Niger Delta – Religion

Black Gold

Black Gold
Ed Kashi

Since oil was discovered in the Niger Delta in 1956, over 400 billion dollars worth has been pumped out of these fertile grounds. The Delta, the third largest wetland in the world, has become the main source of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria yet it remains the least developed area of the country. These images document daily life along the Niger Delta, its inhabitants and the conditions in which they live.

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  • A woman is overcome by evil spirits and flails to the ground. The priest and nuns attempt to calm her.

    A woman is overcome by evil spirits and flails to the ground. The priest and nuns attempt to calm her.

  • Women of Honour, members of the Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Warri, Niger Delta, march through the town for peace.

    Their mission is to urge this embattled community to put violence aside and seek peace and prosperity.
  • Parishioners in Okpoama, Brass Island, at their Anglican church.

    Parishioners in Okpoama, Brass Island, at their Anglican church.

  • Brother John of the Assemblies of God Church in Bonny Island, which is a Pentacostal church, preaches in the middle of the market of old Bonny Town.

    Old Bonny Town on Bonny Island is a historical place, where the slave trade and palm oil trade previously was based. Now it's stuck in poverty and under development while the oil and gas companies expand and grow. 
  • A religious billboard in Port Harcourt, the main city of the Niger Delta, is a common sight in this Christian-dominated part of Nigeria.

    The country has experienced an explosion of the Pentecostal religion in the last two decades.
  • Churchgoers walk to religious services on the roads of Finima, a resettled community that was forced out by the LNG plant (Liquified Natural Gas).

    Churchgoers walk to religious services on the roads of Finima, a resettled community that was forced out by the LNG plant (Liquified Natural Gas).

  • The Cherubim And Seraphim Mount Zion Finima church is an African-Christian church that has branches throughout the delta.

    It was founded by a Nigerian man in the early 20th century.
  • Members of the Cherubim And Seraphim Mount Zion Finima church in the Niger Delta.

    Members of the Cherubim And Seraphim Mount Zion Finima church in the Niger Delta.

  • Members of the Cherubim and Serafim Church of Zion pray during their Sunday mass, held in a small building in this Niger Delta community.

    This community rests next to a Shell Oil and Agip Oil facility and they suffer from neglect and poverty. Whereas Pentacostalism is rising in the cities and towns of the Niger Delta, traditional African churches like this one are remaining the most popular deep in the creek communities of the delta.
  • Worshipper congregate for service in the Cherubim And Seraphim Mount Zion Finima church.

    Worshipper congregate for service in the Cherubim And Seraphim Mount Zion Finima church.

  • Members of the Cherubim and Serafim Church of Zion worship through prayer and dance during their Sunday mass, held in a small building.

    Members of the Cherubim and Serafim Church of Zion worship through prayer and dance during their Sunday mass, held in a small building.

  • A little girl attends church on Sunday in the town on Brass Island.

    A little girl attends church on Sunday in the town on Brass Island.

  • Members of the Cherubim And Seraphim Mount Zion Finima church attend Sunday mass.

    Members of the Cherubim And Seraphim Mount Zion Finima church attend Sunday mass.

  • Churchgoers walk to religious services on the roads of Finima, a resettled community that was forced out by the LNG plant (Liquified Natural Gas).

    Churchgoers walk to religious services on the roads of Finima, a resettled community that was forced out by the LNG plant (Liquified Natural Gas).

  • The Cherubim And Seraphim Mount Zion Finima church is an African-Christian church that has branches throughout the delta.

    It was founded by a Nigerian man in the early 20th century.
  • A woman is overcome by evil spirits and flails to the ground. The priest and nuns attend to her to calm her down.

    A woman is overcome by evil spirits and flails to the ground. The priest and nuns attend to her to calm her down.

  • Parishioners in Okpoama, Brass Island, at their Anglican church.

    Parishioners in Okpoama, Brass Island, at their Anglican church.

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Niger Delta – Religion

The country has experienced an explosion of the Pentecostal religion in the last two decades in the cities. Traditional African churches remain popular in the deep creek communities of Niger Delta.

Niger Delta – Religion
Artist/Author: Ed Kashi

The country has experienced an explosion of the Pentecostal religion in the last two decades in the cities. Traditional African churches remain popular in the deep creek communities of Niger Delta.