Dr. Echezona Obiagbaosogu, a former Catholic priest for 17 years, has announced his resignation from the priesthood to embrace African traditional religion.
Obiagbaosogu, who currently teaches African Traditional Religion at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, made the revelation following the defense of his PhD dissertation titled “Rainmaking and Control in Igbo African Medicine” on Wednesday. He explained that his decision to transition from Catholicism to traditional African spirituality stemmed from his deep fascination with the spiritual practices of his ancestors, particularly the art of rainmaking.
He emphasized that Africa possesses vast resources and values that were diminished during the colonial era. After spending months studying under a renowned native doctor, Obiagbaosogu noted that his research aimed to recover these lost African traditions.
Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “I have come to realise that my true calling is to serve my people through the ancient traditions of our ancestors. I was a Catholic priest for 17 years before resigning to embrace the traditional African religion.”
Obiagbaosogu’s interest in African spirituality began in his childhood, partly while living with his maternal grandfather, a traditionalist, and his Christian father, who still believed in traditional practices. He credited these influences with sparking his deep appreciation for nature and spirituality, which he later explored academically.
Describing his research, he stated, “The research reflects my curiosity about spirituality and the nature of God. As a priest, I had the opportunity to work in health sectors, and I understand what health is all about.”
He recounted a significant experience from his time in the seminary when he founded the Society for African Culture. “We invited my father’s friend to demonstrate rainmaking. He came and made it rain. This experience led me to investigate it in an academic way.”
Obiagbaosogu stressed that his work aims to recover African values and affirm the reality of practices like rainmaking. “I discovered that it is indeed a reality and done by dibia (native doctors). I am not turning my back on God, but rather, I am embracing the divine in a more meaningful and authentic way.”
He also discussed the intersection of magic, religion, and science, stating, “Civilisation began with magic, moved to religion, and today we are talking about nanoscience and other fields. The white man was able to explore these magical laws, codify them, and call them science. So, science is essentially what was once magic.”
Obiagbaosogu criticized the portrayal of African magic in popular media, particularly Nollywood, which he believes has distorted its true essence. “African magic is actually African science, which remains unexplored. We must begin to modify, codify, and document it for posterity.”
When asked about his decision to leave the priesthood, he explained, “Life is a process. Things happen, and people begin to look left and right. One important thing is for the person to know themselves. If you understand yourself and remain open to reality, you will begin to make decisions for your life.” He declined to provide further details about his resignation, calling it a matter of personal conviction.
