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, shared the news after defending 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 was influenced by his deep fascination with the spiritual practices of his ancestors, particularly rainmaking.
He emphasized that Africa holds vast resources and values, many of which were suppressed during colonial times. After spending several months learning from a renowned native doctor, Obiagbaosogu’s research aims to revive these lost traditions.
Reflecting on his journey, he stated, “I have come to realize 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.”
His interest in African spirituality dates back to his childhood, where he lived with his traditionalist maternal grandfather and Christian father, who still maintained beliefs in traditional practices. These influences shaped his appreciation for nature and spirituality, which he later explored academically.
Obiagbaosogu explained that his research was born from his curiosity about spirituality and the nature of God. “As a priest, I worked in health sectors, and I understand what health is all about,” he added.
He recounted an experience from his seminary days when he founded the Society for African Culture, inviting his father’s friend to demonstrate rainmaking. “He came and made it rain. This experience led me to investigate it academically,” he shared.
His work seeks to recover African values and affirm practices like rainmaking, which he believes are real and performed by dibia (native doctors). “I am not turning my back on God, but embracing the divine in a more meaningful and authentic way,” he stated.
Obiagbaosogu also explored the relationship between magic, religion, and science. He noted, “Civilization began with magic, moved to religion, and today we talk about nanoscience. The white man was able to explore these magical laws, codify them, and call them science. So, science is essentially what was once magic.”
He further criticized the portrayal of African magic in popular media, particularly Nollywood, for distorting its true nature. “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, Obiagbaosogu explained, “Life is a process. Things happen, and people begin to look left and right. The important thing is for a person to understand 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.
