In an unusual turn of events, Dr Echezona Obiagbaosogu, a Catholic priest with 17 years of service, has renounced his faith to embrace African traditional religion.
Obiagbaosogu, who teaches African Traditional Religion at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, has long been captivated by traditional African spirituality and the art of rainmaking.
After defending his PhD dissertation titled “Rainmaking and Control in Igbo African Medicine” on Wednesday, he expressed his belief that Africa holds vast resources and values that have been undermined by colonial powers.
According to a report by ThePunch, he revealed that he spent several months apprenticing with a renowned native doctor to learn the nuances of the craft, stating that his research aims to reclaim lost African values.
He remarked, “I have come to realise that my true calling is to serve my people through the ancient traditions of our ancestors. I was a Catholic priest for 17 years before resigning to embrace traditional African religion. My research topic is ‘Rainmaking and Control in Igbo African Medicine: A Case Study of Isieke in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State.’
“I partly lived with my maternal grandfather, who was a traditionalist, while my father was a Christian until his passing. Despite being a Christian, my father believed in traditional practices. He was an agriculturist, nurturing various trees around our home, some of which he claimed had medicinal properties.
“Thus, I learned to appreciate nature. My background is significant—once a Catholic priest, I began this research while I was still in the priesthood five years ago, and since then, I have left the priesthood and am now married.
“Everything about this research stems from my curiosity about nature and the divine. My work reflects a deep inquiry into spirituality and the essence of God. As a priest, I had opportunities to work in health sectors, which deepened my understanding of health.”
He elaborated, “My research aims to recover our lost African values. I had a friend of my father’s demonstrate rainmaking while I was in seminary, which sparked my academic investigation into the phenomenon.
“My study of rainmaking is rooted in the pursuit of truth and understanding how native doctors contribute to the preservation of African values. I discovered that rainmaking is indeed a reality, executed by dibia (native doctors). I am not turning away from God; rather, I am seeking a more meaningful and authentic relationship with the divine.”
Obiagbaosogu also offered insights on the interplay between magic, religion, and science, stating, “Civilisation began with magic, transitioned to religion, and now we find ourselves discussing nanoscience and other fields.
“The white man was able to explore these magical laws, codifying them and rebranding them as science. Therefore, science is fundamentally what was once considered magic.
“We too can access these magical laws, termed African magic or religion. This is not the fabricated African magic of Nollywood, which has often been used to undermine our culture and values.
“Authentic African magic represents African science—an area that remains largely unexplored. We must start to modify, codify, and document it for future generations.”
When asked about his decision to leave the priesthood, Obiagbaosogu stated, “Life is a process; circumstances arise that lead people to reassess their paths.
“It is crucial for a person to understand themselves. When you have self-awareness and remain open to realities, you will begin to make informed decisions for your life.”
He declined to elaborate on the specifics of his resignation, noting it was a matter of personal conviction.
It’s awesome and worthy of doing bcs life is at balance in Nigeria economically, hence the japa, syndrome currently ravaging our relatively proficient hands!.