INFLUENCE OF MODERNITY ON THE ROLE OF ALA DEITY: EFFECTS ON IGBO OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Among the traditional Igbo society, Ala, the Earth goddess was highly revered and feared. She was believed to be the author of the Igbo moral code which held the entire society together and fought against crimes among the people. The Igbo never did anything without resorting to Ala for help and direction. Taboos (nso ala) and abominations (aru) were all offences against Ala deity. The traditional society lived in peace and in less fear of crimes because the Earth Goddess was ever ready to fight her way. In the contemporary society, the moral code of the people, the justice system, traditional leadership among others have been affected by modernity against what it ought to be under the influence of Ala deity. The advent of Christianity, education, cultural contacts, developmental projects among other things have adversely affected the position of Ala deity among the people. This research therefore brings to bare the position of Ala Deity in Igbo traditional society and how modernity has affected this once valued Deity. Though, presently, some young people are going back to Traditional Religion where Ala Deity is primed but even at that, modernity still has influences on the practice. Using secondary source of information, data were collected and analysed using functionalist theory. Ala Deity held much influence among the Igbo which modernity has much affected.