Functionalist Study of Ritual Poetry in Traditional Priestly Ordination in Elugwu Ezike Igbo Cultural Context

Abstract

The study is aimed at identifying and analyzing the rituals associated with the traditional priestly ordination in Elugwu Ezike Igbo cultural area in the past. The study investigates the rituals associated with the ordination of a traditional priest in Elugwu Ezike. This study is a functional-semiotic analysis of rituals and rites associated with traditional priestly ordination in Elugwu Ezike, in Igbo land, Enugu State, Nigeria. The main objectives of the study are to examine the context and functions, as well as signs and symbols involved in traditional priestly ordination in Elugwu Ezike Igbo. Data for the study were collected through oral interview and participant observation at the ordination arena in Elugwu Ezike, and documented materials on the traditional priestly ordination   rites and rituals. The paper utilises the functional and semiotic theory for the analysis of data. It is observed in this study that traditional priestly ordination rites and rituals are representation of cultural performances which mark a people’s life experience. These traditional priestly ordination   rite and ritual are an expression of the people’s thoughts, emotions, social organization and cultural identity.  The study is primarily approached through oral interview and unstructured questionnaire. A total of five informants were selected from the four main autonomous communities in Elugwu Ezike. Recording and tape recording are made first hand during the interview. The study is premised on functionalism theory. The data collected were transcribed and analysed qualitatively. The major findings of the study revealed that the major rituals associated with the traditional priestly ordination in Elugwu Ezike Igbo are: Ikpoyi ma, ‘ordination ritual’, iba ifu ma ‘washing the face of the new priest’, igwuyi ma ‘installing the deity for the new priest’, and ikpu ishi ma, ‘shaving the hairs of the new priest’. The study also revealed that westernization and Christianity have influenced traditional priestly ordination both positively and negatively as some of the traditional priests have converted to either Christianity or Islamic religion Moreover, some of the taboos associated with traditional priesthood office are no longer observed by the priests due to the influence Western culture.