Odinani, also known as Odinala, Omenala, Odinana, and Omenana (Igbo: á»dá»naná»/á»Ìdá»ÌnĂ lĂ [ÉÌdÉȘÌnĂ lĂ ]), is the traditional cultural belief and practice of the Igbo people of South East and South South Nigeria. These terms, as used here in the Igbo language, are synonymous with the traditional Igbo "religious system" which was not considered separate from the social norms of ancient or traditional Igbo societies. Theocratic in nature, spirituality played a huge role in their everyday lives. Although it has largely been syncretised with Catholicism, the indigenous belief system remains in strong effect among the rural, village and diaspora populations of the Igbo. Odinani can be found in Haitian Voodoo, Obeah, Santeria and even CandomblĂ©. Odinani is a pantheistic and polytheistic faith, having a strong central deity at its head. All things spring from this deity. Although a pantheon of other gods and spirits, these being Ala, Amadiá»ha, AnyanwỄ, Ekwensu, Ikenga, exists in the belief system, as it does in many other Traditional African religions, the lesser deities prevalent in Odinani serve as helpers or elements of Chukwu, the central deity.
Lesser spirits known as ĂĄgbĂ rĂ or ĂĄrĂșsĂ operate below the other gods and higher spirits. These lesser spirits represent natural forces; agbara as a divine force manifests as separate arỄsá» in the Igbo pantheon. A concept of 'the eye of sun or God' (Anyanwu, Igbo: ĂĄnyĂĄ ĂĄnwỄÌ) exists as a masculine and feminine solar deity which forms a part of the solar veneration among the Nri-Igbo in northern Igboland. ArỄsá» are mediated by Dibia and other priests who do not contact the high god directly. Through ĂĄfĂ , 'divination', the laws and demands of the arỄsá» are communicated to the living. ArỄsá» are venerated in community shrines around roadsides and forests while smaller shrines are located in the household for ancestor veneration. Deceased ancestors live in the spirit world where they can be contacted. Below the arỄsá» are minor and more general spirits known as mmĂșá» loosely defined by their perceived malevolent or benign natures. These minor spirits are not venerated and are sometimes considered the lost souls of the dead. Ancestor worship and the worship of various gods and spirits, form the main component of the traditional Igbo religion, standing in contrast with Abrahamic religions.