By George Adimike
The corruption of the good can be very disastrous. The prevalence of Yahoo dibias and ezenwanyis in our society is at an alarming stage, contributing to a serious security threat. The office of dibia, which served as a sacramental functionary of the African traditional religion―through which our ancestors sought and worshipped God, albeit in shades and shadows―is being aggressively compromised and corrupted.
In the fullness of time, through the tireless and dedicated efforts of the early missionaries, our people were rescued from their groping in the darkness to glowing in the dark. This transformation gradually dispelled the darkness that once surrounded them. In consequence, the dibias, the priestly religious functionaries of African Traditional Religions who once ministered to the ‘gods’ and the community using their unique gifts, have lost their value, relevance, and meaning in the eyes of those who have encountered this newfound light.
Their sacred offices and functions served as typologies of the priesthood of the new and eternal covenant. They sought the Holy One in types and shadows through various ‘gods’. Most of these men and women dedicated themselves to serving and ministering, while also exploring the fields of human and supernatural gifts for the well-being of the people and the glory of God. Although their paths were mistaken, insufficient, or inadequate, this did not make their searching experience corrupted or depraved, but rather deprived.
While they lacked the complete truth, fullness of love, splendour of light, and perfect grace, this deprivation did not render their activities worthless, meaningless, or valueless. It was merely the beginning of their journey in search of truth, God. The tenets of their traditional religion acted as a preparatio evangelica, activating the logos spermatikos so that all people would be drawn to the doxological project related to God. Though inadequate, African Traditional Religions (ATR) served the religious and spiritual needs of our people prior to their embrace of the light of Christ through missions.
Despite their religiously flawed tenets and imperfect expressions, the sincerity of those functionaries made them analogous to the Old Testament’s portrayal of a people in search of their God. They refused to turn traditional religion into idolatry, avoiding the trap of becoming idols themselves or making other objects into idols. Although many engaged in evil practices and fell into idolatry, the overall perception of their service suggests otherwise. They offered an imperfect understanding while anticipating the true, the real and the Holy One, even if they were unaware of it.
The experiences of the modern-day dibias differ significantly from those of their predecessors. Today’s dibias (traditional religion’s priests) are often those who have issues with the light and embrace darkness. In contrast, the dibias of the past were dedicated to their ministry, aspiring and hoping for a better tomorrow―Christ. They yearned for him, and longed for his light, yet made the best of what they had.
On the other hand, modern dibias abandoned the noble values in African setting in favour of a stark contrast. They prioritise their own desires and ambitions as the focus of their work, ultimately making themselves idols and becoming worshippers of themselves. They are not traditional religionists. Unlike traditional religionists, they do not adhere to the same values and practices. Instead, they promote its most bizarre counterfeit in idolatry.
The mindless desperation for wealth, means and influence has aided and abetted the emergence of these Yahoo dibias, who carry out their nefarious trade under the shadows of African Traditional Religions. Unbeknownst to many weak, tired, disgusted or fallen Christians who patronise them, there is nothing traditional or religious about them. Instead, there is everything about the insatiable greed and murderous craze for wealth, unhealed incestuous ill will, and lustful craving for power oozing from wounded and unhealed human nature, which expresses itself through these ritual practices.
They corrupt tradition and religion, and as such, they are neither traditional nor religious. In their heartless evil practices, the activities of these men and women promote the wealth-without-work syndrome with the ‘okite’, ‘awale’, ‘uduakomiri’ rituals, kidnappings, ritual killings, organ harvesting, and other forms of malfeasances, especially blood rituals.
Nothing destroys a society like evil thriving unchallenged. The overwhelming presence of these corrupt individuals in digital and physical spaces influences many youths, ensnaring them in a web of deceit. Those who strive for genuine success find themselves ridiculed by the lifestyles of these conmen. Consequently, numerous young people abandon their commitment to hard work, adopting a mindset that questions the value of effort with the phrase: “Who does hard work help?” This pursuit of wealth without the accompanying toil corrupts individuals and fundamentally undermines the foundations of a just society.
This attitude presents a significant security challenge, as it fosters an environment conducive to various forms of violent crime.
To counteract this threat, society must unite its resources and efforts to address the root of the problem and shift the mentality that allows such behaviours to flourish. It is essential to instil values that promote integrity, diligence, and a genuine sense of the common good to reclaim a brighter future for the younger generation.
Evil thrives if not checked. The allure of power, fame, influence, and wealth drives these Yahoo dibias and ezenwanyis to erode the noble values that form the foundation of society. Meanwhile, passive observation not only tolerates this erosion but also allows it to become the dominant culture.
It is commendable that the Anambra State Government and the Kingdom of Asaba have taken steps to address these issues. However, a collective and robust rejection of these negative influences is essential for restoring sanity to our land. If we do not take action, the emergence of these men and women of dangerous practices will pose a significant security challenge in Igboland.
Fr George Adimike wrote via: findfadachigozie@gmail.com