Odinala

Odinani (or Odi[n]anyi) is the name of the traditional religious beliefs and practises of the Igbo people of western Africa. Odinani is a monotheistic faith, with Chukwu ("great spirit"), who, according to mythology created the world and everything in it, as the supreme God, and is associated with all things on Earth. Chukwu represents the unknown, infinately powerful, undifinable, indefinable, absolute deity encompassing everything in space and space itself.

Chukwu's incarnations are called Alusi. Alusi (also Arusi or Arushi) are lesser deities, each having their own specific own purpose. Many other spirits and demons exist in Odinani belief and folklore.

In Odinani there is the supreme God called Chukwu, and a number of minor deities, known as Alusi.

Chukwu

Main article: Chukwu

Chukwu is the supreme deity in Odinani Chukwu is the unknown, infinitely powerful, undefinable, indefinable, absolute supreme deity encompassing everything in space and space itself, in traditional Igbo spiritual belief system and Igbo mythology. Linguistic studies of the Igbo language suggests the name "Chukwu" is a portmanteau of the Igbo words "Chi" ("spiritual being") and "Ukwu" ("great in size"). In the Igbo pantheon, Chukwu is where the source other Igbo deities originate from and are assigned different tasks. The Igbo people believe that all things come from Chukwu including the deities who brings the rains necessary for plants to grow and controls everything on earth and the spiritual world.

Linguistic studies of the Igbo language suggests the name "Chukwu" is a portmanteau of the Igbo words: "Chi"(spiritual being) and "Ukwu"(great in size).

Alusi

Main article: Alusi

The Alusi, which are also known as the Arushi, are lesser deities in Odinani, each of which is responsible for a specific aspect of nature or abstract concept.

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

Some of the most notable male alusi include Igwekaala the sky god, Amadioha the god of thunder and lightning, Ikenga the horned god of fortune and industry, Ahobinagu the forest god, Aro the god of judgement, Agwu the god of divination and healing, Njoku Ji the god of yam and Ogbunabali the god of death.

Various Alusi goddesses also existed, such as Ahia Njoku the goddess of yams, Anyanwu the sun goddess (a solar deity. ), Ani the earth goddess of fertility and Idemmili the mother goddess of the Idemili river.

There were also Alusi governing 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 believed to be an opposite or countervailing force to Chukwu (God) in Igbo mythology and is also the Igbo word for the Devil.

In parallel to Chukwu, Ekwensu is believed to have, and to exercise power over, a hierarchical structure of minor deities and spirits. However, unlike Chukwu's forces, Ekwensu is said to be interested only in accomplishing evil deeds in the world. Although deities and spirits may be said to be under the influence of Ekwensu, the moral responsibility for evils that actually occur in the world are always attributed to individuals.

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 assistant or guardian called Chi, appointed to them before and at the time of their birth and remains with them for the rest of their life 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/her own Chi.

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 plauge 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 it's 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

• 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

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