Dr. Echezona Obiagbaosogu, a former Catholic priest who served for 17 years, has formally announced his resignation from the priesthood to fully embrace African traditional religion.
Obiagbaosogu, who lectures in African Traditional Religion at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, revealed his decision shortly after defending his PhD dissertation titled “Rainmaking and Control in Igbo African Medicine.” He said his transition from Catholicism to indigenous spirituality was inspired by years of fascination with ancestral practices, especially the traditional art of rainmaking.
A Return to Ancestral Wisdom
Speaking about his spiritual journey, Obiagbaosogu explained that Africa holds deep cultural and spiritual resources that were weakened during colonialism. His research and personal studies, he said, were motivated by a desire to recover these values.
He noted that he spent several months training under a respected native doctor as part of his academic work. This experience, he said, strengthened his conviction that traditional African spirituality still carries relevance and power.
“I have come to realise that my true calling is to serve my people through the ancient traditions of our ancestors,” he said. “I was a Catholic priest for 17 years before resigning to embrace the traditional African religion.”
Early Exposure to Traditional Practices
Obiagbaosogu shared that his interest in African spirituality began in childhood. He grew up partly under the care of his maternal grandfather, a traditionalist, while his late father was a Christian who still believed in certain indigenous practices. This blend of influences shaped his lifelong curiosity about nature, spirituality, and the divine.
Research Rooted in Personal Experience
Describing the origins of his PhD research, he recalled an experience from his seminary days. He once founded a cultural society that invited a family friend to demonstrate rainmaking, and the ritual resulted in actual rainfall. That moment, he said, inspired him to study the phenomenon academically.
His findings reaffirmed traditional beliefs long dismissed by modern society. “I discovered that rainmaking is indeed a reality and is 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 said.
Magic, Science, and Misrepresentation
Obiagbaosogu argued that African mystical practices have long been misunderstood. According to him, what many label as “magic” is simply undeveloped science.
“Civilisation began with magic, moved to religion, and now we talk about nanoscience and other fields. The white man explored those magical laws, codified them, and called them science,” he said. “African magic is actually African science, which remains unexplored. We must start documenting it for future generations.”
He added that popular media, especially Nollywood, has distorted the true essence of African spirituality, often portraying it negatively.
A Personal Decision
When asked about the details surrounding his departure from the Catholic Church, Obiagbaosogu declined to discuss specifics, calling it a deeply personal decision.
“Life is a process. People evolve, reflect, and begin to understand themselves better,” he said. “Once you know yourself and remain open to reality, you begin to make the decisions that shape your life.”