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The Igbo Religion ÖDÏNANÏ: THE IGBO RELIGION OKUKU ANAAGÖ MMADÜAGWU (ASHÏÏ). Ö BALÜ DIKE EGWU. OTIGBU ONYE NA-ETIGBU ONYE SÖ YA KWÜ. Author: Emmanuel Kaanaenechukwu ANIZOBA (EZEANA, ABÖSHÏ-UDUGHUDU-NGAGWU-DÏ-IGBO-EGWU) B2, 6 X 9, PB, NONLAM, 20 LB, INSERTS: N, “Ödïnanï: the Igbo...” Order this book online at www.trafford.com/08-0487 or email orders@trafford.com Most Trafford titles are also available at major online book retailers. © Copyright 2008 Emmanuel K. Anizoba. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author. Note for Librarians: A cataloguing record for this book is available from Library and Archives Canada at www.collectionscanada.ca/amicus/index-e.html Printed in Victoria, BC, Canada. isbn: 978-1-4251-7611-2 We at Trafford believe that it is the responsibility of us all, as both individuals and corporations, to make choices that are environmentally and socially sound. You, in turn, are supporting this responsible conduct each time you purchase a Trafford book, or make use of our publishing services. To find out how you are helping, please visit www.trafford.com/responsiblepublishing.html Our mission is to efficiently provide the world’s finest, most comprehensive book publishing service, enabling every author to experience success. To find out how to publish your book, your way, and have it available worldwide, visit us online at www.trafford.com/10510 www.trafford.com North America & international toll-free: 1 888 232 4444 (USA & Canada) phone: 250 383 6864 fax: 250 383 6804 email: info@trafford.com The United Kingdom & Europe phone: +44 (0)1865 722 113 local rate: 0845 230 9601 facsimile: +44 (0)1865 722 868 email: info.uk@trafford.com 1098765432 DEDICATION This book is dedicated to: Chi Ukwu, Chukwu or Amaamaamachaamacha (the Great God, the Unknown Godhead), Chi na-eke, Chineke, Mmöö or Ndü (God the Creator, the Son and Word of the Godhead, Spirit, Life), Alüshï (the Gods and their Spirit Hosts), Ndï Otu (Spirit Guilds of the Elements: Earth, Water, Air and Fire), Chi m or Oke-Chukwu m (my personal God or my share of God and Life). Ichie Ukwu na Ichie Nta, Ökpü Ukwu na Ökpü Nta (My male and fe- male Parents, dead or alive); particularly my great grandfather Udoh Anaagö, high priest of the Earth-God Ana or Anï (whose shrine is Aja- Ana or Aja-Anï) of Agülü Öka (Agulu Awka), Nigeria; whose re-incar- nation I am. The entire Anïzöö Udoh family, holders of the Öfö na Alö (the symbols of power and authority) of the Anaagö Mmadüagwu lineage. My village Ümübeele and my town Öka na-asö enwe (Awka, for which the monkey is sacred). All lovers of Ödïnanï or Omenana, the Igbo religion. 3 CONTENTS About the Author, Emmanuel K. Anizoba: A Biographical Note................................................................................ 7 1. Preamble .............................................................................................. 9 • Basic Philosophy ........................................................................ 9 • Clarification of Terms................................................................ 15 • The Godhead .............................................................................. 17 • Manifestation: From the invisible to the visible .................... 18 • Formation of worlds and creatures ......................................... 22 • Our Solar System ....................................................................... 25 • The Basis of Morals.................................................................... 26 2. Ödïnanï or Igbo Religion................................................................. 30 • Gods are the Creative fashioning Powers .............................. 30 • The Temporary Loss of Ödïnanï.............................................. 33 • The Recovery and Revival of Ödïnanï.................................... 76 • Morning Prayer in the Obi—Ï göfülü Ndï Ichie öjï ütütü ............................................ 81 • Ödïnanï and Sex ........................................................................ 87 • The Basics of Ödïnanï ............................................................... 104 3. Talismans, Ötümökpö, Ökpö, Jazz, Juju....................................... 107 • What are these Psycho-Spiritual Objects?.............................. 107 • Use of Talismans........................................................................ 110 • Help yourself, for the Gods help only those who help themselves....................................................... 112 • Words have power ..................................................................... 113 • Affirmations ............................................................................... 114 • Denials......................................................................................... 114 • Projection of mental images into the outside world ............. 115 5 4. Reincarnation ..................................................................................... 120 • What is Reincarnation? ............................................................. 120 • Reincarnation in the Christian Scriptures ............................. 125 • Reincarnation in my family & the Agü Ritual ...................... 131 5. Satan or Devil, Ekwensu .................................................................. 136 6. My Pedigree—Onye mü m?............................................................. 139 7. Care of the Body and the Mind....................................................... 157 • Care of the Body......................................................................... 157 • Care of the Mind........................................................................ 160 • The Fateful Months of the Year................................................ 165 8. Conclusion........................................................................................... 169 Appendix ................................................................................................. 171 A Sample Ödïnanï Ritual..................................................................... 171 6 About the Author, Emmanuel K. Anizoba: A BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Born in 1945, Emmanuel K. Anizoba was brought up in a Christian family with a strong Polytheistic ancestry, in Umubele village of the blacksmith town Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Son of a government teacher, he accompanied his father during the latter’s movements from one school to another and attended government primary schools at Ajali, Awka and Afikpo. A very turbulent youth, he attended secondary school at Okongwu Memorial Grammar School Nnewi (1960-63) and Igwebuike Grammar School Awka (1964). Having performed poorly at the end of his secondary school career (bagged a grade 3 school leav- ing certificate!), he entered the civil service in 1965 at Enugu as a fi- nance clerk from where he joined the Biafran army (July 1967—January 1970). In June 1970, his eldest sister, Rose Anizoba, invited him to Geneva, Switzerland, to study French in order to gain admission to study eco- nomics at the University of Fribourg. At Fribourg, he got a Licence ès Sciences Economiques et Sociales in 1976 and in 1979 he got a PhD in Econometrics. He was on the Dean’s list at the University of Fribourg and was appointed Teaching Assistant to the Econometrics Chair. In 1980 he left Switzerland for Nigeria, where he continued his brief teaching career at the University of Port Harcourt. He joined the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 1981 as a Statistician Economist. At the AfDB he managed the Loan Accounting & Financial Statistics Division (1996—2001) before being appointed Advisor to AfDB’s Financial Controller in 2002. At the age of sixty years, Emmanuel K. Anizoba retired from the AfDB in April 2005. He settled in his Umubele village Awka home, where efforts are underway to revive the polytheistic and living tradi- tion of his ancestors. He is married and has five children. 7 1 PREAMBLE BASIC PHILOSOPHY I n an attempt to explain the origin of the manifest universe, the first verse of the Christian Bible says: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Gen 1:1) But we may rightly ask: (1) In what place did the action of creating take place? (2) Had the manifest universe any beginning? (3) Where did this creative God come from? (4) Where did this God get the materials or stuff with which to cre- ate the heaven and the earth? These four questions constitute a philosophical nightmare for the untutored Christian. No logical explanation of the origin of the mani- fest universe is possible without logical answers to these questions. We shall provide answers to the questions in accordance with Ancient Wisdom. (1) In what place did the action of creating taking place? In Space! To choose any other locus leads to a blind alley and insuperable problems of logic. (2) Had the manifest universe any beginning? No! The universe 9 ÖDÏNANÏ: THE IGBO RELIGION emerges from Space, stays in Space for some time, and dissolves back into Space—ad infinitum. Just in the same manner that ice emerges from a body of water, floats in the water for some time, and dissolves back into the water. It is the serpent swallow- ing its tail, a circle with neither beginning nor end. Recall the Christian chant: Etu ö dï na mbüü, öö dï ügbüaa, ö ga-adïgïdee ootuaa, wee luo n’üwa ebighiebi, Amen! As it was in the begin- ning, it is
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