Our gods are as powerful as the God of Abraham: analysing the impetus-agitat on the rise of ézéńwànyì in Ǹsúkkà-Ìgbò, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates the resurgence of ézèńwànyì (defined broadly as traditional female healer/diviner/priestess) in the patriarchal Ìgbò society of Nigeria. We employ ethnographic methods of observation and interview to study two communities in Ǹsúkká-Ìgbò, Southeastern Nigeria. The study finds that there has been a continuing increase in the number of ézèńwànyì, those who make use of their services and a general expansion of the practices of ézèńwànyì in the area. One of the reasons for this new trajectory, we discovered, is people’s inability to find solutions to life-threatening issues in other religions and the framing and conscious placing of subjective value on some elements in African Religion which include the practice of ézèńwànyì. The rebirth of this tradition shows how difficult it is to abandon a cultural form engraved in the minds of a homogenous group of people irrespective of the sweeping influence of foreign cultures and religions. Our findings contrast the popular opinion that there has been a decline and abandonment of many practices that are common to African Religion. We conclude that here is a new wave of tenacious belief and trust in the efficacy of the ‘healing powers’ of ézèńwànyì.