The Igbo Tradition Is On A Crossroad With Christianity

Igbo culture is particular about cross-roads. It is believed that cross-roads are harbinger of both good and bad. At cross-roads, both malevolent and benevolent forces intersect. This is why sacrifices are carried out at this very important intersection.

Cross-roads are either T-junction, ezi gbalu ato or the full cross, ezi gbalu ano. Ezi gbalu ano which wholly symbolises the cross is the most potent and powerful. In ezi gbalu ato, one of the roads empties into another. But in ezi gbalu ano, two roads battle it out, and thereafter, successfully cut across each other.

This is what makes cross-roads powerful. It is a battle point. Battles are either won or lost. And in some cases, battles are resolved through truce. Each party going there way realising both have capacity.

The essence of sacrifice at cross-roads is to channel the power to either inflict injury or seek for truce(biri kam biri).

Chinua Achebe in one of his essays stated that he was born at a cultural cross-road. He was born when the new Christian religion like a wildfire was taking over Igbo land. The traditional religion which was previously the dominant religion was fighting a losing battle to maintain its grip. He witnessed the painful receding of Igbo traditional religion, as it faced the onslaught of the well oiled organised Christian religion.

Today, it appears we are witnessing the resurgence of the receded religion. What Chinua Achebe witnessed happened at ezi gbalu ato. What our generation will experience is, a full cross-road. Ezi gbalu ano.

The Cross which represents ezi gbalu ano is a symbol of pain and sacrifice. There is no victory without battle. Ajofia in one of his songs put it succinctly, ‘Since no child is born without travail, the sacrificial lamb must carry a heavy cross’.

Every true Onye Odinani of this generation must realise they are carrying a heavy cross. This is seen in the amount of opposition, dearth of knowledge, social discomfort they are facing while on this pilgrim walk.

This cultural reawakening we are witnessing is not a fluke. It is an appointment with destiny. It is a meeting of two cultures at the cross-road of our human evolution. Strap your booths oh children of Agwu-anyanwu, because cross-roads offer only two choices at its intersection.

Written by Nze Tobe Osigwe(Ezeikolomuo)