AKU - An African Journal of Contemporary Research (AAJCR) (Vol. 1 No. 1, 2020)
IKENGA IN AFRICAN BELIEF SYSTEM AND ECO-SPIRITUALITY
ABSTRACT
Ikenga is a sculpture in African-Igbo society that symbolises man’s prowess and achievements. Though not a god, it is seen as a man’s personal chi, often his personal destiny and is believed to have a role to play in the actualizing of a man’s dream. Ikenga has a great significance to the ancient African-Igbo and is considered sacred and peculiar to individuals. Eco-spirituality is a term which considers and covers the sacredness of the ecosystem and the strive towards its sustainability. It has been a long imprinted culture (though with a different term) in the African-Igbo society. Using the method of critical analysis the researcher found out that Ikenga in an African cultural belief system has a lot of significance in the appreciation of sustainable values of eco-spirituality. This significant importance is, therefore, suggested for functional resuscitation of many of the African-Igbo value systems as society thrives to preserve the ecosystem.
