A Theological and Biblical Appraisal of Ozotitle Taking and its Implications for Current Leadership Issues in Igbo Catholic Church (Nigeria)

Abstract

Igbo society is one of the densely inhabited ethnic groups in Nigeria, an ethnic group with enviable cultures, traditions, and religions. The Igbo people are deeply religious by nature. They have a sense of deep respect for the sacred. The early Missionaries, Colonialists, and neighbouring ethnic groups have misconceptions of the Igbo people. The Colonialists have referred to the Igbo nation as Kingless race –Igbo Enwe Eze. Prior to the Vatican Council II, the Church had a negative attitude towards Igbo Traditional Religions. Unfortunately, this negative impression had resulted in an intensive controversy over the reconciliation of the Igbo Traditional Religion with the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. In this dissertation scholarship,the researcher tried to explore the analysis of Ozo title taking and its implications for current leadership issues in Igbo Catholic Church. The purpose of this research study is threefold. First, to investigate if the Igbo nation has kings/leaders (Igbo Nwere Eze). Second, to demonstrate that Ozo titled holders had legislative, executive and judicial powers in Igbo communities. Finally, to establish that the Ozo title taking in Igbo communities could be in culturated into the Igbo Catholic Church.In this study, small populations of Igbo communities were chosen. A small population of study permitted the researcher to do in-depth study (Miles and Huber man 1994). The target population of this study is clergy, Ndi Nze na Ozo titled holders and non-titled men. This research used both comparative and polemical methodologies. As an empirical study, the researcher found Richard Osmer‘s model in practical theology as a useful methodology. The data for this study therefore was garnered through in-depth interviews. The result of this study indicated that the Igbo nation has leaders/kings –Igbo Nwere Eze. Igbo communities have conventional rules that were made and implemented by the Ozo titled holders. The Igbo communities operated on indigenous democracy, a democracy where every Igbo man has a voice. The study showed that Igbo republicanism goes with the consensus philosophy of Umunna Kwenu. This study demonstrated that the Ozo titled men are willing to listen to, and abide by the rules of Igbo Church leadership. The study proposed some pragmatic guidelines that would serve as the benchmark in Ozo title taking across Igbo communities. These guidelines were made to safe guard the Igbo Church from syncretism.