The Value of Space (EBE) in Igbo Eco-Spirituality | [Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences • 2024]

Author(s):

1. Ikechukwu Anthony KANU: Pontifical Faculty of Philosophy, Veritas University Abuja,Bwari,

Abstract:

This paper focused on the value of space in Igbo eco-spirituality. The concept “Igbo eco-spirituality” was developed in 2021 by the researcher as an indigenous and traditional form of responding to the devastating realities of climate change, mass extinction, biodiversity loss, and the disruption of ecosystems among the Igbo-African people. It calls for a rethinking of the foundational beliefs regarding the preservation of the environment, and the need to create a welcoming space for indigenous voices so as to open the opportunity to benefit from a genuine exchange among cultures. The present research marked out three important spaces in Igbo ontology, which include land (ala), water bodies (mmiri) and sky (enu igwe) that shape discourses in Igbo eco-spirituality. This research introduces a discourse on the spiritual dimension of nature, which is a shift from the dominant paradigm, that is largely legalistic, consumerist, materialistic and profit oriented. The theoretical framework employed in this work is the Igwebuike framework, which is an indigenous holistic approach to the conservation of the environment that understands reality as complementary, interconnected and interrelated. Ultimately, this paper discovered the ecological value of land-space, water-space and sky-space in Igbo ecological discourses, which are relevant for conversations on the human struggle with climate change in the 5th year of the 2020s decade.

Page(s): 1653-1666

DOI: 10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.1.00115

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, Volume: 22, Issue: 1, Year: 2024

Keywords:

Space Place Igbo African Ecology Spirituality Indigenous Ecological crisis

References:

[1] Abduftai .2014 .Review of gully erosion in Nigeria: Causes, impacts and possible solutions. , : .

[2] Achebe C. .1958 .. Things Fall Apart. London: Heinemann, : .

[3] Afigbo A. E. .1992 .Ground work of Igbo history. , : .

[4] Amodu S. A. .2021 .Land in African ontology. , : .

[5] Baker A. .2022 ."Simplicity". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, : .

[6] African Eze E. C.,Anthology Philosophy: An .1998 .. , : .

[7] Ilogu E.,Christianity Ibo,Culture Ibo .1974 .. , : .

[8] Iroegbu P. .1994 .Metaphysics: The kpim of philosophy. Owerri: IUP, : .

[9] Jell-Bahlsen S. .2014 .Mammy water in Igbo culture: Ogbuide of Oguta Lake. Enugu: Eze Books, : .

[10] Kanu I. A.,African I. A. .2021 .An Igwebuike Indigenous Response to Modern Ecological Crisis”. TOLLE LEGE: An Augustinian Journal of Philosophy and Theology. 4. 1, : 1-51.

[11] Kanu I. A. .2020 .Igwebuike as a conceptualization of Igbo-African worldview”. Catholic Voyage: African Journal of Consecrated Life. 17. 2, : 35-50.

[12] Kanu I. A. .2023 .Igwebuike as an Indigenous Ontological Logic for Synodality”. Jos Studies, 30 : 43-54.

[13] Kanu I. A. .2020 .Igwebuike as the Moving Spirit of Pope Francis' Compassionate Leadership”. Jos Studies, 28 : 13-26.

[14] Kanu I. A. .2023 .Igwebuike metaphysics: A complementary perspective”. IGWEBUIKE: An African Journal of Arts and Humanities. 9. 2, : 1-21.

[15] Kanu I. A. .2020 .Igwebuike theology of Omenani and the missionary bifurcation of horizons”. OGIRISI: A New Journal of African Studies. 16. 1, : 127-144.

[16] Kanu I. A. .2020 .Igwebuike Theology of Udi: God's unchanging revelation and man's changing culture”. Catholic Voyage: African Journal of Consecrated Life. 17. 2, : 12-24.

[17] Kanu I. A. .2023 .Pope John Paul II's Legacy of Decolonization: Towards an Igwebuike Transformative Pedagogy”. Pope John Paul II Journal of Philosophy. 2 . 1, : 68-95.

[18] Kanu I. A. .2014 .Suicide in Igbo-African Ontology”. Developing Countries Studies. 4, : 27-38.

[19] Kanu I. A. .2023 .The ecological value of Igbo spirituality”. Harvard Divinity Bulletin. 51. 1 & 2, : 47-54.

[20] Kanu I. A. .2015 .A hermeneutic approach to African Traditional Religion, philosophy and theology. Nigeria: Augustinian Publications, : .

[21] Kanu I. A.,African I. A.,Kanu I. A. .2021 .Association for the Promotion of African Studies. African Eco-Philosophy: Cosmology, Consciousness and the Environment, 1 : 18.

[22] Kanu I. A.,African I. A.,Kanu I. A. .2021 .Association for the Promotion of African Studies. , : 1-22.

[23] Kanu I. A.,African I. A.,Kanu I. A. .2021 .Association for the Promotion of African Studies. African Eco-Theology: Meaning, Forms and Expressions, 1 : 20.

[24] Kanu I. A. .2015 .African philosophy: An ontologico-existential approach to classical and contemporary issues. Nigeria: Augustinian Publications, : .

[25] Kanu I. A.,Kanu I. A. .2021 .Association for the Promotion of African Studies. African Eco-Theology: Meaning, Forms and Expressions, 109 : 122.

[26] Kanu I. A.,Kanu I. A. .2021 .Association for the Promotion of African Studies. , : 181-192.

[27] Kanu I. A.,Kanu I. A. .2021 .Association for the Promotion of African Studies. , : 31.

[28] Kanu I. A. .2018 .Igbo gods and goddesses”. Nnadiebube Journal of Philosophy. 2. 2, : 1-29.

[29] Kanu I. A.,Kanu I. A. .2021 .Association for the Promotion of African Studies. African Ecological Spirituality: Perspectives on Anthroposophy and Environmentalism. A Hybrid of Approaches, 71 : 86.

[30] Kanu I. A.,Kanu I. A. .2021 .Association for the Promotion of African Studies. , : .

[31] Kanu I. A.,Kanu I. A. .2021 .Association for the Promotion of African Studies. In I. A, : 1-18.

[32] Kanu I. A.,Kanu I. A. .2021 .Association for the Promotion of African Studies. , : 73-96.

[33] Kanu I. A. .2013 .The Dimensions of African Cosmology”. Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religion. 2. 2, : 533-555.

[34] Kanu I. A.,Kanu I. A .2012 .Issues in African traditional religion and philosophy. Nigeria: Augustinian Publications, : .

[35] Maurier H. .1985 .Philosophie del'Afrique noire. Saint Augustine: Anthropos Institute, : .

[36] Njoku E. E. .1990 .The Igbos of Nigeria: Ancient rites, changes and survival. , : .

[37] Nwachukwu C. .2017 .Repositioning Tourism Industry for Socio-economic Development in the Contemporary Era: The Case of African Shrines and Sacred Places”. Journal of African Traditional Religion and Philosophy. 1. 2, : 20-30.

[38] Odigbo I. M. .2012 .Aspects of Igbo Cultures and Traditions from the Perspective of Umulumgbe Town. Enugu: Dulacs Co. Ltd, : .

[39] Odogwu E. .2013 .As erosion brings Anambra to her knees. , : .

[40] Ogbonna R. .2009 .Communities at the brink of extinction. , : .

[41] Ogbukagu I. N. T. .2008 .Traditional Igbo Beliefs and Practices: A Study on the Culture and People of AdaziNnukwu. , : .

[42] Ogochukwu F. .2010 .The Nigerian Civil War and its Media - Groping for Clues”. Media, War and Conflict. 3. 2, : 182-201.

[43] Onuh C. .1991 .Christianity and the Igbo rites of passage: The prospects of inculturation. Frankfurt: Peter Lang, : .

[44] Onwu E. N. .2002 .ỤzỌ ndỤ na eziokwu: Towards an Understanding of Igbo Traditional Religious Life and Philosophy. , : .

[45] Orji M. O. .1999 .History and culture of the Igbo people. , : .

[46] Orobator A. E. .2016 .An immense pile of filth: Human ecology and communitarian salvation. Duffy Lecture, : .

[47] Peterson D. .2022 .. , : .

[48] Torretti R. .1998 .. In Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 10 : .

[49] Uwineze M. .2021 .African spirituality and its contribution to ecological crisis. La Civilta Cattolica. www.laciviltacattolica.com, : .

[50] Wallace M.,,Ruether R. R. .2000 .The wounded spirit as the basis for hope in an age of radical ecology. Christianity and ecology, 50 : 72.

Citations

Downloads

Views