The Belief in Reincarnation Among the Igbo of Nigeria1

Bibliographic Data

ID2310786
AuthorsI Stevenson
Year1985
Volume20
Issue1-2
Pages13-30
Publication date1985-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Asian and African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9096 • E-ISSN: 1745-2538
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/002190968502000102
OpenAlexW4250230320
LanguageEN
Citations received14

The modern Igbo of Nigeria, even when adhering to the Christian religion, have preserved many features of Igbo traditional religion. The belief in reincarnation seems to be particularly strong. The Igbo believe that reincarnation usually occurs within the same immediate or extended family. They try to identify the reincarnated ancestor by means of birthmarks, statements a child makes when it becomes able to speak, and behavioral resemblances between the child and the deceased person of whom it is the presumed reincarnation. Oracles are frequently consulted to make or confirm an identification. The Igbo believe that deceased persons inhabit a discarnate realm, but they conceive this as an undesirable limbo from which discarnate souls are eager to return to a new terrestrial life. The Igbo concept of reincarnation includes belief in a group of souls called ogbanje who are born, die in early life, and are reborn in the same family, often repeatedly

Epistemology · Igbo · Linguistics · Political science · Realm · Reincarnation · Sociology · Religion and Sociopolitical Dynamics in Nigeria · Law · Philosophy

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