PRIESTHOOD IN THE TRADITIONAL RELIGION OF THE IGBOS OF NIGERIA

Authors

  • Emeka Onwurah University of River State, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Witch doctor, Medicineman, Juju Priest, Igbo Priesthood, The Family Priest, Priests of Divinities, Moral Requisites of the Eze-mmuo, Duties and Functions of the Eze-mmuo, Selection and Commissioning of Priests, Recruitment

Abstract

To a casual observer or even a curious investigator, the traditional priest among the Igbos 1 is "that individual one suddenly meets on the road wearing old rags and carrying a dirty bag, with chalk paintings around his eyes and feathers on his head." Immediately one concludes the fellow is 8 witch doctors, a medicine man, a juju priest etc. Before we proceed, it is necessary to establish the distinctions between these terminologies and assess how wrong or right they are and how they relate to one another since there is a great deal of confusion and misunder- standing over the words used for these cultic functionaries.

References

Jacobs, A.B. A Textbook on West African Traditional Religion (Ibadan: Aromo- laran Pub. Com. Ltd., 1977) p. 18.

Meek, C. Lawand Authority in a Nigerian Tribe (London: Oxford University Press,1937), p. 82.

Parrinder. G. African Tradition,' Religion (Westport. Conn.: Greenwood Press Publishers. 1970) p. 117.

Leen, E. "Christianity ·in Pagan Nigeria." The Irish Eccle. Record 20 (1922) p. 19. 6. Leonard, A.G. The Lower Niger and Its Tribes (London: Macmillin and Co. Ltd., 1906) pp. 393-4.

Jacobs, A.B. Op. cit .• p. 185. 8. Lucas. J.O. The Religion of the Yorubas (Lagos: C.M.S. Bookshops, 1'48). p. 179.

Blsden, G.T. Niger Ibos (London: Frank Casso 1938).

Arinze. F.A. Sacrifice in Ibo Religion. (Ibadan: Ibadan University Press, 1970).

Forde, D. and Jones. G. TheIbo and Ibibio speaking People, d; South Ellt Nigeria (London: 1950), pp. 15 & 60. 18. Arinze, F.A. Op. cit.. p. 78.

Ikenga-Metuh. E. Op. cit" p. 216. 26. Awolalu. J & Dopamu. P.. West African edition,1 Religion (Ibadan: Onibonoj. Press, 1979). p. 142.

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Published

1990-03-31

How to Cite

Emeka Onwurah. (1990). PRIESTHOOD IN THE TRADITIONAL RELIGION OF THE IGBOS OF NIGERIA. Journal of Dharma, 15(1), 45–55. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/jd/article/view/1142