A ‘remarkable friendship’
In 2014 the city of Jos in Nigeria faced unprecedented violence. Situated in the middle-belt region, it is one of political frontiers of the Islamic-dominant northern states and the Christianity-dominant southern states. When an ideological conflict (spurred by political, economic and religious agendas and failures) boiled over, the city descended into mass violent conflict demarcated along religious and ethnic lines.
In one episode, angered youth from the Christian community in the suburb of Bukuru arrived at the rented facilities of a Christian college threatening to set the facilities alight because the premises was owned by a Muslim. Gabriel, a pastor, and teacher in the college pleaded with the young people and convinced them not to burn the whole building, but in their anger to just burn one, a small food store next to the facility. Convinced by him this time, they did this and then left.
In another episode Gabriel saved his friend Abdul, a Muslim barrister and elder from the neighbouring village by hiding him in his family’s home when their suburb descended into violent conflict. This ‘remarkable friendship’ was the beginning of disrupting the violence and changing the course of regional conflict in their part of the city of Jos.
Inspired by this act of courageous kindness, Abdul convinced other Muslim elders from Bukuru to meet with Gabriel and staff from the Christian college and begin a dialogue that has today had a profound impact on their shared community.
Realising how susceptible their young people were to being coopted into violence (waging other people’s wars), they designed a community project together to teach youth in their community ICT skills, to enhance their employability and to give them opportunities to focus on something productive. From their friendship and influence as elders within their communities they designed the intake structure so that it would bring together 50% youth from a Muslim background and 50% youth from a Christian background. They employed two teachers: one from the Muslim community and one from the Christian community in Bukuru. This remarkable friendship not only disrupted initial violence, but it changed the course of the community of Bukuru towards one of intergroup friendship, the rebuilding of trust and the changing of narratives.
These stories played a significant role in motivating us to move to Jos from 2016-2020 and work in religious peacebuilding in Bukuru and the surrounding regions. They, among other remarkable friendships we’ve experienced during this season of our work, also played a significant role in motivating us to establish Seek Peace and offer churches and faith-based organisations support in their everyday peacebuilding.
What motivates these kinds of courageous compassionate actions? Are there common features or characteristics that can be observed across a range of examples of these fascinating relationships? Do religious beliefs, convictions and practices correlate with the incidence of these friendships?
We think they do. We think Jesus started something new in our world 2000 years ago that turned the logic of this world and its kingdoms on its head.
