JOURNALS

ABSTRACT

Almost all cosmologies entertain thoughts on the concept of reincarnation. One can surmise without fear of equivocation that reincarnation is a global phenomenon. Although the concept appears to be more pronounced and elaborate in the orient, the West is not devoid of theories on reincarnation. In light of the near-ubiquitous presence of the cosmogony, it is not surprising that the Igbo have a fascinating perception of the concept. The dualistic modal operation of the concept appears to be its unique character in Igbo cosmology. Reincarnation has up- and downsides: ilo uwa and Ogbanje respectively. The paper focused on ilo uwa solely – the positive attribution in reincarnation. The research attempted to explain the phenomenon; endeavoured to proffer a survey of the perception in various cultures east and west and examined the Igbo cultural understanding in pristine communities. The contributions of modern scientific knowledge were appropriated as empirical factors in the study. Finally, a concluding analytical and evaluative discourse was developed to permit more insight into what reincarnation ought to be from both rational and scientific perspectives. The research looks forward to a knowledge-based modification of views that would offer a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of reincarnation in Igbo cosmology.