A new church, named the Ogbanje Church of All Nations, has recently been established in Nnewi, Anambra State. The congregation held its inaugural worship service at the church, where they joyously sang and danced to songs praising popular river goddesses in Nnewi.
According to a video currently trending on social media, members of the church rejoiced and danced to the tunes of songs composed in praise of goddesses of some popular rivers in Nnewi. While addressing the congregation at the uncompleted building, the cleric, presiding over the service, advised the congregation to worship what they know, rather than what they don’t know.
The cleric, who spoke in Igbo and did not mention his name, emphasized the importance of connecting with their roots and urged people to compose songs that honor the rivers and goddesses they are familiar with, rather than blindly following distant beliefs.
He said, “People usually sing and dance to songs composed with names and places in the Bible without giving credence to our very own. “We are aware of rivers with special signs and powers and these rivers have been in existence since time immemorial, so we have to tap from these blessings”, the priest narrated.
Meanwhile mixed reactions have taken over residence that are beginning to query the existential nature of the church, hence many have alluded that it is partly right as Ogbanje is mythical in Igbo methodology.
