Odinala

This article is about the traditional spiritual practices of the Igbo people. For a more general article on their traditional cultural practices, see: Igbo culture.

Ọdinani, also Ọdinala, Omenala,Omenana, Odinana or Ọmenani is the traditional cultural beliefs and practises of the Igbo people of West Africa. These terms, as used here in the Igbo language, are synonymous with the traditional Igbo "religious system" which was not considered separate from the social norms of ancient or traditional Igbo societies. Theocratic in nature, spirituality played a huge role in their everyday lives. Although it has largely been supplanted by Christianity, the indigenous belief system remains in strong effect among the rural and village populations of the Igbo, where it has at times influenced the colonial religions. Odinani is a panentheistic faith, having a strong central deity at its head. All things spring from this deity. Although a semi-pantheon exists in the belief system, as it does in many indigenous African and Eastern religions, the lesser deities prevalent in Odinani expressly serve as elements of Chukwu the central deity.

Like all religions, Odinani is the vehicle used by its practitioners to understand their World (called "Uwa"), or more specifically, the part of the World that affects them — which is to say the dry Land on which the Igbo live and gather sustenance — and it is from this that the belief acquires its names: "Ọ di" (Igbo: it is) + n'(na - Igbo: on/within) + "Ani" (Igbo: the Land or the Earth goddess) in the Northern Igbo dialects and also "O me" (Igbo: it happens) + n'(na - Igbo: on/within) + "Ala" (Igbo: the Land or the physical manifestation of the Earth goddess as dry land) as used primarily in the Southern Igbo dialects. Chukwu, as the central deity and driving force in the cosmos is unknowable, and too great of a power to be approached directly save by the manifestations that exist on the World (the Land, the Skies, and the Sea). Thus, Odinani rarely deals directly with the force that is Chukwu. Many other spirits and forces also exist in Odinani belief and folklore.

Chukwu and the Cosmos

Main article: Chukwu

A wooden sculpture of Ikenga, an Igbo Deity, presently in the British Museum.

Chukwu is the supreme deity in Odinani. All-powerful and genderless, Chukwu is said to be the unknown, infinitely powerful, and absolute force in the Cosmos, encompassing everything in space and time itself. Linguistic studies of the Igbo language suggests that the name Chukwu is a portmanteau of the Igbo words "chi", as the "spiritual beings" or "personal gods" are called, and "ukwu" which means "great in size" or "formidable." In this sense, Chukwu comes to mean the Great God or the God that is Greatest in power. Chukwu as the source of all the other Igbo deities is often revered as Chineke, "the God who Creates" and Ikekaike meaning "The Supreme Power."

The Cosmos itself is divided into "four constituent complexes" known as Okike, Alusi, Mmuo, and Uwa. Okike is the event of "Creation", the Alusi are the lesser deities, Mmụọ are the spirits of the Ancestors and all other beings, and Uwa is the World.

Alusi

Main article: Alusi

Chukwu's incarnations in the World ("Uwa") are the Alusi. The Alusi, who are also known as the Arushi, Anusi or Arusi by dialects (see Orisha, the Yoruba cognate), all spring from Ani the Earth goddess and Goddess of Fertility, who embodies the workings of the World. They are lesser deities in Odinani, each of whom are responsible for a specific aspect of nature or abstract concept. According to Igbo lore, these lesser deities as elements of Chukwu have their own specific purpose. They exist only as long their purpose does, thus many Alusi die off save for those who represent universal concepts. Some of the more notable male Alusi include: Amadioha the God of Thunder and Lightning, popular among the Southern Igbo; Ikenga the horned god of Fortune and Industry; Agwu the God of Divination and Healing; Njoku Ji the God of Yam, and Ogbunabali the God of Death.

Various Alusi goddesses also exist, such as: Anyanwu a solar deity, considered a companion to Amadioha, popular among the Northern Igbo; Idemmili the Mother Goddess of the Idemili river; Ahia Njoku the Goddess of Yams. The Earth goddess also controls four other Alusi who govern the four directions of the sky: Eke of the East, Orie of the West, Afo of the North, and Nkwo of the South.

Ekwensu

Ekwensu is an Igbo deity with a convoluted modern identity. Among the Christian Igbo, this deity is misrepresented as the Christian "Devil" or Satan and is seen as a force which places itself opposite to that of Chukwu. Anthropological studies suggest however that this traditional deity may have been a revered Trickster God, similar to Eshu amongst the Yoruba people. This Alusi was adept at bargains and trade, and praying to Ekwensu was said to guarantee victory in negotiations. As a force of change and chaos, Ekwensu also represented the God of War among the Igbo. He was invoked during times of conflict and banished during peacetime to avoid his influences inciting bloodshed in the community. This is based upon the finding of old shrines dedicated to the worship of the deity as well as the recounting of old oral lores which depict the character of Ekwensu.

Ekwensu is also the Igbo word for the Tester (see the concept of Yin and Yang for an example).

Morality

The Igbo believe in the concept of Ofo and Ogu, which is like the law of retributive justice. It is believed that Ofo and Ogu will vindicate anyone that is wrongly accused of a crime as long as their "hands are clean". It is only the one who is on the side of Ogu-na-Ofo that can call its name in prayer. Otherwise such a person will face the wrath of Amadioha (the god of thunder and lightning).

Chi

In Odinani, the Igbo people believe that each person has their own personal spiritual guardian called Chi, appointed to them before and at the time of their birth. The Chi remains with them for the rest of their lives on Earth. A person's Chi is the personification of that individual's fate, which is credited for an individual's life's successes, misfortunes and failures. The Igbo believe that their success in life is determined by their Chi, and that no man can rise past the greatness of his or her own Chi. In this respect, a person's Chi is analogous to the concept of a guardian angel in Western Christianity, the daemon of Greek myth, and the genius of Roman myth.

Minor spirits

Igbo mythology also contains multiple minor spirits. Among them are:

• Mbatuku: spirit of wealth
• Ikoro: drum spirit
• Ekwu: heart spirit or spirit of the home
• Imo miri: river spirit
• Okwara-afo: for Nkwerre people in Imo state is god of mercantile activities
• Aju-mmiri: sea-goddess in Nkwerre is goddess of prosperity, fertility and general well-being.
• Ogbuide: goddess of the water associated with the Oguta people.
• Urashi and Enyija: god of the river
• Ezenwaanyi/Owummiri: Female Water Spirit, Mermaid, Seductress

Ogbanje

Main article: Ogbanje

An Ogbanje (or Obanje) was believed to be an evil spirit that would deliberately plague a family with misfortune. It was believed that upon being born by the mother, under a certain amount of time (usually not passed puberty), the Ogbanje would deliberately die and then come back and repeat the cycle, causing the family grief. Female circumcision was sometimes thought to get rid of the evil spirit, whereas finding the evil spirits Iyi-uwa, which they have dug somewhere secret, would ensure the Ogbanje would never plague the family with misfortune again. The Iyi-uwa was the Ogbanje's way of coming back to the world and also a way of finding its targeted family.

Practices

Worship

The Igbo often make clay altars and shrines of their deities, usually with figures being featured in them. Typically, only men are allowed to make representational figures, however there are exceptions.

See also

• Igbo people
• Igbo culture
• Ibo loa

External links

• The Fundamentals of Odinani
• On Odinani the Igbo Religion
• Religion and the Igbo People
• An insight guide to Igboland's Culture, Religion and Language
• Photographs of Igbo masquerades
• Ohafia Igbo culture