INCULTURATION OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR AND THE SELECTED IGBO TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS

Abstract

This paper underscores that liturgical year is partly anchored on the Scripture and conventions established along with history and tradition. In the spirit of the liturgical inculturation, symbols, postures, gestures, and rites may need to be adjusted in accord with the seasons of the year in the local Church. This is in consonance with liturgical norms, whereby local Churches could institute veritable feasts derived from their traditional and other established practices. Accordingly, this paper attempts to bring four selected Igbo festivals, of New Yam Festival, Iwa Akwa Festival, Ofala and Masquerade Festivals, into the liturgical year and composes euchological prayers (such as collect, prayer over the offerings, and post communion prayer) for these celebrations. Though the compositions are primarily intended for academic study, pastoral experimentation, critique, and eventual adoption as forms of public prayer of the Church, worshippers are to embrace them as catalyst towards holistic understanding of the liturgical year.