in beautifully crafted envelopes. The patterns, colours, and even how the bills are folded matter. Children also grow up with this practice. During the New Year, they receive otoshidama, pocket money slipped into playful, festive envelopes.
- Mexico: Trust-based savings with tandas: a savings ritual built on trust, routine, and real-life goals. The idea is just as simple: a group of people agrees to contribute a fixed amount at regular intervals. Each round, one member receives the full amount. Then it’s someone else’s turn.
- Egypt: Eidiyah and joyful giving: During Eid celebrations, Egyptian children know one thing for sure: Eidiyah is coming. This tradition involves older relatives handing out crisp bills as gifts to the little ones. It’s a festive moment filled with laughter, new clothes, and the excitement of visiting family.
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