Every Igbo man has his own personal image or figure of Chi and the Ikenga (Isichei, 1976), and everyone reveres the ancestral spirits (referred to as Ndị nna anyị [“Our fathers”]). He observed that African religion has many common features with the Christian and Jewish traditions, which contributed to the rapid expansion of Christianity. The method adopted by this study is qualitative and comparative. One of the most notable facts of the Igbo history is its length and continuity. Traditional religion was very much based on fear of the unknown and unending sacrifices, including human sacrifices, to appease the. Chinua Achebe in his novel, Things Fall Apart also recorded the situation when Nwoye, Okonkwo’s son, was converted. Together as One: Interfaith Relationships Between African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity in Nigeria. It is not preached to them that their religion is correct; it is simply assumed and unthought-of. Those who profess Christianity, worship God directly through church services, prayers, songs, meditation, and through other various services. He has published in many local and international journals. One feature is that Bible translations used African words for God, according to Mbiti. Furthermore, within the traditional life, the individual is immersed in a religious participation, which starts before birth and continues after death, for the life of an Igbo man is like a religious drama, which vitally links the living with the ancestors and those yet to be born in a mystic continuum. And, their traditional parents and or guardians see this as rebellion that deserves punishment because they believe that the sin of one member of the family affects the whole family. Find out about Lean Library here, If you have access to journal via a society or associations, read the instructions below. Igbo people believe in reincarnation but it is only those who lived good lives who are believed to be capable of coming back to human form. II) By Hyacinth Kalu iUniverse, United States, 2011. Traditional African religion does not show any belief in the Trinity. . Africans love songs and dances so much so that in almost all situations they find support and conso-lation in them. It examines the nature, pattern, rationale for the conflicts. The father, who is the head of the home, prays very early in the morning before he could even greet anybody. If an eke killer is not killed by the mob, he definitely faces social ostracism, and when he eventually dies, he will not be given an honorable burial under the traditional religion. The qualitative method enabled the researchers to make valid deductions from the secondary data, whereas the comparative method helped to make counterfactual analysis of both the secondary and primary data sources as they relate to the traditional and Christian ethos. The e-mail addresses that you supply to use this service will not be used for any other purpose without your consent. But the idea of polygamy runs contrary to the Christian doctrine of monogamy, which believes in one man, one wife. All beings belong to either of these two worlds. The Igbo osu caste system is a practice of traditional religion and culture. The African traditional They opposed the traditional second burial rites. The rapid growth of many religions in Africa and the revival of AIR in postcolonial Africa have made inter-religious dialogue an … Others refused to embrace the new religion because they thought that the missionaries wanted to destroy their culture. The essential role of Chi concept is seen in the Igbo proverb, which says Onye kwe, chi ya ekwe (when one says yes, his personal god says yes). In Igbo land, if one is quarreling with somebody, one can give the stalk of ogirisi leaf (uboldia; a sacred plant that is used as ogu) to an elder relation of that person and warn him or her to keep away from him or her or to show that he or she does not want his or her association. Mr. Nwaazuru Okoronkwo (oral interview, 2013), a retired civil servant whom we interviewed, on describing the great position of Ala (earth deity) says that Ala is the owner of all men, living and dead. They also give their children names connected with Ala, for example, Ala emeka—the earth has done a lot, and so forth. The traditionalists believe that the number of wives a man has shows his opulence. In the olden days, the traditionalists buried important personalities, chiefs, and titled men with people who were alive. Together as One: Interfaith Relationships Between African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity... Kindle \ HZYMSS7D1R Together as One: Interfaith Relationships Between African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity in Nigeria. So, with the advent of Christianity in 1857, the traditional religion had a serious rival. For this reason, they make use of the minor gods and ancestors called intermediaries. Ala, according to Iwe (1985), is the sustainer of all lives and fertility. The study validates the facts that there is occasional destruction of lives and property and demolition of the people’s artifacts and groves by Christians, and this has led to a reduction in the sources of economic generation of traditional religionists. Tradition had it that the fishes were not allowed to be touched or killed, for they were dedicated to the god of the stream, but the Christian converts caught and ate them just to show that the gods of the stream had no powers to harm them, because God created all things for man’s use. christopher.ibenwa@unn.edu.ng Abstract African society is a homogenous and close one with its unique belief systems. For more information view the SAGE Journals Article Sharing page. Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity in Nigeria. Conflict is a universal phenomenon that is inevitable in human interaction. The states are Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom. The findings of this study show vividly that the two religions have their strengths and weaknesses. Christians believe that as God is the creator of every human being, names should relate to him. Christopher N. Ibenwa is a lecturer in the School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Hence, it cannot be avoided in the interaction between Christianity and African Traditional Religion. the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Christians are opposed to this aspect of traditional marriage. These secondary materials helped the researchers to know the state of the art and make a qualitative analysis of the issues involved in the topic. By continuing to browse Christians were opposed to almost all the methods, which the traditionalists used when they were ill, or when they got misfortune and suffering. They occupy the area between 5.8° north and 6.8° east. Distinctive Features of the Religion African traditional religion relies on the oral transmission. In most Igbo societies, you do not take action against someone who offends you without first of all sending him ogu at least three times. But Christian doctors are unlike medicine men of the traditional religion of the Igbo. You can be signed in via any or all of the methods shown below at the same time. It is on land that we build our houses. Religion in Igbo traditional society partakes fully of all the features of world traditional religion, including its beliefs, sacred myths, oral qualities, strong appeal to the hearts of adherents, high degree of ritualization, and possession of numerous participatory personages such as officiating elders, kings, priests, and diviners. This eventually results in great discrimination and brings estrangement in their relationship with the traditionalist. “This also shows that Christianity believes in intermediaries but what and who serves as the intermediary is the problem,” says Chief Raphael Ojike (oral interview, 2016). It exhibits for this very traditional peculiarity highly ontological phenomena, pertaining to the question of existence and being. The traditionalists frowned at it but the new Christian converts did not mind having Christian fellowship with the outcasts. He also translated Animal Farm into the Igbo language. Some of these customs include: the cleansing of the town of pollution and desecration, the institution of slavery, human sacrifice, killing of twins, taking of oath and trial by ordeal, first and second burial for the dead, long mourning period for widows, and of course the practice of polygamy. FundingThe author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. . Christians have no puberty ceremonial rites. In line with this view, Boer (1976) says that the early Christian had bitter conflicts with the authorities that arose over how precisely to confess what the church believes about the person of Jesus Christ. There are no missionary elders to propagate the religion, and one individual does not preach his religion to another as is the case with nontraditional proselytizing religions. Conflict and violence in Africa in the 21st century: Where is the Afri... Community perceptions and misconceptions of motorcycle accident risks ... What Motivates People to Vote? Man has dominion over them, and as such, can kill and eat them. Also, in some parts of Igbo land, some towns such as Ngor-Okpala in Imo state, Umuahia in Abia State, and many towns in Anambra State, when someone’s wife dies, her corpse must be carried to her father’s people before the first burial or a symbol of such corpse at the second burial ceremony will be carried to the husband’s family. The Igbo believe also in the cult of the ancestors. SAGE Publications Inc, unless otherwise noted. Hence, this book raises such crucial questions as: How… Canon Onuorah Nnamdi (oral interview, 2016), in the Niger Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Anambra State, a brief stopover in the dead wife’s paternal home is an offense punishable by the absence of the priests and church members in the funeral service of the deceased. 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