Pre-Colonial Religion
The Igbo is the second largest group living in Nigeria, one of the three major tribes in Nigeria. During the pre-colonial era the Igbo religion was polyethestic. They believed in many different gods or goddesses. For example the Igbo believed in Ani, the mother of the Igbo. In the book "things fall apart" Ani is said to be the goddess of earth and harvest. Okonkwo, one of the main characters of the novel "things fall apart" goes to Ani several times. For example Okonkwo violates a law during the sacred week. He then goes to see Ani for forgiveness with a kola nut. "Take away your kola nut. I shall not eat it in the house of a man who has no respect for our gods and ancestors." Pg. 30 Things Fall Apart
https://www.emaze.com/@AOTFTFZR/rituals-and-customs (rituals and customs of the igbo culture; gypsycircus)
AROund THE MID-FIFTEENTH CENTURY, NIGERIA CAME INTO CONTACT WITH EUROPEAN SETTLERS, OR "WHITE FOLK" AS THE IGBOS HAD PUT IT, STARTING WITH THE PORTUGUESE. FROM THAT POINT ON, TRADE BETWEEN AFRICA AND EUROPE BECAME RATHER RAMPANT, AND THIS INCLUDED THE IGBOS BEING BOUGHT AND USED AS SLAVES.
Awde, Nicholas and Onyekachi Wambu (1999) Igbo: Igbo–English / English–Igbo Dictionary and Phrasebook New York: Hippocrene Books. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_language
http://catholicstarherald.org/igbo-catholics-celebrate-mothers-day/ Photos by James A. McBride
AS EXPLAINED EARLIER, THE BRITISH CHANGED MANY OF THE PREVIOUS ASPECTS OF NIGERIAN CULTURE. PERHAPS THE BIGGEST CHANGE TO THE IGBOS, HOWEVER, WAS THEIR RELIGION. IN "THINGS FALL APART", THERE WAS VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE IGBO RELIGION AND CHRISTIANITY, WHICH THE BRITISH HAD TRIED TO CONVERT MANY TO.THE STORY DEPICTED THE IGBOS AS BEING POLYTHEISTIC, MEANING THAT THEY WORSHIPED MORE THAN ONE GOD. AMONG THOSE THAT WERE WORSHIPED INCLUDED ANCESTRAL SPIRITS AND A A GODDESS KNOWN AS "THE ORACLE". OTHER BELIEFS TO THEIR RELIGION INCLUDED SACRIFICE AND EXILE FROM THE VILLAGE IF SOMEONE HAD DONE WRONG. THE CHRISTIANS, HOWEVER, WERE MONOTHEISTIC, MEANING THEY ONLY BELIEVED IN ONE GOD. THE MISSIONARIES HAD ACCUSED THE VILLAGERS OF BELIEVING IN "FALSE GODS OF WOOD AND STONE" AND TRIED TO PERSUADE THEM INTO BELIEVING IN THE "HOLY TRINITY", THE SUPPOSED ONE TRUE GOD.
Work Cited:
https://www.emaze.com/@AOTFTFZR/rituals-and-customs (rituals and customs of the igbo culture; gypsycircus)
Awde, Nicholas and Onyekachi Wambu (1999) Igbo: Igbo–English / English–Igbo Dictionary and Phrasebook New York: Hippocrene Books. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_language
http://catholicstarherald.org/igbo-catholics-celebrate-mothers-day/ Photos by James A. McBride
http://obindigbo.com.ng/igbo-culture/By Imanuel Janna March 17, 2017 13:45Nigerian Igbo Culture, Religion, Origin and History