Cultism I – SS1 Civic Education Lesson Note (Third Term)

Cultism is the secret practice of belonging to an illegal group whose activities are violent, extreme and hidden from the public.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define cultism;
2. name some male and female cult groups in Nigeria;
3. describe how cult groups began in Nigerian universities;
4. state the reasons why students join cults;
5. list the effects of cultism and ways of preventing it.

What is cultism?

Cultism is an extreme religious or social association that is outside the established norms of society.

• Cult: a group of people who follow secret rules, oaths and practices that outsiders do not know.
• Cultist: a person who belongs to a cult.
• Confraternity: a brotherhood or association. Many cult groups in Nigeria use this word in their names.
• Secrecy: members hide their activities, meetings and membership from the public.
• Violence: many cult groups use threats, fights and killings against rivals and non-members.
• Illegality: cult activities are against the law, and schools forbid membership.

Which cult groups exist in Nigeria?

Many male, mixed and female cult groups exist in Nigeria, and most have more than one name.

What are the main male and mixed cult groups?

What are the other male and mixed cult groups?

• Klansmen Konfraternity (KKK)
• Second Son of Satan (SSS)
• Night Cadet
• Sonnen
• Mgba Mgba Brothers
• Temple of Eden
• Trojan Horse
• Jurists
• White Bishops
• Gentlemen Clubs
• Fame
• Executioners
• Dreaded Friend of Friends
• Eagle Club
• Black Scorpion
• Red Sea Horse
• Fraternity of Friends
• Red Sea
• Black Cat
• Snow Men
• Black Cobra of Ife
• Canary
• Green Berets
• The Blood Spot
• Scorpion

What are the female cult groups?

Females also form cult groups, and the common ones are listed below.

• Black-bra
• Black Berets
• Woman Brassier (brave)
• Daughters of Jezebel
• Pink Lady
• Amazons
• White Angels
• Lady of Rose
• Sisterhood of Darkness
• Golden Daughters
• The Ten Wonderful Girls
• White Ladies
• The Royal Queens
• Daughters of the Knight
• The Knights of the Aristos
• Viqueens
• The Damsel

How did cult groups emerge in Nigeria?

Cult groups in Nigeria began on university campuses with the Pyrates Confraternity in 1952.

How did the Pyrates Confraternity begin?

• Founding: it was started in 1952 at the University of Ibadan by seven students.
• Founders: Wole Soyinka (a Nobel laureate), Olumyiwa Awe, Raph Okpara, Aig-Imokhuede, Ben Egbuchie, Nathaniel Oyelola and Pius Oleghe.
• Nickname: they called themselves the “Magnificent Seven”.
• Code name: Wole Soyinka was code-named “Captain Blood”.
• Purpose: to combat societal ills and conformist degradation shown by students and by society at large.
• Complaint: the Pyrates said the first graduates of Nigeria’s first university were elitists, because they were highly privileged.
• Elitist behaviour: most students imitated the dress of the colonialists and mimicked their culture.
• Response: Soyinka and his colleagues felt this pretence should stop.
• Rules: the activity of members was rigidly controlled, and the group promoted non-violent dispute resolution.
• Position: from 1953 to 1972, the Pyrates was the only confraternity on Nigerian campuses.

How did other confraternities rise?

Other confraternities rose in the early 1970s, after a dispute inside the Pyrates in 1972.

1. In 1972, Dr Bolaji Carew and other members of the Pyrates were accused of not following the teachings of the confraternity.
2. They were unexpectedly expelled.
3. Because of this incident and other problems, the Pyrates pulled out of Nigeria’s universities.
4. The Pyrates then registered in Nigeria as the National Association of Seadogs (NAS).
5. Carew took with him many elements of the Pyrates, including similar attire, symbols, and its regimented and hierarchical structure.
6. The Buccaneers were born from this incident, and confraternity violence began with Carew’s 1972 saga.
7. The Neo-Black Movement of Africa (Black Axe) was founded at the University of Benin in Edo State.
8. The Supreme Eiye Confraternity (National Association of Air Lords) broke away from Black Axe.
9. The splintered groups added a new practice: they performed voodoo rituals before carrying out any activity.

What is the timeline of early cult groups?

Why do students join cults?

Students join cults for personal, social, family, school and wrong-belief reasons.

What are the personal reasons?

• Power: the wish to control or frighten others.
• Revenge: the wish to pay back someone who has wronged them.
• Curiosity: the wish to know what goes on in secret groups.
• Adventure: the search for excitement.
• Fear and timidity: shy students seek a group to hide behind.
• Low self-esteem or inferiority complex: they feel weak and want to feel important.
• Frustration: they feel let down and look for a way out.
• Fear of the future or the unknown: they worry about life after school.

What are the social reasons?

• Negative peer pressure: friends push them to join.
• Popularity: they want to be known and admired.
• Social identity: they want to belong to a group.
• Protection: they believe the group will defend them.
• Sense of security: they feel safe among members.
• Violent films and videos: watching crime-related films makes violence look attractive.

What are the family and money reasons?

• Family background: a member of the family may already be a cultist.
• Hardship or lack of parental care: no guidance at home.
• Funding: they hope the group will pay their bills.
• Get-rich-quick syndrome: they want money without hard work.
• Promise of employment: they are told the group will find them jobs.

What are the school and outside reasons?

• Academic weakness or academic success: weak students seek help to pass, and successful ones seek to protect their position.
• Equal plane with lecturers: some students want to stand on the same level as their lecturers.
• Injustice: they feel unfairly treated.
• Support from politicians and some staff of schools and colleges: cults enjoy cover from powerful people.

What are the wrong-belief and force reasons?

• False impression or ignorance: they think cults bring only benefits.
• Deception: they are tricked into joining.
• Coercion, intimidation or extortion: they are forced or threatened into joining.

What are the effects of cultism?

Cultism harms the cultist, other students, the school and society.

• Loss of life: clashes between rival groups cause injury and death.
• Insecurity: students and staff live in fear.
• Poor results: members skip lectures and fall behind.
• Expulsion: students caught in cult activity can be sent out of school.
• Legal trouble: members may be arrested and prosecuted.
• Damage to property: school buildings and belongings are destroyed during attacks.
• Bad reputation: the school and its students are badly judged.
• Family grief: parents suffer shame, loss and expense.

How can cultism be prevented?

Cultism is prevented by good home training, school discipline, counselling, awareness and enforcement of the law.

• Parental care: parents guide children and know their friends.
• Counselling: schools guide students who are troubled or tempted.
• Awareness: talks and lessons teach the dangers of cults.
• Discipline: schools apply clear rules and punish cult activity fairly.
• Good friends: students avoid bad company and refuse pressure.
• Useful activities: clubs, sports and societies keep students busy.
• Reporting: students report cult threats to teachers, parents or the police.
• Law enforcement: offenders, and the people who protect them, are prosecuted.

Evaluation

1. Define cultism.
2. Name five male cult groups and three female cult groups in Nigeria.
3. Who founded the Pyrates Confraternity, where and when?
4. What was the purpose of the Pyrates Confraternity when it began?
5. State five reasons why students join cults.

Assignment

Explain how the events of 1972 led to the birth of the Buccaneers and to violence among confraternities.