The Igbos of southeastern Nigeria are very unique people with a rich history. Their traditional religious belief is one that has been studied all over the world. One of the aspects of this traditional religion that stands out is the act of ancestral veneration.
The Igbos believe that life (“ndu”) is the most sacred divine condition and that the human – “mma ndu” is the highest reflection of life. Therefore, when one of the elders in the community passes on, there is a practice among the Igbo Odinala religion practitioners to infuse the ancestral spirit back into society.
Ndebunze, or Ndichie, are the deceased ancestors who are considered to be in the spirit world (àlà mmúọ́). In Odinala, it is believed that the dead ancestors are invisible members of the community; their role in the community, in conjunction with Ala, is to protect the community from epidemics and strife such as famine and smallpox.
In a year when the coronavirus disease hit Nigeria and the rest of the world, this belief and practice could not have held water much more. It would not be surprising if these communities resisted guidelines for fighting the pandemic as a result of their trust in the dead ancestors’ oversight.
Ancestors help look after the people and their shrines are made in the central house, or òbí or òbú, of the patriarch of a housing compound.
The patriarchal head of the household is in charge of venerating the patriarchal ancestors through libations and offerings, through this the living maintain contact with the dead.
Only a patriarch whose father is dead, and therefore in the spirit world where they await reincarnation into the community, is able to venerate ancestors.
Female ancestors were called upon by matriarchs (the mother of the community). At the funeral of a man’s father, there is a hierarchy in the Igbo culture of animals that will be killed and eaten in his honour.
Usually, this depends on the rarity and price of the animal, so a goat or a sheep were common and relatively cheaper, and therefore carried less prestige, while a cow is considered a great honour, and a horse the most exceptional.
Horses, however, cannot be given for women. Horses are more common among the northeastern Igbo due to tsetse fly zone that Igboland is situated in and renders it an unsuitable climate for horses. Horseheads are traditionally decorated and kept in a reliquary and at shrines.
Every Igbo man, rich or poor, is traditionally buried like a god, at the descent of the sun, because the Igbo believe themselves to be “gods” on an earthly journey, according to the ancient teachings of Odinala.
