Igbo Heritage TV

Halloween may be a secular affair today, dominated by candy, spooky costumes, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating  is a popular holiday, celebrated on the 31st of October every year, in many parts of the world. However, many people are unaware that the Halloween festival has deep pagan roots that go back thousands of years. In this blog post, we will attempt to look into the history of Halloween, exploring its ancient origins and examining the pagan customs that continue to influence the festival as we know it today.   The Celtic Festival of Samhain   To understand the pagan origins of Halloween, we must return to old Celtic rituals   Halloween, also known as "All Hallows' Eve," is thought to have originated from the Celtic holiday of Samhain. In Celtic Ireland about 2,000 years ago Samhain was a pagan religious festival that marked the Celtic New Year, the end of summer, and the conclusion of the harvest season. It also was the beginning of winter and the darker h...

The Talmud, a central text in Rabbinic Judaism, plays a pivotal role in Jewish religious law and theology. It's considered the cornerstone of Jewish cultural life and a guide for daily living. But what's intriguing is that the Talmud, written nearly five centuries after the time of Christ, holds critical and controversial perspectives on gentiles, non-Jews, heathens, and pagans.   To understand the Talmud's views, it's not enough to look solely at the Talmud itself. A more comprehensive perspective is gained from examining Jewish encyclopedias, which provide a summary of the many rabbinic statements on various subjects.   In the Talmud's discussions about Gentiles, the Jewish encyclopedia highlights a stark differentiation between Jews and Gentiles. According to the rabbis, only Israelites are considered full-fledged humans, while gentiles are often referred to as barbarians.   This perspective extends to legal rights. Gentiles, it was believed, did not have the sam...

Most Christians believe that the Judaism of the Old Testament is the same as the Judaism being practiced today. I beg to differ and will be showing you the difference in this blog post. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the Jews were faced with challenges to their faith which they never faced before when in the 6th Century BC,  King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah and led them (JEWS) to distant Babylon. Ever since the time of Solomon, Israeli religious practices; sacrifices, and rituals, centered around the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. While exiled in Babylon and far from the temple, the question now became how could one be a true Jew in a very foreign and hostile environment, far away from their Holy Temple. This  vacuum birthed a certain class of lay priests called scribes to interpret the law in this new Babylonian setting. Scribes were experts in the law of Moses;  and could draft legal documents  (contracts for marriage, divorce, loans, inheritance, m...

 A Resurgence of African Spirituality and Witchcraft in Nigeria The African continent, from time immemorial, has been depicted worldwide, as a culture with a long history of mysticism and witchcraft. However, with the advent of colonization and Christianity to the continent, many of their customs and traditions were dropped either through an outright ban of such practices by the colonizers or for fear of being stigmatized and tagged a devil-worshiping sinner by the changing society. Over time, more Africans abandoned their old religious beliefs and rituals, which were passed on by their ancestors for centuries in favor of Christianity, which they saw as a more respectable and civilized way of worship and life. There are about 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria, each with its own traditions and beliefs. The largest ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa-Fulani, the Yoruba, and the Igbo, who make up over 60% of the population. In recent years, African mysticism and witchcraft within the Ch...

Saint Obi was a famous Nigerian actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist who left his imprint on the Nigerian entertainment industry. He was born Obinna Nwafor on the 16th of November, 1965, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Saint Obi has always had a passion for performing arts, which led him to study and get a B.Sc. in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt. With the backing of his academic foundation, he set out on a mission to achieve his passion in the Nigerian movie industry; Nollywood. Saint Obi made his acting debut in the 1996 hit "Take Me to Maama". His extraordinary talent and natural on-screen presence drew the attention and admiration of both the public viewers and industry insiders. He rose to prominence for his ability to play a wide range of characters with depth and sensitivity, demonstrating his versatility as an actor. Saint Obi appeared in many critically acclaimed movies over his career, along with "Sakobi," "State of Emergency," ...

African Voodoo Masks Introduction:  Africa is a continent rich in cultural diversity and profound spirituality and has a complex tapestry of beliefs that predate Christianity's arrival. Ancient Africa's spiritual traditions were profoundly intertwined with its people's daily lives, providing guidance, solace, and a feeling of collective identity. We dig into the enthralling realm of African beliefs prior to the advent of Christianity in this comprehensive exploration, shedding light on the numerous and profound ways in which Africans interacted with the divine. We go on a trip to grasp the spiritual history that molded Africa's cultural and religious environment, from ancestral reverence to nature worship, spirits, and deities to divination and shamanism. Ancestral Veneration:  Ancestral veneration was a vital component of pre-Christian African beliefs. Ancestors were regarded as protectors and intermediaries between the living and the spiritual realms. Africans respect...

  Chidi Mokeme Chidi Mokeme is a Nigerian actor, reality show, and television host. He was born in Anambra State, Nigeria, on March 17, 1972. Chidi is well recognized for his appearances in iconic Nigerian films which include "The Wedding Party" and "76". He attended Salvation Army Primary School and then furthered his secondary school education at Federal Government College in Minna. His undergraduate degree was in Computer Science which he got from the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) in Enugu. He began his career in show business as a fashion model before transitioning into acting. Chidi made his acting debut in the Nigerian television series "Taints" in 1995. He later acted in other Nollywood films, such as "Glamour Girls", "Burden of Love", and "Burning Desire". He got his breakout role in 2001 when he starred in the lead role in the film "Private Sin." The film was a smash hit, earning him critical accl...

Genevieve Nnaji   Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director who has made important contributions to the Nigerian and African film industries. She was born in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria, on May 3, 1979. Nnaji developed an early interest in acting and began her career in the entertainment industry as a child actor in the popular television serial opera "Ripples" at the age of eight. In the 1990s, she appeared in several Nollywood films, including "Most Wanted" and "Mark of the Beast." In 2002, Nnaji appeared in the film "Sharon Stone," which was a watershed moment in her career. The film was a critical and economic success, and Nnaji's performance won her an Africa Movie Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Since then, Nnaji has appeared in over 100 films and has established herself as one of Nigeria's and Africa's most successful and influential actors. Her filmography includes "Ije,...

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Nnamdi Kanu is a well-known Nigerian activist and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist organization advocating for the secession of Nigeria's southeastern area, which is primarily populated by the Igbo ethnic group. On September 25, 1967, he was born in Isiama Afara, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. Kanu grew up in Nigeria but later relocated to the United Kingdom, where he earned a degree in economics from the University of London. While in the United Kingdom, he became active in activism and joined the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), a group that advocated for the establishment of an independent state for the Igbo people. Kanu founded Radio Biafra, an internet-based radio station that broadcast pro-Biafra messages and pushed for the Igbo people's secession from Nigeria, in 2009. The radio station was quickly shut down by the Nigerian government, and Kanu was arrested and charged with treason...

  African Traditional Priestess Regarding religion and cultural customs, there are frequently misconceptions and preconceptions that can create hurt and conflict. The link between idolatry and African tradition is one area prone to these misunderstandings. We hope to break down these preconceptions and provide a better grasp of the distinctions between the two in this blog article. For millennia, idol worship has been a source of contention and misunderstanding. Many people equate African traditional beliefs with idol worship; this is a common misconception. There is a big distinction between traditional African beliefs and idol worship. Traditional African beliefs are strongly established in many African communities' cultures, customs, and rituals. These beliefs are based on ancestral veneration, spiritualism, and the connection between the physical and spiritual realms rather than idol worship. Ancestral veneration is the practice of honoring and respecting one's ancestors. I...

African women and a Child, praying at an alter Introduction The Osu Caste System is a contentious traditional belief system that has existed for centuries among the Igbo Tribe of Nigeria. It is a social and stratification structure that separates individuals into two groups: Nwadiala (freeborn) and Osu (outcast). The freeborn is considered the higher caste and has benefits and opportunities that the Osu are denied; on the other hand, the Osu are considered outcasts, the property of a deity, and are susceptible to discrimination, stigmatization, and exclusion from mainstream society. In fact, the Osu Caste System can be said to be a social and traditional institution in Igbo culture and tradition that forbids the social engagement and marriage of a group of people known as Osu (outcasts) with other members of the society. This is because Osu has been dedicated to Alusi (gods) and is now the property of the gods, making them inferior to the Nwadiala (free-borns). The Osu Caste System...