African Identity and Christian Faith in Igboland: A Critical Evaluation of EGWU IMOKA Masquerade Festival

Abstract

bstract: Christianity as a way of life among Africans (The Igbo people precisely) is believed to have shaped and influenced African Culture. African religion and culture according to Okoro, "stand a better chance to offer an alternative method awareness, which is imbedded in different indigenous languages, myths, folklore, cultural heritage and rites and rituals of African traditional faith" (Cultural globalization: 26-37). The identity of the African can be clearly seen in their cultural, anthropological features. The cultural, anthropological features of the Igbo people is influenced by both Christianity and African Traditional Religion. In an attempt to further understand the values behind this cultural influence as it is manifesting itself in the life and thought of the Awka people through Egwuimoka in the contemporary time, the searcher became interested in this- study. However, the influence of culture on Christianity is seen in the attitudinal disposition of the Igbo people towards the Christian faith. Now the question is does Christianity support the Igbo culture which is emerging in the modern time? Does the comparative study of Igbo traditional morality and Christianity ethical concepts clarify a bit of this confused background? if this work helps to answer these and other questions, in any small way, and further helps in clarifying the confused background of our morality today, then, it is not useless effort after all. Our culture is fluid today, because it is rapidly changing. Therefore, this work tries to point to some aspects of the Igbo peoples basis of traditional cultural patterns and beliefs, that can be applied from the values and the beliefs of the past so that the change in culture may not continue on a speed lane and, therefore becoming e confusing as to moral basis of worthwhile existence.