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Odinani ((イボ語:ọ̀dị̀nànị̀)) comprises the traditional religious practices and cultural beliefs of the Igbo people.〔Afulezy, Uju ("On Odinani, the Igbo Religion" ), ''Niger Delta Congress'', Nigeria, April 03, 2010〕 Odinani has monotheistic and panentheistic attributes, having a single God as the source of all things. Although a pantheon of spirits exists, these are lesser spirits prevalent in Odinani expressly serving as elements of Chineke (or Chukwu), the supreme being or high god.〔M. O. Ené ("The fundamentals of Odinani" ), ''KWENU: Our Culture, Our Future'', April 03, 2010.〕 Chineke is a compound word encompassing the concept of ''chí'' the divine masculine force and (''nà'') ''ékè'' the creative and divisive feminine force. The concept of ''Chúkwú'' ('supreme chi') was largely propagated by the Aro-Igbo of Arochukwu in eastern Igboland who wielded much spiritual force over the eastern Niger Delta in the 18th century due to their operating of the Ibini Ukpabi oracle. Lesser spirits known as ''ágbàrà'' or ''álúsí'' operate below the high god Chineke and are parts of him divided by gender in his mind. These spirits represent natural forces; agbara as a divine force manifests as separate alusi in the Igbo pantheon. A concept of 'the eye of sun or god' (''ányá ánwụ́'') exists as a feminine solar deity which forms a part of the solar veneration among the Nri-Igbo in northern Igboland. Alusi are mediated by ''dibia'' and other priests who do not contact the high god directly. Through ''áfà'', 'divination', the laws and demands of the alusi are communicated to the living. Alusi are venerated in community shrines around roadsides and forests while smaller shrines are located in the household for ancestral veneration. Deceased ancestors live in the spirit world where they can be contacted. Below the alusi are minor and more general spirits known as ''mmúọ'' loosely defined by their perceived malevolent or benign natures. These minor spirits are not venerated and are sometimes considered the lost souls of the dead. The number of people practicing Igbo religion had decreased drastically in the 20th century with the influx of Christian missionaries under the auspices of the British colonial government of Nigeria. In some cases Igbo traditional religion syncretised with Christianity, but in many cases indigenous rites were demonised by Christian missionaries who pointed out the practice of human sacrifice and some other cultural practices that were illegal under the colonial government. Earlier missionaries referred to many indigenous religious practices as ''juju''. Igbo religion is most present today in harvest ceremonies such as new yam festival (''ị́wá jí'') and masquerading traditions such as mmanwu and Ekpe. Remnants of Igbo religious rites spread among African descendants in the Caribbean and North America in era of the Atlantic slave trade. Igbo ''ọ́bị̀à'' was transferred to the former British Caribbean and Guyana as obeah and aspects of Igbo masquerading traditions can be found among the festivals of the Garifuna people and jonkonnu of the British Caribbean and North Carolina. == Etymology == ''Odinani'' in northern Igbo dialects is the compound of the words ''ọ̀ dị̀'' ('located') + ''n'' (''nà'', 'within') + ''ànị̀'' (land or Ala earth goddess).〔 Other dialectal variants include ''odinala'', ''odinana'', ''omenala'', ''omenana'', and ''omenani''.〔 The word odinani and all its variations is also associated with the culture and customary laws of the Igbo people. Many of the laws and culture were counterparts with religion such as taboos and laws concerning sacred spaces like a deities sacred forest. Since customary law is recognised in Nigeria, many in Igbo society find themselves syncretising these beliefs with other beliefs and religions. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Odinani」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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