CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE CONTRASTIVE STUDY OF DIVINATION IN IGBO TRADITIONAL BELIEF AND PROPHECY AMONG PENTECOSTALS IN IGBO LAND

Abstract

The topic of this research is the Contrastive Study of Divination in Igbo Traditional Belief and Prophecy among Pentecostals in Igbo Land. It was observed that prophets in Pentecostal churches had taken the position of diviners because of changes and developments in modern Igbo people. Divination and prophecy have been better organized by the rapid changes in patterns of thoughts, issues and developments in society. The purpose of the study is to highlight the extent to which divination and prophecy were practised in Pentecostal churches and the traditional Igbo belief system. The significance of the study is that it would serve as reference literature to any historian, anthropologist, sociologist, student and teacher of Igbo culture. Many research questions were formulated to guide this study and posed to 50 people through oral interviews. The researcher used the survey research method in carrying out the research. The percentage was used to interpret the data collected during the fieldwork. The research was conducted using both old and young individuals. Old people were interviewed to identify the state and position of divination in the past and young people were interviewed to highlight changes and problems of prophecy in the present day. The findings of the study revealed that divination and prophecy were found in every Igbo culture, but practised in various ways in different parts of Igbo States. Finally, it was recommended that traditional diviners and Pentecostal prophets should introduce a policy guide and principle to avoid unprofessional activities indulged by traditional diviners and Pentecostal prophets.

Keywords: Divination, Prophecy, Pentecostal, Traditional Belief, Diviner, Prophet.