Igbe religion

Last updated

The Igbe religion, popularly known as Igbe (an Urhobo word meaning dance), was founded by Ubiecha Etarakpo in 1858 and has its headquarters at 11, Egbo Street, Kokori Inland, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria. [1] [2]

Contents

It is a religion based on dance as its medium of worship to God. It began as a Urhobo-Kokori traditional sect, and in the 20th century was influenced by Christian evangelism. [3]

Originating in Kokori, it gradually spread in the Urhobo nation and wider austral Nigeria. [4]

Beliefs

The Igbe religion is monotheistic with an omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent God named Oghene. He is believed to reward the good and evil alike according to their deeds. [5]

Dance is a core element of the Igbe faith. Adherents believe that by dancing, they draw on themselves the very hand of the one God.[ citation needed ]

Practises

Dancing is central to Igbe worship sessions, and music is generally native Urhobo songs in place of hymns. At worship services, Igbe priests are vested in white robes and headgear, administering native chalk to the worshippers for their protection. [6]

Fellow Igbe worshippers also don white attire, with their necks powdered white as they carry basins and small stools. When native drums beat, they sway left and right in a dance, as though possessed by a deity.

The Igbe celebrate the annual Ore Isi feast for twelve days in May, drawing thousands of attendees. [7] [8] The religion‘s holy day is known as Edigbe, meaning “the day of joy”. [9] [10]

History

Igbe was founded in 1858, in Kokori Nigeria. Ubiecha Etarakpo allegedly saw an apparition of two divine beings, who “anointed” him to preach against immorality and witchcraft. After the alleged apparition, Ubiecha became eccentric, acting insanely as he would dance each day. This scared people from coming close to him. It was also alleged that after his alleged vision, Ubiecha performed amazing miracles, accurately predicted the future, healed the sick, and correctly identified witches.

He built a worship house called ogua in his compound, and from there, ministered to the people with native white chalk while also continuing his prophesying. This brought followers across the Urhobo lands to Kokori. [11] [12] [13] Ubiecha died in 1920, after gaining fame and wealth. [14] [15]

Divisions

After Ubiecha’s death and burial, his children embroiled in a succession dispute. By tradition, his eldest son, Ibodje Ubiecha, succeeded his father as chief priest and head prophet; his half-brother, Akpokovo Ubiecha, established a rival branch in Kokori. One of Ibodje's daughters, Mary Ibodje, was a priestess who also splintered to establish her own branch before Ibodje died in 1986. His eldest son, Mcdonald Ibodje, his eldest son, succeeded him. [16] Ref Joshua Ibodje

Syncretism

With the influx of Christianity into Kokori in the 20th century, Igbe was influenced by the presence and works of evangelism.

Another Igbe sect was founded by Chief Ogbevire Ogogo and Akpomudjere Obero, which was infused with some elements of Christianity. They observed Christmas and New Year alongside Igbe festivals. It gained recognition and spread in Delta, Edo, Ondo, Rivers and Lagos states. [17]

Demographics

Though the Igbe extends beyond Urhobo land, the bulk of adherents are Urhobo people, and the principal lingua franca and liturgical language is Urhobo. [18]

Criticism

Igbe has been criticized for rejecting conventional medical treatment. Igbe adherents believe and administer the native white chalk to treat ailments, and this has been viewed as dangerous. [19]

There have been objections to the primacy of Urhobo language at worship sessions, [20] and it has been criticized as idol worship. [21]

Related Research Articles

The city of Warri is an oil hub within South-South Nigeria and houses an annex of the Delta State Government House. Warri City is one of the major hubs of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. Warri, Udu, Okpe and Uvwie are the commercial capital of Delta State with a population of over 311,970 people in 2006. The city is the indigenous territory of Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ijaw people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delta State</span> State in southern Nigeria

Delta State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1991. It is bordered on the north by Edo State, the east by Anambra and Rivers states, and the south by Bayelsa State while to the west is the Bight of Benin which covers about 160 kilometres of the state's coastline. The state was initially created with 12 local government areas in 1991, but was later expanded to 19 and now has 25 local government areas. Its capital city is Asaba which is located along the River Niger on the northeastern end of the state, while the state's economic center is the city of Warri on the southwestern coastline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edo State</span> State of Nigeria

Edo, officially known as Edo State, is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of the federal republic of Nigeria. As of 2024, the state was ranked as the 22nd most populous state (5,250,000) in Nigeria. The estimated state population is around 4,777,000 in 2022. Edo State is the 22nd largest state by landmass in Nigeria. The state's capital and largest city, Benin City, is the fourth largest city in Nigeria, and the centre of the country's rubber industry. Created in 1991 from the former Bendel State, it is also known as the heart beat of the nation. Edo State borders Kogi State to the north for 133 km and across the Niger River for 81 km to the northeast, Anambra State to the east for about four km across the Niger River, Delta State to the southeast and south for 350 km, and Ondo State to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itsekiri people</span> Yoruboid subgroup of Delta State, Nigeria

The Itsekiri are an ethnic group who mainly inhabit Nigeria's Niger Delta area. They speak a Yoruboid language and can be found in Ondo, Edo and Delta State. The Itsekiris presently transcends a population of over 1 million people and live mainly in parts of Ondo, Edo and majorly in the Warri South, Warri North and Warri South West local government districts of Delta State on the Atlantic coast of Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esan people</span> Ethnic group in Nigeria

Esan people, or Esans, are an Edoid-speaking ethnic group who share a common culture and the Esan language. The Esan are traditionally known to be agriculturalists, trado-medical practitioners, mercenary warriors and hunters. They cultivate palm trees, Irvingia gabonensis (erhonhiele), Cherry (Otien), bell pepper (akoh) coconut, betel nut, kola nut, black pear, avocado pear, yams, cocoyam, cassava, maize, rice, beans, groundnut, bananas, oranges, plantains, sugar cane, tomato, potato, okra, pineapple, paw paw, and various vegetables.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Nigeria</span>

Christianity and Islam are the two main religions practiced in Nigeria. The country is home to some of the world's largest Christian and Muslim populations, simultaneously. Reliable recent statistics do not exist; however, Nigeria is divided roughly in half between Muslims, who live mostly in the northern region, and Christians, who live mostly in the southern region of the country. Indigenous religions, such as those native to the Igbo and Yoruba ethnicities, have been declining for decades and being replaced by Christianity and Islam. The Christian share of Nigeria's population is also now on the decline, due to a lower fertility rate relative to the Muslim population in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esigie</span> Oba of Benin (1504 AD–1550 AD)

Esigie, originally known as Osawe, was the son of Oba Ozolua, who reigned in the late 15th century, and his second wife, Queen Idia. He was the sixteenth Oba who ruled the medieval Benin Kingdom, now Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria from c. 1504 – c. 1550. Works of art commissioned by Esigie are held in prominent museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uvwie</span> Urban Area in Delta State, Nigeria

Uvwie (/hu-we-ɛ/), is a principal urban Local government area in Delta State. It lies along the Warri River and it is one of the 24 Urhobo kingdoms. The entirety of the LGA is conurbated with the city of Warri, making it a greater part of Warri metropolitan area

Kokori is one of the six suburban 'states' of the Agbon 'kingdom' in LGA Ethiope East, Delta State, Nigeria. The other 'states' are Okpara, Eku, Ovu, Orhoakpor, and Igun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abraka</span> Urban in Delta State, Nigeria

Abraka, is a town in Delta state, Nigeria. It is also home to two of the main 24 urhobo kingdoms. It is mostly known as a university town and has the main campus of the Delta State University located there. Abraka town is a favourite destination for domestic and international tourists. The Abraka beach is famous for its natural flowing spring water, and has sports recreational facilities for outdoor activities like canoeing, fishing, swimming, barbecue and picnicking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olusegun Mimiko</span> Nigerian politician and doctor (born 1954)

Olusegun Rahman Mimiko ; born 3 October 1954), is a Nigerian medical doctor and politician who served as governor of Ondo State from 2009 to 2017. He was the senatorial candidate of the Zenith Labour Party for Ondo Central District in the 2019 Senate elections. He served as the 16th governor of Ondo State, becoming the first two-term governor of Ondo State, and the first Labour Party governor in Nigeria. Mimiko was previously a federal minister for housing and urban development, a secretary to the Ondo State Government, and a two-time Ondo State Commissioner for Health.

Adego Erhiawarie Eferakeya was a Nigerian politician who was elected senator for the Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State, Nigeria in April 2007. He ran on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

The Urhobos are people located in southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger Delta. They are the major ethnic groups in Delta State. The people in this ethnic group speak the Urhobo language. Their population is approximately 7 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osayuki Godwin Oshodin</span> Nigerian academic (1950–2022)

Osayuki Godwin Oshodin, was a Nigerian academic who was the vice-chancellor of the University of Benin from 2009 to 2014. He was a professor of health education and published several journals and books concerning health and education.

The Agbon Kingdom is one of twenty-four subunits of the Urhobo people that have been in existence since before the rise of the Benin Empire in the 1440s and before the arrival of the Portuguese in the Western Niger Delta in the 1480s.

Okpara Inland is a community located in the Ethiope East local government area of Delta State Nigeria. This community is a progeny of the Agbon Kingdom. Local history has it that it is the first son of Agbon whose traditional seat of leadership is Isiokolo. The previous king of the community, now deceased, HRM Chamberlain Oyibocha Orovwuje, Ogurimerime Okpara I, used this community as his centre of leadership bypassing the ancient satellite of Isiokolo.

The doctrines and practices of modern Pentecostalism placed a high priority on international evangelization. The movement spread to Africa soon after the 1906 Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olukumi people</span> Ethnic group

The Olukumi are an ancient Yoruba subgroup indigenous to the Aniocha North area of the Delta State, Nigeria. They originate from Yoruba people and settled in this area long ago. They trace their ancestry to Owo and Akure. The Olukumi occupy eight communities west of the Niger River, and are together known today as the Odiani Clan in Aniomaland. Ukwu Nzu town is the historical headquarters of the Olukumi people and is traditionally headed by the Obi of Ukwu Nzu, Agbogidi. The present Obi is H.R.M. Obi Ogoh 1. Olukumi villages select leaders through the Okpala Obi system, which is the Okpala (gerontocracy).

The Anglican Adam Preaching Society is an interdenominational evangelical Christian movement based in Nigeria, which was founded by an evangelist of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the late Cornelius Adam Igbudu who hailed from Araya in Isokoland.

God's Kingdom Society (GKS) is a Christian sabbatarian denomination founded by Gideon Urhobo. He served as its life president from its inception in 1934 till his passing in 1952.

References

  1. Success Akpojotor, Pre-Colonial Socio-Political History of Kokori Inland. B. A Thesis (University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria). 2011
  2. http://www.thenationlineng.net/2011/index [ dead link ]
  3. Success Akpojotor, pp.44-5
  4. Success Akpojotor, pp.46-7
  5. Success Akpojotor, p.44
  6. Sunday Odje, Kokori People, Ancient and Modern, Benin: Assembly Printers, 1995.
  7. S. Odje, p115
  8. http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index%5B‍%5D
  9. Studies in Urhobo Culture By Peter Palmer Ekeh
  10. pp.346-7
  11. Success Akpojotor, pp. 44-5
  12. Sunday Odje, pp.113-14
  13. http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index%5B‍%5D
  14. Sunday Odje, p.115
  15. http://www.nationonlineng.net/2011/index [ dead link ]
  16. Sunday Odje, p.115
  17. Sunday Odje, p.117
  18. http://www.thenationlineng.net/2011/index [ dead link ]
  19. http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index%5B‍%5D
  20. http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index%5B‍%5D
  21. http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index%5B‍%5D