ABSTRACT
The constitutional protection of religious liberty needs to be supplemented with an attitude of tolerance if the right to religious liberty is to be fully realized by all. The issues of religious and cultural rights are central to life in Africa. In most of Sub-Saharan Africa the state prefers to guarantee religious and cultural rights but subject to limitations that take into account the interests of the generality. In most situations traditional religion becomes the main loser. Cultural sensitivities of many African states have yet to accommodate the interests of this group of minorities. The case of Nigeria suggests that it takes more than just the guarantee of religious rights in a constitution to secure respect for religious tolerance and therefore peace. Benin provides a rare situation where traditional religions not only have held sway but also have been accorded extensive national recognition in the political scheme of things.
