Nigerian filmmaker and practitioner of Igbo traditional spirituality, Tobe Osigwe, has claimed that Odinala the indigenous Igbo religion is superior to Christianity and other organised faiths.
Speaking during an interview on 90MinutesAfrica with Rudolf Okonkwo, the Theatre Arts graduate described Christianity as “a secondary school,” while comparing Odinala to “a university.”
Osigwe, who is also a practising dibia, argued that any Igbo person who seeks deeper spiritual knowledge after practising Christianity would eventually find themselves in traditional religion.
“Anyone who has gone through Christianity and still wants to advance spiritually will discover that the next step is traditional religion. Igbo traditional religion is higher than Christianity and other organised faiths,” he asserted.
He added that many Igbo people remain in Christianity out of fear.
“They are afraid of hellfire. But some of us know that hell doesn’t exist, it’s a myth created to sustain Christianity and keep people from questioning it,” he said.
While urging the Igbo to reconnect with Odinala, Osigwe stressed that such a return must not ignore the importance of education. According to him, meaningful technological progress can only follow when education and tradition go hand in hand.
“The ways of our ancestors are about ethics and values, but science is another matter entirely. Tradition cannot replace science,” he said. “Igbo elites should pursue education that drives technological growth and then integrate the moral systems of Odinala. The Chinese learned technology from the West but kept their own values. I don’t want to go back to an analogue lifestyle, but to use our traditional ethics to protect and guide modern society.”
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