AMADIOHA AS A PREFIGURATION OF CHRIST IN IGBO TRADITIONAL RELIGION: TOWARDS THE MANAGEMENT OF RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

Abstract

This paper is a comparative study of Amadioha known as the son of Chineke, and sometimes referred to as the husband of Ala in Igbo traditional religion, with the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity of the Christian religion. The comparative method of investigation is, therefore, employed to investigate the possibility of relationships between Amadioha in Igbo Religion and Jesus Christ. It strongly asserts that certain similarities exist between Amadioha worshipped among the Igbo before the advent of Christianity, and Jesus Christ of the Christian religion. While it does not in any way attempt at equating Amadioha with Jesus Christ, this paper believes that Amadioha, rather being thrown to the background as a pagan deity can be understood as an imperfect expression of Christ given to the Igbo in preparation for the revelation of Christ. Christ would have been more comprehensible to the Igbo if the missionaries to move from the understanding of Amadioha to the understanding of Jesus Christ, rather than presenting the gospel message as an entirely new message to the Igbo. Catechesis always make more impact if it begins from what the people know to what they do not know.