A REVIEW OF IKECHUKWU ANTHONY KANU‟S “AMADIOHA AS A PREFIGURATION OF CHRIST IN IGBO TRADITIONAL RELIGION: IGWEBUIKE AND THE MISSIONARY MISSING LINK”

Résumé

The issue related to comparative religion is as old as the scientific study of religion itself. Religious beliefs and practices as well as personalities and configuration of deities have received continuous attention from scholars of various specific areas in the general field of religious studies. Prof Kanu‘s contribution to this on-going academic discourse is however unique in some sense. Firstly, it attempted at drawing similarities between two seeming opposing deities from two religions that have been competing for space and relevance among the Igbo from the 19th century. This comparison might appear awkward to an average Igbo Christian on the understanding that Christianity is a unique religion that should stand taller than any other religion, and as such, there should be no need for any comparative study of this nature. This, however, is fallacy of exclusivism in religious scholarship. Secondly, the early European missionaries who pioneered Christian missionary enterprise in Igboland left the impression of Igboland being the citadel of devil. Amadioha was dubbed an agent of the devil that should be defeated and stamped out for Christ to reign among the Igbo. Centuries later, Prof Kanu dared to argue that Amadioha could be an imperfect expression of Christ given to the Igbo in preparation for the revelation of Christ. This is a bold step.