A newly established church known as the Ogbanje Church of All Nations has emerged in Nnewi, located within the Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
During their inaugural worship service, congregants came together at the church premises, engaging in joyful singing and dancing to a medley of songs that paid tribute to renowned river goddesses in the Nnewi region.
This occurrence has been substantiated by a viral video circulating on social media platforms, showcasing church members in exuberant celebration, moving to the rhythms of songs composed to honor the goddesses of well-known rivers in Nnewi.
In his address to the assembly within the unfinished structure, the spiritual leader who presided over the service encouraged the attendees to venerate familiar entities rather than unfamiliar ones. Speaking in the Igbo language, he remarked that people frequently sing songs based on the names of biblical places without truly understanding their significance.
Amidst a backdrop of jubilant echoes and appreciative responses from the congregation, the unnamed cleric proceeded to lead the attendees in a song of praise dedicated to the Ogbanje, eliciting cheerful dancing and elation.
He conveyed, “Often, people sing and dance to songs filled with the names of places and concepts from the Bible while remaining oblivious to their true essence and meaning. It is high time we reconnected with our culture and traditions.”
The cleric emphasized the importance of composing songs that incorporate the names of rivers and the associated goddesses that hold significance within the local community, advocating for a shift away from unfamiliar entities.
He, along with the congregation, enumerated names of several local rivers and their corresponding river goddesses, including Obò River, Mmiri Ele, Orasò River, Mmiri Edo, Ofala River, Ota, and Ezu River, among others.
Asserting his identity as an Ogbanje, the cleric asserted that individuals like him who identify as Ogbanje tend to flourish and lead prosperous lives, attributing this success to their veneration of familiar rivers and their associated deities, as opposed to those that are unfamiliar to them.
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