Igbo+Religion+Summary


 * Strong belief in the Supreme Being Chukwu (equivalent of God), as well as the evil Ekwensu (the equivalent of Satan)
 * Like Satan to God, Ekwensu was Chukwu's enemy as well as his faithful servant; Ekwensu lead people astray, but also helped Chukwu punish others or test people
 * Igbo people believed nothing happened by chance, but all events were dictated by supreme beings
 * Believed in a life of peace with ancestors and gods to obtain good luck, good health, and many children
 * Igbo people believed in prayer, worship, sacrifice, and other rituals that were conducted to ask the gods for favors
 * Igbo people had many spirit symbols representing different aspects of nature (e.g. rivers, caves, lightning, hills, fertility, witchcraft), and each spirit had its own priest/priestess
 * Water sources such as rivers and lakes were sources of purity and cleansing, while fire and thunder are dreaded spirits associated with suffering
 * Religious objects could be created via consecration of ordinary objects, and were believed to have spirits within them that could exert powers and were worshiped
 * Most common religious symbol was //ikenga//, a wooden carving symbolizing a man's success and strength
 * Every Igbo household had an //ikenga//, and a man never parted with it
 * Each man had a personal god, or //chi//, which played a part in a man's destiny (though not entirely controlling his destiny as he still had to work hard)
 * Good //chi// leads to success while bad //chi// leads to labor without gain
 * One of the chief deities of Igbo people was Ani, the earth deity, mother goddess, and spirit of fertility
 * Every family had a shrine dedicated to Ani, and had religious ceremonies dedicated to her
 * Those who lead good lives rested in the bosom of Ani (buried in the earth), while those practicing witchcraft are thrown in to the 'bad bush' (left unburied in the Evil Forest)
 * Igbo religion based on idea of birth, death, and reincarnation
 * Spirits of dead elders were believed to look after the welfare of living members of the family
 * Elder would pour libations to his departed ancestors before drinking palm wine
 * Kola nut would be given in the ancestors' name to ask for protection and guidance
 * If a baby boy is born soon after death of grandfather, he is often named Nnamdi or Nnadi (Father is back). Likewise, if a baby girl is born soon after death of grandmother, she is often named Nnenna
 * Babies could also be reincarnated, but would often cause parents pain by coming back again to their parents. These babies were called //obanje// (those who "come and go") since they often returned only to die soon after birth
 * Diviners consulted to break this cycle of birth and death