The
people of the Igbo society devote their self greatly towards the Oracle. The
Oracle to the clan members is like God to the missionaries. However, their
religious system accounts with many superstitions that they practice on a daily
basis. Take for example the act of throwing away newborn twins or having to
kill Ikemefuna because the Oracle ordered to do so. Of course to a Christian
culture this might sound unethical, however to the people of the Igbo society
these were socials norms.
Whatever the Oracle orders, the group follows. The people of the Igbo society see the Oracle as an overpowering being; therefore they see it as vital for their life to revolve around this authority they look up to. In the same way they make their life what the Oracle disposes of. Obstacles such as failure, success, death, eclipse, sickness, etc is all due to the Oracle. This ideology is considered as a mythical tradition given that their actions derive from manifestations of the natural world, including aspects such as water, sun, air, fire, etc. They fear that if they don’t follow the instructions and regulations of the omnipotent being they will endure vengeance from it.
The Igbo people’s hierarchy is a controversial topic and when put into context, their believes must be recognizable given that they are from an agriculture society, consequently having all the reasons in favor to rely on the elements of nature.
The cosmology that the Igbo people devote to is separated into four constituents. The socio-environment in which the Igbo people reside in comprises in the following components: Okike, Alusi, Mmuo Uwa. Each of them stands individually as a significant supremacy. Okike means creation, Alusi means supernatural forces or deities, Mmuo means spirit and lastly, Uwa means world. These four aspects belong to a philosophy called Odinani in which the supreme God is Chukwu, which means great spirit.
These cultural values predisposes the Igbo population to do as the Chukwu has commanded, if not other malevolent forces will meddle with the existence of their kind. As the Igbo say: "I buru Chi gi uzo, i gbagbue onwe gi n'oso." [If you walk before your Chi, you will do the race of your life.]
Whatever the Oracle orders, the group follows. The people of the Igbo society see the Oracle as an overpowering being; therefore they see it as vital for their life to revolve around this authority they look up to. In the same way they make their life what the Oracle disposes of. Obstacles such as failure, success, death, eclipse, sickness, etc is all due to the Oracle. This ideology is considered as a mythical tradition given that their actions derive from manifestations of the natural world, including aspects such as water, sun, air, fire, etc. They fear that if they don’t follow the instructions and regulations of the omnipotent being they will endure vengeance from it.
The Igbo people’s hierarchy is a controversial topic and when put into context, their believes must be recognizable given that they are from an agriculture society, consequently having all the reasons in favor to rely on the elements of nature.
The cosmology that the Igbo people devote to is separated into four constituents. The socio-environment in which the Igbo people reside in comprises in the following components: Okike, Alusi, Mmuo Uwa. Each of them stands individually as a significant supremacy. Okike means creation, Alusi means supernatural forces or deities, Mmuo means spirit and lastly, Uwa means world. These four aspects belong to a philosophy called Odinani in which the supreme God is Chukwu, which means great spirit.
These cultural values predisposes the Igbo population to do as the Chukwu has commanded, if not other malevolent forces will meddle with the existence of their kind. As the Igbo say: "I buru Chi gi uzo, i gbagbue onwe gi n'oso." [If you walk before your Chi, you will do the race of your life.]
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