Philosophy , whether pursued as an academic discipline or a professional endeavor, involves a conscious, critical, and personal reflection on human experience, encompassing mankind’s perceptions and interpretations of the world. This article delves specifically into the examination of the nature of God within Igbo ontology. Philosophers widely acknowledge that individuals across all cultures possess the capacity for philosophical engagement. While this aligns with the perspectives of Plato and Aristotle, it does not suggest that everyone has always engaged in philosophy in the academic sense, which entails a coherent and systematic inquiry. Power and its application are distinct entities in this regard.
Through the utilization of analytical and hermeneutic methods, this article endeavors to unearth the inherent challenges present in the commonly held views, ideas, and insights of pre-modern Igbo people in Nigeria. The aim is to redefine, refine, and reshape these conceptualizations and understandings. This pursuit arises from the fact that their understanding of realities, particularly the nature of God, was characterized by vagueness, inarticulateness, and confusion.
Consequently, it is factual that the pre-modern Igbo’s concept of the nature of God cannot be reconciled with that of Western Philosophy. Instead, the characterization of the nature of God among the pre-modern Igbo as monopolytheism, a term employed by pre-modern scholars and scholars of African Traditional Religion to signify the coexistence of both “one” and “many.” This concept however finds greater compatibility within Igbo Ontology, the theory of being, and thus suggests the abandonment of the terms “One” and “Many,” which are regarded as mere “raw material” within Igbo philosophy of language. In Igbo philosophy, the term “One” represents a singular God, while “Many” represents multiple gods, necessitating the integration of these concepts to distill the true nature of God within Igbo Ontology.”
This research aims to contribute to the growth of African philosophy by conducting a philosophical investigation into the nature of God in the Igbo worldview. The investigation is motivated by the recognition that no human thought or system is perfect, and philosophy thrives on identifying imperfections and defects in theories, views, and opinions. Through critical analysis, new thoughts and ideas emerge, existing ones develop, and culture and civilization are promoted.
Definition of Terms:
Arazu (2005: 8), a prominent scholar of African Traditional Religion, raises the question of whether the Igbo, like other cultures such as the Hebrews, Germans, and English, have no word for God, which complicates the understanding of the nature of God in Igbo Ontology. This issue becomes particularly problematic when distinguishing between the Supreme Being and the world of spirits that heavily populate the Igbo tribal universe.
To enhance clarity and facilitate understanding, it is necessary to define certain terms that will be encountered in this research . Analyzing and evaluating these concepts systematically will uncover their interrelationships, provide a basis for problem-solving and decision-making, and contribute to a better understanding of the philosophical issues under investigation.
Supreme:
The term “supreme” becomes less elusive when juxtaposed with its synonymous words, such as ultimate, transcendent, final, farthest, utmost, perfect, and others. It functions as an adjective to denote the superlative degree of a being. For example, when referring to the “Ultimate being” or “Supreme being” within a specific context, we are unequivocally seeking the greatest, highest, or topmost transcendent being in that context. In simple terms, the supreme being is one beyond whom there is no other. Such a being surpasses others in quality and kind. The term “supreme” can be best understood as equivalent to the philosophical concept of the absolute. The superlative degree expressed in “the Supreme” or “the Ultimate” is not problematic unless the reality being qualified does not truly possess the identity of being supreme. In such cases, using the superlative status would lead to grammatical errors and improper designation.
A being that is inherently great cannot simultaneously be the greatest being in the same respect. Assigning the label of “greatest” to it would be inappropriate (a disturbing superlative) and contradictory. In Mathematics, for instance, the numbers “2,” “4,” and “8” are distinct even numbers differentiated by their numerical quantities. To qualify and differentiate these numbers, appropriate suffixes or adjectives are used, giving each number its proper designation or category. Thus, “2” is great (positive degree), “4” and “8” are greater (comparative degree), and “8” is the greatest (superlative degree). Applying this mathematical analysis to the three numbers demonstrates that “2” cannot be described as the greatest among the numbers “2,” “4,” and “8.” Doing so would be illogical, disturbing, and contrary to the laws of comparative adjectives in English.
The main point emphasized in this research is that the terms “Supreme” or “Ultimate” are adjectives that describe a being in its highest degree compared to other beings and should be understood as such in this article. The Supreme Being is the Transcendent, unparalleled by any other. It is the completely “Other.” In Igbo Ontology, the term “Chi-Ukwu” refers to the greatest spirit in the Igbo pantheon. This spirit holds the highest status in the hierarchy of beings in Igbo culture. Another name for the Supreme Being in Igbo ontology is “Olisebuluwa,” which means the spirit that carries the world. This name distinguishes this being from other spirits that exist in the spiritual world of the Igbo tribal universe.
2.2. Theism
Owen (1967: 97) defines theism as the “belief in the one God who is (a) personal, (b) worthy of adoration, and (c) separate from the world but (d) continuously active in it.” Theism posits a personal God who has a direct and personal relationship with human beings. Within the theistic conception of Divinity, two theories on the nature of God are evident: Monotheism and Polytheism.
Theism asserts that God is a subject with a mind and a will. Being fully personal, God can be understood through human-like images and can be addressed as “thou” in prayer. Theists consider this personal God as the Ultimate reality. This sets them apart from thinkers like Sankara, Hegel, and F.H. Bradley, who view personal images of God as intellectually immature depictions of a supernatural Absolute. Theists argue that God deserves worship for two reasons: He is wholly good, and He surpasses humans in power.
According to theism, God is infinitely powerful in Himself (as a self-existent Being) and in relation to the world. Theists maintain that God is essentially separate from the world, which distinguishes theism from pantheism, the belief that the world is a manifestation or mode of God. Theism asserts that God created the world out of nothing (ex nihilo). While “theism” is sometimes loosely used to describe the view that God imposes form on pre-existing matter, this application is valid only if it satisfies the other requirements of theism.
Theism always involves the belief that God is continuously active in the world, distinguishing it from deism. Deism, as advocated by eighteenth-century English thinkers, asserts that God created the world at the beginning but does not intervene in its affairs. Theists, such as Aquinas and St. Augustine, maintain that every element in the world depends on the continuous activity of God as the creator. From God’s perspective, “creation” and “preservation” are identical. Deists, by removing God from direct involvement with the world, reject the orthodox Christian claim that God supernaturally revealed Himself through a series of events culminating in the incarnation. Tolland, drawing on Locke’s support, interpreted Christianity as a reaffirmation of the truths of natural religion.
Theistic beliefs raise several questions that contribute to the philosophy of theism: How can finite terms refer to an infinite God? Can belief in God’s existence be demonstrated or justified through reason? Is there a distinctively “religious” mode of experience? In what sense can one speak of divine providence? Is the belief in an all-powerful and benevolent God compatible with human free will?
Philosophical theism has faced criticism throughout history. William of Ockham and Kant denied that reason could prove the existence of God.
Theistic beliefs raise the following questions, which among others constitute the philosophy of theism, or theism as such: How can finite terms refer to God if He is infinite? Is it possible to demonstrate, or at least to justify belief in God’s existence by reason? Is there a mode of experience which is specifically “religious”? In what sense (or senses) can one speak of a divine providence? Is the belief in a God who is both omnipotent and good compatible with the fact of will?Philosophical theism has often been attacked.
At the end of the middle Ages, William of Ockham denied that reason could prove God’s existence. Kant repeated this denial. In this century Barthians, Existentialist, Maritain, and Empiricists have rejected the possibility of speculative metaphysics in any form. Jacques Maritain, etc; still maintain that theistic reasoning is both possible and necessary.2.3. PolytheismAccording to Robert W. Williamson, Polytheism is a stage or phase of the religious development of mankind in which the belief in and worship of many gods prevails. It is distinguished from the previous stage (Polydaemonism) by the nature and from the subsequent stage (Pantheism, monotheism) by the number of the objects of worship. The term “Polytheism” is employed to describe the nature of God and it is generally defined as recognition and worship of many gods. Phenomenologically, polytheism reflects man’s experience of the universe as manifesting diverse forms of super human powers. Polytheism accommodates belief in many deities or divinities.
According to Paul Tillich, polytheism is a qualitative and not a quantitative concept. It is not a belief in the plurality of gods but rather the lack of a unifying and transcending ultimate, which determines its character. Omosade and Adelumo (1979: 16) have their own notion of polytheism. Polytheism from their viewpoint “is the belief in more than one God. It is the worship of many Gods”. Arguing further, Omosade and Adelumo (1979: 6) observe that “in any polytheistic system, there is usually an absence of a cohesive or unifying transcendental Supernatural Supreme Ultimate”.
The Greek or the Hindus multiplication of gods is vivid examples of proper polytheism. In the Greek culture, where there are many gods, there is the Zeus, who was regarded as the Father of the gods ruling in Heaven. There are other gods like Apollo, Hermes, Arthemies and a host of others. Apart from the fact that the deities or gods all have human passions, the gods, including Zeus appear to be of the same status, without any of them having Supreme or superlative authority over the others.In polytheism, taking the Greek pantheism for instance Idowu (1975: 166) quotes and with authority too, that:The Olympian situation has always afforded a veritable example of what may be described as proper polytheism. Here we have a system where the Gods appear not to have transcended the universe of social cliques and inter-tribal conflicts. Not only were the gods all of the same rank and file in kind and in passion, distinguished from one another only by a hierarchy of status or power among more or less equals; but also they shared in the passions of men and tended to use their divinity in competing with, and beating, men in superfluity of naughtiness.2.4.
Monotheism literally means belief in and the worship of one God. It is the belief in the existence of one and only God. Here the conception of Divinity is limited to one God as is the case in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Metuh (1987: 110) had made a very strong statement, which throws more light on the concept and definition of monotheism. He writes of course with emphasis on the Judaeo-Biblical traditions that “monotheism has come to connote not only belief in one God, but also denial of other deities, so that monotheism is characterized also by monolatry”.
This view of Metuh finds its support in the stand taken by Azikiwe (1977: 9) where he describes the religion of most European countries within the orbit of the Western Democracies as Christianity. He writes:They maintain that there exists a personal God, who intervenes in the laws of the universe. He knows all, sees all. He is the most powerful and pervades the whole cosmic space. On judgment day, the dead will resurrect and, with the living, they shall give an account of their stewardship. That is how the Athanasian and Nicene creeds explain this aspect of Christianity. Apart from Christianity that is essentially monotheistic, Islam as oriental religions theistic and its theistic conception of Divinity is monotheistic. Igbo/African traditional religion is neither monotheistic nor polytheistic.In the light of these considerations, it would be preposterous for any one to associate Igbo/African traditional beliefs and practices with any of these name tags.
Apart from the term “theism” none of these terms can be used to describe the religion of the pre-modern Igbo or the nature of God in Igbo Ontology. African religion or world view is justifiably best described as “traditional” in the sense that it is indigenous, natural and co-eval to the Africans.Polytheism and Monotheism are the two classical theories of the nature of God in Western thought. In Igbo ontology, they form part of the basic assumptions entertained by the pre-modern Igbo.
Consequently, none taking singly can be used as the appropriate term to describe the true nature of God in Igbo traditional philosophy except by qualifying or modifying any of the two terms or combining both terms to embrace the one unifying Ultimate Being and the subordinate gods to whom He delegates His power and through which He is indirectly approached. He remains the ultimate being in Igbo ontology.The terms: polytheism and monotheism are tendencies in the God-question debate among philosophers in the Western thought. One anticipates such tendencies in the Igbo philosophy of God. This is because; it is an accepted fact that human beings by nature are essentially the same everywhere at any given time. And so we might raise these vital questions, namely, can there be Igbo Polytheists, Monotheists, Agnostics, Empiricists, Rationalists, Skeptics, Atheists, Fideists, deists, etc. We shall come across these problems in this article but we shall dwell in detail on polytheism and monotheism that are the major tendencies on the nature of God in Western philosophy to sift what is true from falsehood; reality from myth, certainty from educated guess on what is the true nature of God in Igbo ontology.
Metaphysics is sometimes called ontology or the study of being. Consequently, African metaphysics or ontology is less ambitious. It is the study of the African world and world view. Such investigations as the nature of ultimate reality for the African, the nature of “forces” or beings in the African universe, the relationship between the seen and unseen, etc. are topics in African metaphysics or ontology (the science of being).3. Nature of God in Western PhilosophyIt is not the task of this article to go into details the works of various representative Western philosophers who examined the nature of God in Western philosophy. If I were to use Russell ’s words: (1967: 14) “It is a large and serious question, and if I were to attempt to deal with it in any adequate manner I shall have to keep you here till kingdom come, so that you will have to excuse me if I deal with it in a somewhat summary fashion”.
Consequently, our concern is their notions of the nature of God in their philosophies in a summary form as part of their contribution in the God-question debate in Western philosophy. Their contributions will give us a true picture of what God is, that is, the nature of God in Western thought; form the background to our further investigation of the nature of God in Igbo ontology or theory of being. In the end, that is to say, having studied the nature of God in both cultures, namely, Western and Igbo, we would be able to see the contributions of Western thought to Igbo traditional notions of God and vice-versa.
- God in the Philosophy of AristotleFor Aristotle, God is the “the highest and purest substance”. Bambrough (1963: 11) when he was reviewing Aristotle came to the conclusion that “there is only one world and only one God for if there are two or more worlds and consequently two or more Gods, the Gods would have to be differentiated by matter and therefore could not be pure form and actuality”. God is pure spirit and in Book XII in the theological part of his Metaphysics he opts for “one world” and “one God” who is a unifying force of all other beings in the universe both spiritual and physical.In his hierarchy of beings as he exposed in his Metaphysics his conception of God as the “absolute” (which was later to influence Hegel’s doctrine of the Absolute Spirit); as the highest and purest of substances; as a unifying force behind every other being in the universe both spiritual and physical; and as the Ultimate and towards which other beings aspire as their final end. For him (Aristotle), there exists a hierarchy of beings ranging from God on top, who is the “Supreme Mover”, and “Pure Spirit”. He is followed by other beings in the universe that are also arranged in their hierarchy to the degree they have being nearer to him who possesses it in its fullness or highest degree.This highest position accorded God, as philosophers also frequently uses the ultimate or absolute by Aristotle “because in theology, God is looked upon as the primordial being from which all things flow”. W. T. Stace (1955: 26) attempting a categorization of beings according to their hierarchy and his own comments on God in Aristotle throws more light on Aristotle’s hierarchy of being. He writes:Now at the top of the scale of being in Aristotle’s philosophy comes the absolute matterless form. This absolute form is what Aristotle calls God―because form is the source of all existence. This pure form contains no matter, but the form of form. And this becomes transformed into the famous Aristotle’s definition of God as the “thought of thought”. God does not think matter, He thinks only thought. He is thought, and the object of this thought is thought itself. He thinks therefore, only himself. God is self-consciousness. “Thought of thought” is equivalent to the phrase “form of forms”. Form is the universal; the universal is the real, the Absolute. Hence the real, the absolute is thought. And since thought is the essence of mind, we may express this by saying that the absolute is the mind.Aristotle’s philosophy of God is to be seen as a study of pure form and actuality. The “Unmoved Mover” of his Metaphysics stands at the summit of the hierarchy of substances as the ultimate moving cause whose activity is the source of all motion and change. God is one, pure form, pure moving cause and pure end, the supreme instance of the identity of all the three non-material causes. Such a God exists and there are three main routes to Him, namely, reason, revelation and religious experience. God is at once a “Wholly Other”, a transcendent God, pure thought and he thinks of himself as his activity. In effect the doctrine of the immanent God is foreign to Aristotle’s concept of God. God is completely not aware of anything outside Himself. There is no room for divine providence in Aristotle. Aristotle is unique in his own way. He has of course not said the last word about the nature of God.3.2. God in the Philosophy of St. Thomas AquinasIn our studies of the nature of God in St. Aquinas, we are going to face a task not quite the same with that of Aristotle. The reason according to Bulllough and Elringon (1939: 2) is because it is “the study of a philosophical theologian of the middle ages… The philosophical theologian draws truth from two different sources: Reason and Faith in the truth revealed by God, and its interpreter, the church… and so Aquinas brought together philosophy and theology” for according to him they played complementary roles in man’s quest for truth. In his great work Summa Theologiae, Aquinas examines the question of God’s existence, treats the nature and attributes of God, His place and role in created things in the universe. It treats therefore the creation and government of the universe, or the origin and nature of man, of human destiny, of virtues, and vices and laws of all the great problems of speculative and practical philosophy.About the unicity of God, that is the nature question, Aquinas argues that if God is the Supreme Good, it follows that he is unique. For according to Aquinas as commented by Bulllough and Elringon (1939: 105), “it is not possible for two Supreme Goods to exist, since the Supreme Good, being by definition the supra-abun- dance of God, can exist in only one being. Now God is the Supreme Good. Hence he is unique”. St. Thomas argues that we can also arrive at the uniqueness of God by arguing from Divine perfection. Since it has been established that God is absolutely perfect; if therefore several gods existed, several absolute perfect beings, free from all imperfections, would exist. Now, this is impossible, for if one of them were lacking in the slightest perfection and no imperfection of any sort were contained in their essence, we should fail to see how diverse beings could be distinct from each other. It is consequently impossible to posit the existence of several Gods. St. Thomas concludes: There is only one God, undivided and unique, not many gods.Another important area examined by Aquinas, which is pertinent in this article, is the hierarchy of beings. Thomas believes that God is the Supreme good and that the created things participate in the goodness of God. God is therefore the good of all that is good. And yet everything possesses its own goodness, in as much as it is said to be good by resemblance to divine goodness inherent in it. There is therefore one simple goodness for all things and yet many particular goodnesses, still, there is no contradiction between them. For the goods are ordered in a hierarchy culminating in the universal Good, that is to say, the Good in essence or the Supreme Good, below which the particular and participated goods are arranged in descending hierarchy. Aquinas through the penmanship of Stumpf (1977: 196) therefore lays down his own chain of beings while maintaining that these beings differ in kind and in degree of their being. Thus for Aquinas:Below God who is at the apex are the angels in their different hierarchy known to exist both by revelation and reason. Below the angels are human beings whose nature include both material and spiritual aspects; then come animals, plants and finally the four elements of air, earth, fire and water. There are no gaps between the various levels of beings; they interlock like links in chain.With the combination of the two processes of our knowledge of God, namely, reason and faith, Aquinas maintains that God is eternal, incorporeal, simple, perfect, infinite, unique, transcendent, immanent, personal, providence, etc. And from faith and Divine revelation, he posits creation out of nothing, conservation and governance of creatures. God is the ultimate in the categories of being. Certainly, Aquinas does not have all the answers concerning the nature of God in Western philosophy. But before we re-examine Igbo man’s concept of the nature of God which is the proper task of this article, let us take a brief look at the modern European philosopher, this time Hegel, the father of German Idealism and rationalist to the core. His extreme rationalists, if not pantheistic approach with regard to the concepts of God will at least show us how far removed the Western views are from the Igbo. The various doctrines of Hegel in this God-question are not an easy task. Our focus however is on his notion of the nature of God since it is the sole object of focus of this work.
- Nature of God in Hegel’s PhilosophyGod for Hegel is a reality without qualification when abstractly considered somehow. Two basic things Hegel says about God is that he is “thought of thought”, and “end towards which all things aspire”. Hegel agrees with Aristotle that God is “Self thinking thought”, and that this self-thinking Thought is the telos or end that draws the world as its final cause. Stace (1955: 26) brought out clearly this Hegel’s concept of God as Self-thinking Thought. He observes that “for Hegel and Aristotle God does not think matter. He thinks only thought. He is thought, and the object of this thought is thought itself. He thinks, therefore, only Himself. God is self-con- sciousness. Hegel’s Absolute is also self-consciousness, the thought of thought”.God in Aristotle is Absolute form which is thought of thought because form is the source of all existence. In Hegel, God is Absolute spirit which is thought itself. He thinks, therefore only Himself. This is why Rosen (1914: 255) quoted how Hegel ends his encyclopedia not with a quotation from the New Testament but with a passage from Aristotle’s Metaphysics describing God as “Thought thinking itself”. Hegel’s Absolute is also self-consciousness, the thought of though. God in Hegel from what we have seen so far is described as the “Absolute Spirit” corresponding to Aristotle’s “Absolute Form”. He is also “Thought Thinking Itself” or “Self Thinking Thought”. Above all God is conceived as the telos or end or final cause of all things in the universe.But the self-Thinking Thought of Hegel is not transcendent reality as Aristotle thinks; rather it is immanent in the universe. The whole process of reality is a teleological movement towards the actualization of Self-thinking Thought; and in this sense the Thought which thinks itself is the telos or end of the universe. It is an end which is immanent within the process. Thus Hegel agrees with Aristotle that God is Self-thinking Thought and also the end of the universe but they are not agreed on the mode of God’s being in the universe. This brings us again to Hegel’s teaching on the non-transient nature of God which is the intrinsic and eternal attribute of God. Is God in Hegel essentially Transcendent or Immanent or both?Hegel maintains that spirit sees itself in nature. It sees nature as the objective manifestation of the Absolute, a manifestation which is a necessary condition for its non-existence. It is in the light of this Hegel’s assertion that Acton (1967: 446) while, discussing about the immanent nature of God in Hegel’s philosophy of God writes:God is not something grandeur and more powerful than the natural world yet fundamentally like it, nor is he something beyond the world that must remain forever inaccessible to man. God is manifested in the world; and this is the truth that revealed religion has expressed most adequately in the Christian doctrine of the incarnation. Without this doctrine God would still be regarded as beyond the world, and thus as incomplete and finite. Even with this doctrine he is conceived of through the medium of particular historical events that introduce an element of contingency and irrelevance into our conception of him. By assigning to God the attribute of immanence and denying him his transcendental attribute has led some scholars to accuse Hegel of atheism; others pantheism. Hegel thought God to be the creative principle which is concerned in the world he created and not a mere conceptual abstraction called God. God is not a dues remotus, that is to say, a remote or withdrawn God, purely transcendent totally unconcerned with events in the world. He is, according to Hegel immanent and not transcendent in the world.The summary point of it all is that Aristotle, Hegel and other Western philosophers agree that God exists, he is one, the highest and purest substance, creator and final cause of all things Transcendent and Immanent. The Western conception of God gives us a clearer picture of the God-question debate in Western thought especially the nature of God. More importantly it will also serve as a sound background study to our later analysis of the nature of God in Igbo ontology which is the proper context within which God will be studied in this article. We are now ready to critically examine the nature of God in Igbo ontology to see the views of the pre-modern Igbo on the same issue regardless how widely Igbo ideas might vary from those of the Western minds. The essence of this is because the author of this article has no doubts at all that critical Igbo Ontology is closely tied to Igbo world view, and that the originality of certain metaphysical, cosmological and eschatological beliefs of the pre- modern Igbo is wholly attributed to the Igbo because these assumptions originated with the Igbo and not extraneous to them that is not inherited by them from outside. They are the materials for our eventual analysis and interpretation. They are inarticulate, uncoordinated, unscientific, unproven assumptions and largely mythical and full of educated guesses and therefore not yet scientific or philosophic. In short God will be studied in the Igbo context to see the views of the Igbo on the same issue regardless how widely Igbo ideas might vary from those of the Western minds.4. Igbo Metaphysical BeliefsThese are the basic assumptions entertained by the pre?modern Igbo about the spiritual world. What are the sum? total of the assumptions entertained by the pre-modern Igbo about the supra-sensible world? The examination of this section of our work will throw more light on the actual source of the beliefs and thought patters of the Igbo. It is logically correct that: if their metaphysical assumptions include the existence of God and gods, it is more likely that their conception of the nature of God will likely be different from Western conception and completely outside external influence. Hence the originality of their total assumptions and principles will be attributed more or less to the Igbo depending on whether or not the assumptions and principles originated with the Igbo or were inherited by them from Christianity or Westernism.Apart from ensuring originality of thought patterns, the non-extraneous nature of these beliefs are very important. They will, no doubt help us to understand Igbo identity. For instance, when scholars refer to the Igbo as an ancient race; a people of their own with centuries of cultural development, or a special set of people with unique characteristics; a people blessed with versatile nature that helps them to harness the resources of nature; we understand what they mean.A thorough examination of the metaphysical assumptions of the Igbo and their world view will inevitably reveal that their assumptions were not the constructs of the people who were their colonizers or from whom they migrated. Indeed it was through proper examination of the ontological background of the Igbo and their pre- modern assumptions that a lot of valid conclusions will be drawn regarding the Igbo. This brings us to our vital question, what is the sum-total of the metaphysical assumptions entertained by the pre-modern Igbo? These beliefs could be summarized as follows: Belief in the existence of the spiritual world (Ala Muo) the abode of Chiukwu (the Supreme Being) and other spirits both malevolent and benevolent spirits; Belief in Chiukwu (the Supreme Being; Belief in major gods like Ala (the earth goddess), Igwe the sky god), etc. Belief in other minor gods; belief in Ancestors or “the living dead” or human spirits; belief in Ogwu (mystical and magical powers).Perhaps it will be interesting to wind up this section of our article with a hypothesis, namely, what if the Igbo were to be guided by Marxist world view? If the Igbo were to be guided by such a world view, namely, Marxist world view of the existence of only one world, they will now be talking of only one world, the visible world. And the implication is that the Igbo man’s notion of the metaphysical world and the beings in the same world especially the Chi-ukwu (the Greatest Chi) the main subject of our discourse in this paper would be regarded as non-existent or at most a fiction of the mind without any foundation in reality. Possibly, the concept of a “loan deity” might be easily tenable. But the Igbo world is a dual world, namely, the metaphysical and the physical with all the beings therein properly arranged in their hierarchical order with God at the apex. In what follows we shall critically examine one of the contradictory assumptions of the pre-modern Igbo namely one and many.This concerns one of the question of God in African Ontology and this article contends that of all the phrases coined all through history of African philosophy and the history of mankind, Monopolytheism is the true nature of God in Igbo Ontology.
- The Nature of God in Igbo OntologyMonopolytheism which this author contends is the true nature of God in Igbo ontology. Etymologically, is derived from three Greek words: Mono, meaning, One; Poly, meaning, Many; and Theism, meaning, belief in one God or gods. Hence Monopolytheism is the belief in one and many gods. This traditional belief need not sound contradictory or constitute any serious problem to any one who is familiar with the concept of Igbo God as a generic name for the One Supreme Being and the many gods that receive sacrifices, prayers and petitions in Igbo land either on their own or carry the same to Chi-ukwu (the Greatest Chi) who is the ultimate recipient of the essence of all sacrificesThe “One” is unique and differentiated from the “Many” by its nature, attributes and relationships. The “Many”, the gods, by their nature are many and are the creatures of the “One” and they relate to Him as a Creator is related to the created. The “Many” cannot but be what they are by nature, for that would go against the principle of identity. The Igbo man is always logical in his techniques of reasoning. He is always aware of the basic principles of being.He knows that a being is what it is, and he also knows what makes a thing to be what it is. For him, “One” is not “Many” or anything else. He is able to make these distinctions such that when he says that “One” is “One” and “Many are Many”, which is an inevitable tautology but a useful one, he is reaffirming the authenticity and reality of “One as One” and “Many as Many” but not in the sense of creating real distinction in terms. One necessarily is one, it cannot but be one, one is not many. They are two different beings which are different in nature and kind.In Igbo world view, when the pre-modern Igbo say that God is One and Many, they are insisting that the term or idea god is a generic one in the metaphysical order of being which admits of species. This is because Igbo traditional religion is one that accepts of plurality of gods (polytheism).The species of God are declared existent. Consequently the pre-modern Igbo who are both polytheists and Monotheists regard the concept of god as a genus that accepts a specific difference, in the sense that of all the gods that are in existence one is differentiated from the rest by its nature. One occupies the topmost position in the list of gods. The rest of the gods, many in number, are differentiated from each other by their various characteristics. Thus Ani (the earth goddess) differs from Amadioha (the thunder god), etc. But each is a god all the same. The combination of these categories of gods, namely, God and the gods which form the essential features of Igbo metaphysical beliefs is what is technically called Igbo God, or “One and Many” or “God and the gods or simply “Monopolytheism”.The “One” is accepted as the Greatest, the real, ultimate target of Igbo Traditional Religion. The “Many” also exists as gods and messengers of the One Supreme God. Neither are they simply reduced to the status of messengers. Again there is no contradiction in a system that holds this basic outlook in life, namely, “One and Many”. Just as there is no contradiction in a king having many subjects under him or a master having many servants to help him in the day to day administration of his business. One is at the topmost position and the Many fall below Him.The “One” is “Ukwu” that is to say, the Greatest among the “Many”. None of the many in this case, can be regarded as the greatest in the presence of the One Greatest Chi. The word greatest as applied to God or the One in relation to the many gods is therefore not a disturbing superlative as its critics argue from some quarters. It is on record that Arazu made such a statement, namely, that Chi-ukwu is the Great Spirit and not necessarily the Greatest Spirit (superlative). It can only be a disturbing superlative if Chi-ukwu is placed side by side with any of the gods. In this case, for instance, God or Chi-ukwu will be Great God and any of the gods will be Chi-nta or small gods. In all cases therefore Ukwu does not necessarily mean greatest in all contexts. It is either great or greatest Chi. In either case; it is even not a problem. The great and the greatest mean the same thing in Igbo world view .The Igbo have no comparative adjective for some terms. Consequently the “One” is One, Almighty, Omnipotent, Great, Greatest, Supreme, Absolute, etc. The “Many” are many and they come immediately after God.If the Igbo were to believe in one and only one God, their unique concept of one and many gods would either be a fiction of the mind or probably elude them. We will now be talking of only one God (Monotheism) as the true nature of God in Igbo Ontology. And the implication is that the Igbo man’s notion of the concept of one ultimate being Chi-ukwu in Igbo ontology will be regarded as what its critics say it is: a foreign import. Thanks to God the Igbo conception of the nature of God embraces the one Supreme Being who is served by gods “Monopolytheism” or “One and Many” and not simply “One”.This concept of “One” or Monotheism represents an advanced stage in human development, in man’s evolutionary concepts of God which the white man strongly believes cannot be attained by any traditional or primitive cultures. “Deity” is a philosophical concept which the “untutored” are incapable of framing. Again, it is believed by the West, according to Jahn (1961: 110) that:Through the influence of Europe, it is believed, Africa is adapting herself, giving up her traditions and adopting foreign ideas, methods of work, forms of government and principles of economic organization…Europe is held to be the teacher and Africa the pupil, Europe is to decide when Africa is ripe: ripe for faith, ripe for action, ripe for freedom. Europe is thought to know what is good for Africa, better than Africa herself.Consequently for the West, anything that conforms to their own accepted ideas and ideals is misappropriated, it is their own. Those that do not conform are regarded as “primitive”. For instance, Africa or Igbo brand of the nature of God, because it does not conform to the Western pattern of Monotheism or Polytheism is branded “Primitive” in the derogatory sense of the word. While in actual fact, African or Igbo brand of the nature of God (theism) is purely traditional and natural to the African as it is to the Igbo.The nature of God in Igbo Ontology is “Monopolytheism” “One and Many”. The one is the ultimate, a unifying factor among the many gods. His nature is absolute, namely the principles of absoluteness, creation, and continued existence and dependence of the many gods that are subordinates and mediators; designated to serve various needs in their areas of authority and power and influence. This concept is unique to the Igbo. It differs essentially from the Judaeo-Christian and Islamic thought-categories of pure Monotheism or Polytheism. And this concept alone, namely, Monopolytheism or one God that is served by many gods disapproves of the foreign nature of the concept of the one ultimate being in Igbo ontology. It is traditional, indigenous or natural. It is Igbo man’s brand of theism.
5.1. Proof from the Hierarchy of Spiritual Beings in Igbo Metaphysical World
When seeking to understand the fundamental entities that constitute the order of the world, B. Russell posed a question: What are the basic kinds of beings that exist? In other words, what types of entities form the ultimate fabric of the world? Delving into this question proves to be an ambitious task for an article of this nature. However, our focus lies on a question that encompasses the most significant spiritual beings in the invisible world of the Igbo and explores their hierarchical arrangement. Addressing such inquiries provides a valid background for identifying and elucidating the nature of God in Igbo Ontology.
It is crucial to establish a classification and order that adheres to tradition, offers meticulous details, and employs rationality. This approach grants scientific significance to our investigation and provides a solid foundation for substantiating our thesis that the nature of God in Igbo Ontology is Monopolytheism. Notably, Igbo ontology is distinctive in that it revolves around humans, making it an anthropocentric ontology. This ontology can be broadly classified into two categories: Ihe Ndi Anaghi Afu Anya (invisible beings) and Ihe Ndi Ana Afu Anya (visible beings). While there may exist additional categories and sub-categories, our focus will be on these two primary categories within Igbo Ontology.
Every being, regardless of its form or essence, can be encompassed within one of these categories. Nothing in Igbo Ontology exists outside of them. The highest level of existence is reserved for spirits or invisible beings, particularly benevolent spirits. They possess immateriality and autonomy, transcending the constraints of space and time. They comprehend immaterial and intelligible essences and will immaterial ends. Their essential functions revolve around knowing and willing.
With this brief characterization of spirits or invisible beings, we proceed to outline the hierarchy of invisible beings within Igbo Ontology.
The Igbo, like other Africans, traditionally recognize the existence of a Supreme Being whom they call Chi-ukwu (the Greatest Chi) or Chineke or Ezecchitoke (the God of creation) or Osebuluwa (God, carrier of the world). Below Chi-ukwu, the Igbo also acknowledge the fact that this Greatest Chi has at His service many ministering spirits whose sole business is to fulfill His commands. Thus, in the invisible world of the Igbo, there are many spiritual beings of differing qualities and roles, namely, Amadioha (the thunder god), Igwe (the sky god), Anyanwu (the sun god), Ala (the Earth goddess), Amosu (Witches or sorcerers or wizards), Ekwensu (Devil), Ogwu (mystical and magical forces), Akalogheli (disgruntled dead men), Ogbanje (spirits born to die), Ndi-Ichie (the living-dead or ancestors), etc., to name but a few. These and many more spirits fall within the category of spirits.
The Muo (Spirits’ category) can be further divided into three sub-categories: Chi-ukwu (The Greatest Being), Muo (Non-Human Spirits), and Ndi-Muo (Human spirits). These are spirits in the strictest sense because they have no permanently associated bodily form. Although they may have a shadowy bodily form, they assume different shapes, such as human, animal, plant, etc., without any permanent bodily form attached to them.
Spirits such as God, other non-human and human spirits that populate the invisible world of the Igbo are also arranged in a hierarchical order. Starting from the least to the highest being, the order reads as follows: Human spirits, namely, Uluchi (Bad dead like those who die by accident or those not given the full rite of passage, etc.), Ndi Ichie (the living dead); Non-Human spirits, namely, Ogwu (mystical and magical powers), Ekwensu (Devil), Chi (personal gods); Minor and major gods; and Chi-ukwu (the Greatest Chi) in Igbo Ontology, in that order.
The last being in the spirit category is Chi-ukwu (the Greatest Chi). He possesses something that others do not have. He comes last in the hierarchy in an ascending order, but He is the Ultimate, the Absolute, the topmost in the list, and wholly distinct from others. There is no one like Him in the hierarchy of beings. He does not belong to the rank and file of the divinities or deities or gods. He exists alone in His exclusive domain, Eligwe (Heavens), but He is also present everywhere in the world.
5.2. Proof from the Nature and Concept of God in Various Igbo LocalitiesNorthern area Group: EZECHITOKE; Central and Southern Area Group: CHINEKE;Western Group: OSEBULUWA; North West and Eastern Group: CHI-UKWU.5.2.1. Northern Area Group: EzechitokeIn my study of the nature and concept of God in various Igbo localities, I observe that the principal nature of the Supreme being among the Nsukka, Amuba Enugu Ezike; Umunne-gwa; Obukpa Asadu of the Northern Area Group of the Igbo is Ezechitoke, a term of certain etymology and with one universal meaning among these people. According to these people themselves, they say that Ezechitoke is derived from four Igbo words: Eze (King), Chi (Spirit), Te (Who), and Oke (to share, a share or to create; creation; creating). Ezechitoke the contraction of Eze-chi-te-oke is therefore the king-spirit who “shares” and “creates”. Primarily, the term means “the distribution of gifts or those things which belongs to a person by lot”.This primary connotation of Oke (sharing or distributing) finds its support when one considers some names of God connected with Oke, namely, Oke Chukwu (God’s portion), the contraction of Oke Chukwu Kelu (lot or destiny distributed by Chukwu, God Himself). While the secondary meaning is “creator” and is supported by Horton’s view. According to him (Horton) Ezechitoke would mean lord (King) Chi creator. Taking these two possible explanations of them Oke as a point of departure, Ezechitoke brings out the idea of Supremacy, Ultimacy and absolute nature of this Chi (Spirit) over other spirits. He is the “King spirit”. Above all it conveys the function and role of this Ezechi (Supreme Spirit or King of the spirits), namely, sharing and creating. Other praise-titles of Ezechitoke among the Northern Area Group of the Igbo throw more light on the meaning of Ezechitike. In Obukpa-Asadu, God is known and worshipped as Ezechitoke Abiamura. This connotes that God is the creator who cares and nurtures his creation. He is also worshipped as Anyanwu Ezechitoke (the sun, the king spirit, the creator).Further researches which the researcher carried out among these people reveal also that creation among these Nsukka Area Group of the Igbo is to be understood in the traditional sense, that is to say, “make” or “produce” from some existing thing and never in the classical sense as exemplified in Judaeo-Christian tradition where creation means the act of bringing things out of nothing (ex-nihilo).
This is the manner by which God creates as in the case of Genesis where he commands and one object after another leaps into being. In contradistinction to this classical meaning of creation is the case in the Babylonian traditional thought where chaos is a force opposed to the gods. But these primary principles had to vanish in mighty conflict by the higher gods before the universe was fashioned from them. Here creation is understood to mean an act of bringing things into existence from something or pre-existing matter. It is on this secondary sense or traditional sense that the Nsukka Northern Culture area conceives creation such that when they say: Ezechitoke Abiamura there is no doubt that they are emphasizing first, the absolute nature of this spirit. Secondly, His role and function, namely: bringing other creatures into individual and separate existence from pre-existent reality and simultaneously allotting to each individual his personal Chi (god) and destiny.
They also see the providential care of the King Spirit. He cares and nurtures His creation which is what is meant by the term Abiamura.Among the Nsukka Area Culture group therefore, the principal name of their Supreme Being is Ezechitoke. His other praise-title names are Azechitoke Abiamura and Anyanwu Ezechitoke. These names point to a universal belief when analyzed etymologically. It all means that God is the Ultimate Spirit or Being, the creator of both heaven and earth and all things therein; the king unique identified with the sky to which both the divinities and men depend upon. Ezechitoke is the greatest spirit or king of all the spirits who gives life to all and is associated with the sun. In this case He is conceived as Anyanwu Ezechitoke. This connection with the sky or sun should not be understood as deistic or pantheistic tendencies.
The immanent activities of Ezechitoke (the king spirit that creates and shares) is immediately implied when the natives say that Ezechitoke is Abiamura, that is to say , he cares and nurtures all His creatures. God is at once both a transcendent and an immanent spirit or king. In some parts of the Northern Area Group, for instance, where He is conceived as Ezechitoke Abiamura, His providential care is highlighted in conjunction with his conception as the principle of creation.5.2.2. Central and Southern area Group: ChinekePrincipal characteristics and praise-titles qualities are assigned to the Supreme Being among the various central and Southern area groups of the Igbo so far studied by some Igbo scholars. The term Chineke is the principal nature of God among this group under study. And according to these natives themselves, namely, Owerri dialect group it is made up of three root words: Chi (spirit). Chi as a concept among the Igbo has equivocal nature: God or personal deity but also its other extensive or traditional meanings, namely, destiny package or lot and personal God symbolized. Let us now determine the traditional meaning of the terms: Na and Eke. Na is a conjunction, literally and simply it means “Who”. Ke root in all its known uses refer to the act of dividing and sharing. Its linguistic analysis shows that: Oke means share; Okike means the act of sharing; Eke means one who shares; Kee means divide. Eke in its traditional standard meaning refers to one who shares or divides or apportions. Etymologically, Chi-na-eke means Chi who shares out destiny package or lot and apportions to each individual person his personal god or deity.The most important meaning of Eke in Igbo traditional world view when used in conjunction with Chi-na (Chi who/that) as in Chi-na eke “the spirit who/that creates”.
This is deducible not explicitly from all known uses of the Ke roots especially from Eke (One or spirit who shares or divides or apportions) but from the various traditional names and qualities given to God. When the Owerri Igbo want to distinguish the Greatest Chi from the Chi-nta (personal deity and the destiny package or lot or even from the rest of the spirits that populate their metaphysical world, they do this by adding Eke to the Chi-na (Chi who/that) to read Chi-na eke (the Chi who/ that creates. Chi-na eke for the Owerri dialect group of the Igbo has therefore two possible meanings, namely, Chi who shares, divides or apportions and the Chi who creates. The following examples testify to our stand: Madueke means, human beings are not the Creator; Onyejieke means, no one controls the creator; Onyebueke means no one is creator; Obueke means, is he the creator?In all these names with the Eke attached, God is never understood as one who divides, shares or apportions but as one who creates or the creator. Other praise-title qualities assigned to Chineke which the Owerri speaking areas use, clarify their ideas about Him. He is called Eke Kere Mmadu (the creator who created man). Ekejiuba (the creator responsible for all population increase or wealth), Ekejike (power belongs to the creator) Ekejindu or Ekenwendu (life belongs to the creator), Ekejinma (the creator responsible for all goodness), Ekenweuwa (the world belongs to the creator).
It is in he light of Chineke’s concept as the spirit who creates and as the Ultimate being of the Owerri dialect group of the Igbo that Edeh (1985: 121) after his research findings came to the conclusion with some scholars of Owerri dialect area of Igbo land. He observes and correctly too, that for these people: “Onye-Okike therefore means a being that creates. This is more profoundly in the name Chi-na-eke (Chi who creates) Onye-Okike and Chi-na-eke are specifically reserved for the Supreme Being who alone can make out of nothing, the maker of all entities”.We agree with Edeh that the term Chineke is reserved for the Ultimate Being among the Owerri dialect Igbo but certainly we disagree with him in his other view that creation as is understood here means to create out of nothing or to make in the sense of producing things out of nothing. This is a cultural import. Certainly, creation in Igbo context is far from its classical meaning or Thomistic conception of creation, the act of creating things out of nothing. This idea of creation is not within the thought category of the Igbo as people of other traditional cultures. Creation here is understood to mean the act of bringing things into existence from eternal matter. Chineke derives from the verb Okike or Ike (to make, to produce). The verb is used exclusively for the act by which God “created” the world. Onye Okike literally would convey the meaning of cause to rise up, make to sprout.
Chineke conveys the meaning of “the creator”, the maker of all things or producer of all things.This concept of God as “the maker” or one who produces things among the Owerri dialect people of the Igbo brings out the basic difference between creation as is conceived in Thomistic philosophy and Igbo conception. In the Thomistic or Scholastic tradition, creation is immediately understood as producing things from nothing (creation ex nihilo); while in Igbo conception creation is understood to mean “to make” or “to produce” things out of pre-existing matter which is the unique act of Chineke (the Chi that creates or apportions) who may accomplish same through the deities though they themselves, the deities are God’s creatures. This Igbo conception of “creation” is perfectly in line with Plato’s view: Plato believes that matter and motion are eternal. The universe must be the product of a Demiurge or the craftsman who makes things out of pre-existing materials.
Tho- mistic explanation of creation springs beyond the bounds of Platonic and Igbo ideas of creation. For him (Aquinas) God created the world from nothing.Chineke is therefore another term for the Supreme Being in Igbo Ontology. It emphasizes specifically the creative nature of God and is found among the Igbo who live in the central and Southern portions of the Igbo tribal universe. These are popularly referred to as the Owerri dialect Igbo, that is, those who speak Owerri Igbo. The etymological analysis of Chineke reveals strong imagery as well as aspects of Igbo concept of divinity. All known researches which this author carried out on the word Chineke show that Ezechitoke and Chineke are the same concepts meaning “King”, Chi or “Greatest Chi” who creates or the creator God. Ilogu (1985: 7) has fewer doubts in thinking that: “Chineke…means ‘the God who creates’, and indicates the people’s belief in a supreme beneficent source of creation. He is the author of Heaven and earth; he sends rain and makes life grow”.The same principle of creation and division as is expressed in Ezechitoke (King spirit who creates), “shares” “divides” or “apportions” is also expressed in Chineke. The only difference is in their conception of God as Eze (King and Chi (spirit) respectively.
Ezechitoke and Chineke are therefore different terms for the nature of God or the ultimate being and they mean the same thing, namely, the one, the “King Chi” or spirit that creates, controls, governs and sustains the world. They neither represent for the Igbo the dual Supernatural gods which Chinua Achebe and C. U. M. Ezekwugo suggest are responsible for man and his destiny, namely, Chi and Eke or Chi alone responsible for one’s share (Oke) or fortune in life. Ezechitoke and Chineke convey the notion of Supremacy, Ultimacy, Infinitude and Absoluteness of God among the Nsukka Northern area culture and Owerri grouping particular and among the whole Igbo people.A careful analysis of these terms and their meanings among the Northern Area Group and Southern Area Group certainly demonstrates that belief in Ezechitoke and Chineke, are concepts so ingrained in the culture of these people under study and not borrowed concepts. Rather, the concepts originated in their remote past. These terms and their meanings are purely the traditional conceptions of the forebears of these cultural groups couched in typical traditional imagery and their local and indigenous characteristics show that they express concepts with which the people are familiar with.
Consequently these characteristics and their meanings were not thought them by the Europeans not even by any known religions of the world.5.2.3. Western Group: OsebuluwaHaving examined the nature and meaning of God among the Northern, Central and Southern area groups, we cross over to the Western Igbo area, namely Asaba, Ika, Ndokwa and some areas of Onitsha to examine their concepts of God. Arinze, Metuh, Ilogu, Edeh, etc.; observe that the nature of the Supreme Being among the Western Igbo group and some parts of Onitsha is Osebuluwa.Osebuluwa is another principal quality for the Supreme Being, in Igbo world and world view. Etymologically, it comes from three Igbo words; Ose or Olisa, Bulu and Uwa. Ose means supreme being or God, Bulu or Bu is a verb indicating a continuous act of carrying; Uwa is the universe, visible and invisible. Osebuluwa therefore means God who is carrying the world or “God, carrier of the world”. According to Edeh (1985: 130) “Osebuluwa as a name for God used to depict Him as a providential Father among the Western Igbo indicates that the Igbo recognize that God has a plan for the world and he supports and directs his creatures to a realization of this plan”.
In my research findings I was able to confirm that the Igbo terms: Olisakwe (if God agrees) Belu-Olisa (except for God) are derivations from Osebuluwa and they authenticate the fact that Osebuluwa is the principle of continued existence and dependence. Thus the concept of divine providence which has no place in Aristotle’s philosophy of God is thus highlighted in Igbo traditional philosophy of God, a philosophy of god which certainly suggests the Igbo deep-rooted conviction of sustained divine providence in creation. This providential nature of God as deduced from Osebuluwa among the Western Igbo finds its support in the research findings of C. Obiego, where he argued that the Igbo call the creating Chi, Osebuluwa who is carrying the world including man; and were the creating Chi to release his hold, the world would relapse into “nothingness”Osebuluwa therefore emphasizes the providential nature of God among the Western Igbo group when considered in relation to the world He created. While the Northern, Central and Southern areas emphasize more of His creative nature, The Western group stress or highlight more of his providential nature such that He is a Supreme Being who created the world and has been providing for it since “creation” to ensure its continued existence.
The Igbo also express this in their regular saying: (Chukwu Selu Aka Uwa Agwu). If God were to withdraw His supporting hand the whole world would collapse rather than relapse into nothingness which is a foreign concept. Osebuluwa implies also that the Igbo recognize that God has a plan for the world and that He is immanent in the world. He provides for it, sustains it, controls and governs every event in it.With this concept of God, as an immanent God, the theory of a Deus absconditus or Otiosus, the so called withdrawn God is foreign to Igbo traditional world-view. Neither can the Igbo be described as deists. God as the absolute being is simultaneously understood as an immanent being who is concerned with what is happening in the world created by Him.Praise-title names of Osebuluwa reflect popular conceptions of God among the Western Igbo areas. He is sometimes addressed as Olisabueze (God is King), Orisadinma (God is good) and Oseloka (God has planned or thought well).When all other mediators-gods have failed, the last resort is Osebuluwa. At this point the petitioner will be asked to rio-Olisa (appeal to God the creator and carrier of the universe who is the ultimate in existence). Edeh (1985: 130) adds a corollary which throws more light on the meaning of Osebuluwa. He is categorical that providence applied to God in this sense (carrier of the world) he says “involves his knowing plan for each creature and for the universe as a whole, and his carrying out his plan, his directing of creatures to their ends.” The concept of Osebuluwa as the carrier of the world among the Western Igbo conveys a general concept of a Supreme Being who is the creator, eternal, merciful God who is interested in the affairs of His creatures. He is also omnipotent. This is deducible from the term “Osebuluwa” (God carrier of the world). The Igbo believe that the world is so heavy and too big that nobody not even the most powerful of the spirits can carry it. But this anomalous entity, (the universe) which no created being can lift up is conveniently being carried by God in His hands.
In coclusion , and according to Dr.Alexcolman Apunike, a pharmacist and former seminatarian of All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha, Anambra , Nígeria “ This research , from my perspective, is to convey to readers the genuine traditional approach to certain local religious beliefs without unnecessary complexity. The goal is not to provoke alarm or controversy but rather to contribute and reveal the facts surrounding the metaphysical concepts of God in Igboland. I am pleased to have made a contribution to this research.”
The theory and practice of the pre-modern Igbo people demonstrate a notable inconsistency or discrepancy between their beliefs and actions. On one hand, the Igbo possess a concept of One Ultimate Being, although their expression of it may be naive or vague. However, in practice, they often render this Ultimate Being irrelevant to their everyday lives, as His supremacy is constantly questioned in comparison to other gods. These gods, who are considered messengers of the Ultimate Being, are elevated to the status of Supreme gods within their respective spheres of influence and operations.
In reality, individuals take advantage of the proximity of these gods to God Himself, employing them to fulfill their needs through sacrifices, prayers, and petitions made to God via these intermediary figures in various ritual practices. Nevertheless, in the grand scheme of Igbo ontology, God remains the Ultimate in terms of power and influence. His power is absolute, while that of the gods is always relative. Although the gods may compete with one another, it is always clear that they are not rivals to God, as He created them and bestowed upon them powers and authority for the day-to-day administration of the universe. They are God’s ambassadors. He (referred to as Chi-ukwu) is known as Okasi Akasi (the Highest Highest) or the ultimate Being in Igbo ontology. The other gods (Chi-Nta), whether classified as Major or Minor gods, are arranged hierarchically, with the Absolute Being (Chi-ukwu) at the pinnacle, followed by the other gods in their respective categories and sub-categories.
This arrangement of the nature of God within Igbo ontology does not neatly align with the Western categorization of monotheism or polytheism. It encompasses elements of both theories, referred to by many scholars of African traditional religion and cultural anthropologists as “One” and “many.” The author of this analysis believes that the term “Monopolytheism” best encapsulates the understanding of God in Igbo ontology as both one and many.
Atheism is considered un-African, as Africans generally believe in the existence of “a God” or “gods” who maintain some form of direct or personal relationship with human beings. Consequently, the belief in one supreme being with different names in various Igbo localities is an indigenous concept deeply rooted in Igbo culture since time immemorial.
The Igbo names of God carry significant cultural significance as they define the attributes of the Supreme Being and deities. These names depict the position, role, nature, and characteristics of God and the gods. Moreover, they reflect the universal belief in the existence of the Supreme Being, solidifying human faith. In the African worldview, reality is structured hierarchically, with the Supreme Being or God occupying the apex as the absolute principle responsible for the creation, continued existence, and interdependence of all things in the spiritual and material universe. Following God are the major and minor deities, human beings, and other entities.
