Intersecting with Nigeria

As part of our mission to promote peace, justice, and reconciliation, Intersections, on May 14, hosted another of its West End Lecture Series The Heart of Conflict: Pathways to Peace. The series endeavors to bring profound experiences of conflict and peace by featuring internationally known presenters who speak about aspects of conflict transformation from their own personal histories. Their experiences demonstrate that at the heart of every conflict are the seeds for peace.

Our recent offering featured two prominent Nigerians, Pastor James Wuye and Imam Mohammad Ashafa. Both know intimately the issues of conflict and peace. Decades ago in Kaduna state in Nigeria, Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa took up arms in the religious war that erupted in the region. Both were leaders in their respective faiths and heads of militant groups. Both inflicted violence and suffered losses. The larger losses to the community were catastrophic.

While they both survived, each wished revenge for many years. Two decades later, under the hand of providence, both were attending a public health meeting and were brought into contact with each other with a plea to reconcile on behalf of Nigeria. Perhaps honoring their public roles they exchanged greetings and slowly over the course of years embarked on a journey of peace and reconciliation. This led to the Kaduna Peace Declaration of Religious Leaders in 2005. They further dismantled the militant groups they organized and enjoined members on a new mission of peace, tolerance and mutual co-existence. Their work has been recognized by tens of thousands of Nigerians and has spread beyond national borders into the international community.

Today, Pastor Wuye and Imam Ashafa believe the only way religious violence can be reduced or stopped in Nigeria is by having leaders of each faith promote religious teachings of peace and non-violence. Their resulting organization, the Interfaith Mediation Center of the Muslim-Christian Dialogue Forum ,deals with the psychology of religious violence and addresses its causes and effects. Wuye and Ashafa are influencing schools, houses of worship, and community centers to prevent violence and intervene when conflicts erupt. Their education and media outreach strategies have afforded them unprecedented, widespread support and legitimacy for their efforts to promote peaceful coexistence. Great things happen when you arrive at an Intersection. Perhaps yielding gives way to peace.