Contemporary appearances of indigenous holies in Igboland: a study of Uboma people

Abstract

ABSTRACT With the invasion of Nigeria by the colonialists and introduction of foreign religions by their missionary counterparts over a hundred years ago, it would appear that the indigenous religious practices and holies, especially in Igboland have fallen Jericho-wise. Alas, this is far from the truth. A deep and careful study of Igboland reveals that notwithstanding the seeming massive conversion to the missionary religions and urbanisation, there still exist substantial vestages and elements of indigenous religious practices, holies and belief system of the people so converted. Evidences abound that the people regularly patronise indigenous worship centres, engaging in indigenous prayers while seeking solutions to the challenges that they confront on a daily basis. The paper makes a finding that the presence of the missionary religions, urbanisation and other agents of change have not provided the people with holistic answers or solutions to their problems, making the people resort to the patronage of indigenous worship and worship centres. The paper makes use of document analysis, interviews and observation as methods of data gathering, anchored on the change theory framework and adopting the qualitative/ethnographic approach in its data analysis.