Hi everyone, I’m back again.
Today we will continue
our Igbo philosophy topic and look at the subtopic concerning the ways the
Igbos thought and took action concerning their point of view of dead elder
Igbos. These people basically ancestors or (Ndiichie)
in the Igbo tongue were believed to be the spirits (mmuo) of dead Igbos residing
in Ala Mmuo and had the ability to help the living.
So what exactly did the
ancestors do for the Igbo? Were Igbo ancestors relevant in everyday life? If
they were what was their impact on the thinking and practices of the people? Did
Igbo ancestors in their (Igbos’) belief have the ability to alter or change
certain things? I will try to answer these questions in this text.
·
WERE IGBO ANCESTORS RELEVANT IN EVERYDAY
LIFE?
This question was one
posed at scholars by laymen for years now and has succeeded so far in not getting
a definite answer. So you may want to ask my say? Yes. Igbo ancestors were
relevant in everyday life.
The Igbo man
poured libations to his ancestors in the daily ritual of ‘feeding’ them. He entreated
them when he had problems. Basically, the ancestors were like a bypass to the
gods and Chukwu — but not always. Don’t confuse this with worship.
What the modern
Roman Catholics do to their saints and past popes in veneration and adoration
is the same with what the Igbos did to their ancestors. You see, the ancestors
were believed to have gone through this life over and over again (reincarnation)
and could guide the living to avoid making mistakes they made.
Yes, I guess
this answers your question. The Igbo ancestors were relevant in everyday life.
·
WHAT WAS THEIR IMPACT ON THE THINKING
AND PRACTICES OF THE PEOPLE?
Since the ancestors were relevant in the
life of the Igbos, this concept affected the thinking and ways of the Igbos in
great diverse ways—for each settlement and community.
The philosophy
of the Igbos concerning their ancestors was one of ‘divine reverence’ and ‘spiritual
necessity’.
Divine reverence
in the sense that ancestors were spirits to be reverenced, feared, adored,
appeased and entreated in certain ways and by certain rites. Contrary to the
concept of alusi where only a priest could carry out rituals, an ancestor could
be entreated by any grown man in a
family.
The philosophy
of Spiritual Necessity implies that
ancestors were a vital part of Odinani (the sacred worship) of the Igbos. They were
part of the universal order created by Chukwu to oversee the working of the
universe. They were part of the forces that kept Okike (creation) in balance.
·
DID IGBO ANCESTORS IN THEIR (IGBOS’)
BELIEF HAVE THE ABILITY TO ALTER OR CHANGE CERTAIN THINGS?
The answer to
this question is yes and no. While the ancestors could alert the living to
events about to happen or guide their ignorance to avoid repetition of past
mistakes, the ancestors had no real power over time, fate and destiny.
Think of the
ancestors like a sensor. When footsteps are approaching, the sensor either
shuts a door or alerts security. If security refuses to act or if the door is
broken, then the sensor can do nothing.
Hope this
article delivered J.
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