“We Are Not Compensating Rocks”: Resettlement and Traditional Religious Systems

In this paper I examine the relationship between involuntary resettlement and traditional religious systems. I observe that development agents often ignore and/or perceive traditional religious systems as negative impacts on resettlement. I argue that the common denial by resettlement agents to compensate for the loss of traditional religious sites not only ignores the socio-cultural significance of the sites but also hinders the possibility of successful resettlement, increasing social disarticulation. I argue that traditional religious systems need to be understood as potentially positive avenues that promote successful resettlement. I use a case study of the involuntary resettlement of the Longuda of Adamawa State, Nigeria, especially as related to the cirha shrine of the village of Banjiram to highlight the discussion.