IGBO COUNCIL OF ELDERS WASHINGTON DC SEPTEMBER MEETING

IGBO COUNCIL OF ELDERS WASHINGTON DC AUGUST MEETING:

Matters on the table includes but are not limited to :IGBOS, REINCARNATION AND ASPIRATIONS". As an Igbo man that was born and brought up in Igbo land, I came to life to see myself and my fellow Igbos around me practicing Igbo traditional spirituality along with Christianity as our way of life. As from the family of Roman Catholic, it was too common for our parents to visit native doctors to enquire of the happenings and well being of the family or its members.
Beside that, there were shrines scattered all over the places and been patronised, the Dibias freely patrol in the communities with their healing herbs and most times divine for the family. To people like me who behaved strangely were tagged as Ogbanje and routinal spiritual investigations and practices were regularly carried out on our behalf. Our palm grafes were regularly inspected by the Dibias who wander around the communities and notifies the parents in an any anticipated danger.
One of the complicated aspect of the romance between Igbo spirituality and Christianity is the belief of reincarnation. Christianity didn't accept the mystery of reincarnation as its doctrinal belief but Igbo Christians especially the Roman Catholics almost practiced the doctrine openly. When children are born to the families, the parents will visit the Dibias for divinations over the possible person that reincarnated the new born. The Dibias will do their Afa and mention the particular dead person that came back to the family. The family will rejoice over the revelation and hence began to relate with the new child in line of his previous lifelihood, experiences and relationship with the livings. The disclosure may contribute to the type of name that will be given to the child.
Belief of reincarnation was one of the central aspects of Igbo culture. Igbo elders recounts that each life continues in reincarnation and its aspirations carried along.
When I became a convert to Yahwehism, my prophet believed of reincarnation and aspirations but warned against consulting diviners for such.
With this thought in mind, I entered into deep meditation about the Biafran agitation by Igbo youths.