Former 17-year Catholic priest Dr. Echezona Obiagbaosogu has announced his decision to leave the priesthood in order to practise African traditional religion.
After defending his doctoral dissertation, “Rainmaking and Control in Igbo African Medicine,” on Wednesday, Obiagbaosogu—who teaches African Traditional Religion at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka—made the disclosure.
He claimed that his fascination with his ancestors’ spiritual practices—especially the technique of rainmaking—led him to convert from Catholicism to traditional African spirituality.
Africa has enormous riches and values, he said, many of which were lost during the colonial era.
Obiagbaosogu stated that his research sought to restore these lost African customs after spending many months learning under a well-known native physician.
“I have realised that my true calling is to serve my people through the ancient traditions of our ancestors,” he remarked, reflecting on his own journey. Before leaving to follow the traditional African religion, I served as a Catholic priest for seventeen years.
Obiagbaosogu first became interested in African mysticism when he was a young boy. My father was a Christian before he died, and I shared a home with my maternal grandfather, who was a traditionalist.
He revealed that even though he was a Christian, he continued to believe in conventional materials.
He claims that the merging of these influences sparked his profound passion of spirituality and nature, which he subsequently studied academically.
Obiagbaosogu explained that his research was inspired by his interest in spirituality, nature, and the character of God.
“My interest in spirituality and the attributes of God is reflected in the research. I had the chance to work in the medical field as a priest, so I know what health is all about.
He also talked about a personal incident that greatly influenced his work. When I was in seminary, I started a school called the Society for African Culture, and we invited a friend of my father’s to show how to make rain. He made it rain when he arrived. This event prompted me to do an academic investigation.
He said, I learnt that it is a reality and that dibia, or indigenous doctors, practice it. I am embracing the supernatural in a more genuine and profound way rather than moving away from God.
He also discussed his opinions on the relationship between science, religion, and magic. “Civilisation started with magic and progressed to religion before discussing nanoscience and other topics nowadays.
These supernatural rules might be investigated, formulated, and referred to as science by the white man. Therefore, science is basically what used to be magic.
He said, the way African magic is portrayed in mainstream culture, especially Nollywood, has warped its actual meaning. “In reality, African magic is untapped African science. For the benefit of future generations, we must start to alter, codify, and record it.
“Life is a process,” Obiagbaosogu said in response to a question concerning his choice to resign from the priesthood. People start to look left and right as things happen. Knowing oneself is one of the most crucial things.
You will start making life decisions if you have a clear understanding of who you are and maintain an open mind to reality. He described his resignation as a matter of personal conviction, but he would not elaborate on the details.