TRADITIONAL BELIEF SYSTEM AND ESOTERIC SCIENCE OF OGWU: AN IGBO EXPERIENCE

Abstract

The law of transmutation of energy is based on the premise that everything is energy. Man's thoughts, emotions and actions are all forms of energy that can be transformed to create the reality we desire.  By understanding this law one can learn how to harness the power of energy transmutation and use it to succeed in every aspect of life. Energy in the universe consists of all the knowledge that ever existed and that will ever exist. As energies, man has the power to manipulate the natural phenomenon to suite the ego. This means that man can change the energies in life by understanding the universal laws and applying the principles that will produce effect. The Igbo adepts (Dibia) are esoteric scientists as they manipulate the nature for a desired effect. Some of them are adepts in rain making, some are into ogwu, and some divination. The adepts in etheric energies can employ the power to change any condition in life. According to the study, the esoteric aspect of ogwu is evaluated here. Several esoteric artistes existed, the sorcerer, the clairvoyance, diviner, enchanter, medium, seer, soothsayer, shaman and a lot more. These Igbo esoteric adepts are experts in manipulating nature, conjuring and invoking forces into an object that is believed to have magical powers to either protect, harm, avert evil, danger or disease. The Igbo refer to this esoteric science as ogwu (charm, spell, talisman) which often involves sleight of hand. For data analysis, the study used a phenomenological research approach and descriptive approach. Personal interviews were carried out as part of the sources of data collection; library and unpublished materials were the secondary sources. Ogwu, no matter how you view it is something beyond man's comprehension and it is the adepts that know the format and technicalities involved therein.