Igbo Nation: Kingdom of Priests

By
Emeka Maduewesi
๐Ÿ†
The picture of Igbo religion (Omenana /Omenala / Omenani) is incomplete without some discussion about priests.

The Igbo believes in the priesthood of all heads of households, heads of lineages, and heads of clans. Also, all แปŒzแป titled men are priests insofar as they offer sacrificesand perfom ritual functions including praying to Chukwu and to the ancestors.

In addition to family, lineage and clan head priests, there is a class of special priests made up of two categories. One class comes from the Osu, dedicated to service and must live near the shrine. The other class of priests is made up of men and women who become priests by "appointment" by ancestral spirits. Such people behave queerly and are noticed by existing priests who take them in and train them. Such people sometimes combine three functions: those of medicine, with knowledge of healing herbs, secondly, divinition, and thirdly, sacrificing priests.

In each villages a priest is known and recognized as the servant and voice of Chukwu. In all these ways, privately and publicly, priests exercise leadership functions amongst Igbo people. 
๐Ÿ†
"And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Exodus 19:6

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