Dr. Echezona Obiagbaosogu, a former Catholic priest of 17 years, has announced his decision to leave the priesthood and fully embrace African traditional religion.
Obiagbaosogu, who now lectures on African Traditional Religion at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, said his fascination with African spirituality and rainmaking inspired his decision.
Speaking after defending his Ph.D. dissertation titled “Rainmaking and Control in Igbo African Medicine”, he highlighted the richness of Africa’s cultural and spiritual heritage, which he believes has been undermined by colonial influences.
“I have come to realize that my true calling is to serve my people through the ancient traditions of our ancestors,” Obiagbaosogu stated.
He revealed that his research involved studying under a renowned native doctor, gaining a deep understanding of the traditional craft. His academic inquiry aims to recover and document Africa’s lost values and spiritual practices.
The Journey to Traditional Religion
Obiagbaosogu attributed his curiosity about nature and spirituality to his upbringing. “I partly lived with my maternal grandfather, a traditionalist, while my father, though a Christian, valued traditional materials and medicine,” he said.
This dual exposure, combined with his work as a priest in the health sector, sparked his interest in the connection between health, nature, and spirituality.
His journey also included founding a school for African culture during his seminary days, where he witnessed a rainmaking demonstration that further deepened his interest in traditional practices.
Obiagbaosogu attributed his curiosity about nature and spirituality to his upbringing. “I partly lived with my maternal grandfather, a traditionalist, while my father, though a Christian, valued traditional materials and medicine,” he said. This dual exposure, combined with his work as a priest in the health sector, sparked his interest in the connection between health, nature, and spirituality.
His journey also included founding a school for African culture during his seminary days, where he witnessed a rainmaking demonstration that further deepened his interest in traditional practices.
Obiagbaosogu emphasized that his transition was not a rejection of God but a pursuit of a deeper and more authentic spiritual connection. He explained, “My research in rainmaking and control is rooted in finding the truth and understanding how native doctors preserve African values. I discovered that rainmaking is real and practiced by dibia (native doctors).”
He also discussed the interplay between magic, religion, and science, noting that modern science evolved from what was once considered magic. “The white man codified magical laws and called them science. Similarly, African magic—our native science—remains largely unexplored and misunderstood,” he said, advocating for its documentation and modernization.
Personal Convictions
Regarding his decision to leave the priesthood, Obiagbaosogu described it as a personal process of self-discovery and growth. While he declined to delve into the specifics, he said, “Life is a process. Things happen, and people begin to look left and right. Understanding oneself is crucial to making life decisions.”
Now married, Obiagbaosogu continues his mission to preserve African cultural heritage through research, education, and the promotion of traditional spiritual practices.