ashurabatu03
As a result, the media has become an influential in the perception of religion and culture in today’s world. In many cultures, particularly the African ones, there are at times hard and clear-cut differences between the two. This confusion often leads to a misrepresentation of one’s religious identity on the Internet, especially Islam.
In African contexts, many cultural practices pre-date the introduction of Islam. Over time, as Islam became intertwined with these indigenous customs, it created a unique blend of religious and cultural identities. The media often fails to distinguish between these elements, leading to a misrepresentation of Islamic teachings. The misrepresentation of cultural practices as religious norms can confuse believers and non-believers alike, impacting how religious identity is perceived online.
The media often misrepresents Islam as rejecting culture, when in fact Islam allows Muslims to embrace their traditions as long as they align with religious principles. Islam promotes tolerance, recognizing people's right to express their cultural identity. Practices are accepted as long as they don't contradict core tenets like Tawhid, the belief in the oneness of Allah, or involve worship of anything other than Allah.
The cultures of media being Islamic and Africa are presented as two separate entities, when in fact the two are so kind of intertwining between how the Islamic values mix with the African culture and their teachings as well. This misrepresentation brings about a new reality, one that shows the impossibility of the existence of two simultaneous realities while at the same time reducing the Muslim and African to mere cultural/religious beings.(https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMhL734k5/)
