intro

Ibo religion is varied, having been drastically affected by the arrival of Christian missionaries in the 20th century. There are three main religions: Judeo-Christian faiths (which break into three branches of Christianity, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism) and the traditional Ibo religion.

then

Odinani

• Comes from Odi (it is) n' (on/within) Ani (the Land/Earth goddess)
• Traditional religion of Ibo people; also known as Odinala, Omenala, Omenana, Odinana, and Omenani
• Polytheistic, with Chukwu having the title of "God Almighty"
• Has several divinities (or alusi). One of them is Ahia Njoku, a goddess responsible for yams
• Has mythological creatures and figures, like the objange, an evil child who lives a cycle of being born, dying, then being reborn in its mothers womb
• Puts much emphasis on the idea of chi, a personal god. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe writes the proverb "When a man says yes, his chi says yes also," illustrating the strong belief in the relationship between chi and personal destiny
• Maintains a belief in (non-human) sacrifices, with the exception of the osu, outcasts dedicated to a god and considered taboo
• People interact with Chukwu through his servants, or "little gods," as Achebe writes. He goes on to write, "We approach a great man through his servants...we worry thm more because we are afraid to worry their Master."
• Tradition of naming children religious names, such as Chukwuka (Chukwu is Supreme)
• Had shrines, wooden figures, oracle houses, and priest/esses

christianity

• Conversion attempts began in 1857 and were met with underwhelming responses
• Christianity did not flourish until British colonialism took over Iboland
• Attempts at converting Ibo turned from mainly religious bases to service-providing angles, such as schools and hospitals
• Demand for such services came from Ibo, primarily, and so Westernism grew
• Many were Christian, but there were Roman Catholic and Protestan missionaries, like the Catholic Holy Ghost Fathers and La Société des Missions Africaine, and the Protestant Church Missionary Society

now

• Most Ibo are Christian/Roman Catholic, but there is a minority of Ibo Israelites/Ibo Jews
• Odinani is still a part of the culture and plays a role in various events (such as the New Yam Festival)