A GLANCE AT TRADITIONAL MODES OF COMMUNICATION THROUGH THE LENS OF LITURGICAL INCULTURATION: PERSPECTIVES FROM IGWEBUIKE AND SHIKROT TRADITIONS

Abstract

One of the challenges of pastoral and liturgical communication has been the failure to christen the rich traditional modes of communication for effect worship in an African way. Inspired by the search for genuine liturgical inculturation, the researcher embarked on a qualitative study entitled: “A Glance at Traditional Modes of Communication through the Lens of Liturgical Inculturation: Perspectives from Igwebuike and Shikrot Traditions” to investigate the matter in Igbo and Ngas cultures. It found that music, song and dance, death and funeral rites, baptism and churching, as well as elements of human communication, are traditional modes of communication that are resourceful for liturgical inculturation. With expert-theological insights, such as introducing peoples/cultures into the Church, and enriching the gospel with positive values and cultural diversity, the study recommended rethinking theological content, restoring group/participatory communication and employing signals, signs and symbols as other critical ways of ensuring excellent liturgical inculturation. It concluded that developing an ongoing-evangelization which baptizes the rich values of the cultures under review is crucial for smooth liturgical inculturation.