Following numerous thread here for both the Christians muslims atheist and non atheist alike. I think we would be doing great injustice to the African traditional practitioners if they are not given a to discuss their own religion.

First I strongly believe in our tradition.

Feel free to share your experiences

tjmc:
Following numerous thread here for both the Christians muslims atheist and non atheist alike. I think we would be doing great injustice to the African traditional practitioners if they are not given a to discuss their own religion.

First I strongly believe in our tradition.

Feel free to share your experiences

I like this thread.

I as a person leans well on the African traditional religion. I have always had the idea that us as Africans abandoning this religion to adopt foreign ones is stupid on our own part.

I am currently writing a story to bring African mythology to the modern world "Legends of Amadioha" and after this numerous seminars and talk shows will follow.

I am glad to be here and ready to answer questions of Igbo religion and spirituality

johnydon22:


I am glad to be here and ready to answer questions of Igbo religion and spirituality

Was the Igbo religion (Odinani) also broken into sects like we have in Christianity? What was its philosophy?

sonofluc1fer:

Was the Igbo religion (Odinani) also broken into sects like we have in Christianity?

I would say No. Though, the Religion recognizes many Gods and spirits. This means distinct shrines and modes of worship and festivals peculiar to varying Gods. A close to affinity to a particular God by maybe an individual or community more than any other.

And small cults that are formed most times exclusive to a particular God.

What was its philosophy?

Philosophy of Odinani?

What should we discuss.... Op

Let me start by sharing an experience by my brothers wife.

A cousin of hers was give poison to eat. He fell sick and was dying by the day. They took him to various prayer houses for solution but to no avail. The situation was getting worse. He was quickly transiting ton the world beyond.
When the news got home of the boy dying as a result of him eating poison here in lagos. The parents quickly ordered he be sent home for immediate solution.
He was taken back home to nsukka alumona to be precise.
Arrangement was made for him to be taken to Enugu ezike for possible solution. He was taken to the house of an atr practitioner.
After accessing the situation the atr practitioner said he would make him vomit the poison and then send it back to the person who poisoned him.
They agreed and within minutes the cousin vomited the poison and was totally restored.

She later told me that the atr practitioners in Enugu e ezike are very powerful in this regard.

I've opened the floor. You can share yours now especially those from Benue osun etc

sonofluc1fer:

Was the Igbo religion (Odinani) also broken into sects like we have in Christianity? What was its philosophy?

any religion can break into different sects provided there is this huge void of wants and greed in man.
Me sef want to start my religion tho'

hypemarket:


any religion can break into different sects provided there is this huge void of wants and greed in man.
Me sef want to start my religion tho'

The main variation of sects and denominations are varying dogmas, doctrines and theological philosophies. The doctrines of Igbo odinani are pretty basic and give little room for uncalled variations.

Please can u shed more light on the Spirituality aspect BC most of us have lost touch with our native tradition as a result of not being born and raised at home

johnydon22:


I like this thread.

I as a person leans well on the African traditional religion. I have always had the idea that us as Africans abandoning this religion to adopt foreign ones is stupid on our own part.

I am currently writing a story to bring African mythology to the modern world "Legends of Amadioha" and after this numerous seminars and talk shows will follow.

I am glad to be here and ready to answer questions of Igbo religion and spirituality

johnydon22:


I would say No. Though, the Religion recognizes many Gods and spirits. This means distinct shrines and modes of worship and festivals peculiar to varying Gods. A close to affinity to a particular God by maybe an individual or community more than any other.

And small cults that are formed most times exclusive to a particular God.

Wouldn't you consider those small cults sects too? Also, are these Gods different manifestations of one God, or do they act of their own volition/will?

johnydon22:

Philosophy of Odinani?

Nature of God.
Man's place in God's world.
Man's relationship/interaction with God.

I grew up in a Christian home and knew only Christianity until early in my adult life. My transformation to an atheist hasn't dislodged completely some ideas I had about God when I was Christian.

I find it's better to have a general idea of a religion, or gain some sort of familiarisation with the basic concepts/ideas, before going deeper.

sonofluc1fer:

Wouldn't you consider those small cults sects too?

Think of it like cult branches in a religion. Example. Cult of Saint Anthony of Padua and Opus dei in Catholic church

Also, are these Gods different manifestations of one God, or do they act of their own volition/will?

Independent beings created by Chukwu (Spirits of Natural manifestations)

Nature of God.
Man's place in God's world.
Man's relationship/interaction with God.

Will answer this with my laptop

I grew up in a Christian home and knew only Christianity until early in my adult life. My transformation to an atheist hasn't dislodged completely some ideas I had about God when I was Christian.

I find it's better to have a general idea of a religion, or gain some sort of familiarisation with the basic concepts/ideas, before going deeper.

Didn't you and I want to write a book on Odinani?

johnydon22:


Think of it like cult branches in a religion. Example. Cult of Saint Anthony of Padua and Opus dei in Catholic church



Independent beings created by Chukwu (Spirits of Natural manifestations)




Will answer this with my laptop



Didn't you and I want to write a book on Odinani?

Hi, Johnydon.

Opera Mini no longer opens your website?

African traditional religions need to be reformed, but unfortunately it has few adherents that are contemporary and educated. Most priest are illiterates that reside in remote villages.

johnydon22:


Didn't you and I want to write a book on Odinani?

Yeah, I still want to. But I all have is book knowledge, which isnt really knowledge. I want something practical..unfortunately, i couldnt visit villa this past holidays.

dalaman:
Most priest are illiterates that reside in remote villages.

This especially. And then also, a lot of scammers/fakes esp those on fb..even one or two or NL.

sonofluc1fer:

This especially. And then also, a lot of scammers/fakes esp those on fb..even one or two or NL.

All of them are scammers. Traditional African religion is associated with evil everywhere. If you want to harm another person them you go to the ATR priest to do that, you want to make money, same thing, you want to dominate others, same thing. ATR is ONLY associated with magic and nothing else. The priest have oversized powers accorded to them by members of the public and they always abuse it.

People don't practice ATR for personal upliftment only for one evil or selfish aim or the other.

Hmm...how can I make my own submission of human heads?

Not true. Even islam is has the same element of the things you wrote.
Did you see my secon post on the poisoned guy.

dalaman:



All of them are scammers. Traditional African religion is associated with evil everywhere. If you want to harm another person them you go to the ATR priest to do that, you want to make money, same thing, you want to dominate others, same thing. ATR is ONLY associated with magic and nothing else. The priest have oversized powers accorded to them by members of the public and they always abuse it.

People don't practice ATR for personal upliftment only for one evil or selfish aim or the other.

sonofluc1fer:

This especially. And then also, a lot of scammers/fakes esp those on fb..even one or two or NL.

Those are not traditionalists... There is a difference between a Dibia and someone wearing Bollywood costumes..

Dibias don't even bother with the funny wardrobe

dalaman:
African traditional religions need to be reformed, but unfortunately it has few adherents that are contemporary and educated. Most priest are illiterates that reside in remote villages.

Reformed?

Yes.

But the fundamental principles of Odinani maintained...

Illiterates? It depends on our definition of that word though

sonofluc1fer:

Yeah, I still want to. But I all have is book knowledge, which isnt really knowledge. I want something practical..unfortunately, i couldnt visit villa this past holidays.

My uncle who was a Dibia died this October. There are many old men and knowledgeable dibias we can meet.

dalaman:



All of them are scammers. Traditional African religion is associated with evil everywhere. If you want to harm another person them you go to the ATR priest to do that, you want to make money, same thing, you want to dominate others, same thing. ATR is ONLY associated with magic and nothing else. The priest have oversized powers accorded to them by members of the public and they always abuse it.

You watch a lot of Nollywood brother

People don't practice ATR for personal upliftment only for one evil or selfish aim or the other.

Then you haven't met those who practise Odinani .. Probably drew your judgement from hear say and Nollywood hoolla balloo

Please can you shed more light on the concept of Chi and ikenga.

For someone who want it activated where can it possibly be done

johnydon22:


My uncle who was a Dibia died this October. There are many old men and knowledgeable dibias we can meet.

johnydon22:


You watch a lot of Nollywood brother



Then you haven't met those who practise Odinani .. Probably drew your judgement from hear say and Nollywood hoolla balloo

. I haven't met much people that practice ATR . The few ones ive met display the Nollywood outlook.

dalaman:


. I haven't met much people that practice ATR . The few ones ive met display the Nollywood outlook.

I really doubt those are dibias. Anybody can set up a shrine to what ever spiritual stuff they want to claim. But being a dibia is more than just claiming it or setting up a shrine.

That someone has a shrine set up with red clothes doesn't necessarily mean such a person practice the traditional religion or is a dibia.

There are some important questions like:

What Alusi is the shrine dedicated to?
On whose authority was his/her dibia status confirmed or conferred.


Dibias don't have those Nollywood gittup, nope not at all. That is just a representation of a generation marred by Ignorance and Abrahamic bigotry bent on painting the African traditional values black

johnydon22:


I really doubt those are dibias. Anybody can set up a shrine to what ever spiritual stuff they want to claim. But being a dibia is more than just claiming it or setting up a shrine.

That someone has a shrine set up with red clothes doesn't necessarily mean such a person practice the traditional religion or is a dibia.

There are some important questions like:

What Alusi is the shrine dedicated to?
On whose authority was his/her dibia status confirmed or conferred.


Dibias don't have those Nollywood gittup, nope not at all. That is just a representation of a generation marred by Ignorance and Abrahamic bigotry bent on painting the African traditional values black

Roger.

tjmc:

Please can you shed more light on the concept of Chi

Personal God

Chi means God in Igbo linguistics that is why the supreme God in Igbo pentheon is called Chukwu, a lingual sum of the word "Chi" and "Ukwu"

But on this note "Chi" is just God and it is personal. Peculiar to every individual. Everyone have their own Chi and your Chi determines your fate. Nothing happens or will happen without your Chi's approval and therefore you must at all times be in good terms with your chi because your Chi is like a spiritual essence that defines you.

The spiritual essence that defines your fate and life.

and ikenga.

God of power, war, strength and wealth. Functions as an Alusi but also can be made a personal patron.

For someone who want it activated where can it possibly be done

According to Igbo cosmogony. Everyone alive already has a Chi. So basically your Chi is there already you only need to make a connection with your Chi.

Doesn't necessarily have to include a physical shrine for your personal God but that helps amplifies the powers of your chi in this natural world.

johnydon22:


I like this thread.

I as a person leans well on the African traditional religion. I have always had the idea that us as Africans abandoning this religion to adopt foreign ones is stupid on our own part.

I am currently writing a story to bring African mythology to the modern world "Legends of Amadioha" and after this numerous seminars and talk shows will follow.

I am glad to be here and ready to answer questions of Igbo religion and spirituality

Please do mention me when it's ready and direct me to any of the talks.

I'm only a bit versed in Yoruba traditional beliefs, not even my own Delta (know absolutely nothing about it )

Would appreciate it mate..

pagan9ja, how far?

tjmc:
Please can u shed more light on the Spirituality aspect BC most of us have lost touch with our native tradition as a result of not being born and raised at home

Exactly...


I'm from Delta State but I know about Yoruba traditional beliefs more than that of where I'm from. Was born in the Yoruba land.

But I'm very greedy. I want to know what they all talk about, not just one. I believe it's all nature worship and I'm okay with any nature worshipper, ( if u've met as much nature worshippers that I have met, you would feel same)..

And don't mind all those Nollywood nonsense. Na ignorance plus mumu dey worry them.

johnydon22:
Personal God

Chi means God in Igbo linguistics that is why the supreme God in Igbo pentheon is called Chukwu, a lingual sum of the word "Chi" and "Ukwu"

But on this note "Chi" is just God and it is personal. Peculiar to every individual. Everyone have their own Chi and your Chi determines your fate. Nothing happens or will happen without your Chi's approval and therefore you must at all times be in good terms with your chi because your Chi is like a spiritual essence that defines you.

The spiritual essence that defines your fate and life.

God of power, war, strength and wealth. Functions as an Alusi but also can be made a personal patron.



According to Igbo cosmogony. Everyone alive already has a Chi. So basically your Chi is there already you only need to make a connection with your Chi.

Doesn't necessarily have to include a physical shrine for your personal God but that helps amplifies the powers of your chi in this natural world.

I said it before. The pagans are United in belief. A personal chi, a personal Ori..... all same but different terms cos of language.

And the rest rhymes. Alusi and Orisas et all.

I read somewhere that"pagans" once meant "real dwellers" or "people of the land".

This forced maturity is hurting Africa abeg....

Where's Folykaze when you need him?