REINCARNATION

THE concept of reincarnation is an age long tradition that had existed in Igbo land from their forefathers. It has been a strong belief, a way of life more or less, particularly in the olden days.

Even two poems (Abiku translates Ogbanje in Igbo) written by two prominent Nigerian writers, Professors Wole Soyinka and JP Clark, give much credence to the concept of reincarnation.

However, with the advent of Christianity and its growing influence, coupled with growing civilization, the belief seems to be waning, but has not died completely as many still believe that it is real.

The traditional ruler of Ogbor ancient kingdom in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo state, Eze Matthew Oweni, believes the reincarnation is real. He said that he believes completely in the concept of reincarnation.

Eze Oweni said that his belief in reincarnation was reinforced when his second wife, gave birth to his child who he said was a reincarnated of his biological mother. The baby, he explained has on her body, all the birth marks her late mother had on her body.

"Why I believe that reincarnation is real; I will like to use myself as an example. My biological mother, when she was alive she had some birth marks on her body. When my second wife gave birth, I went to the hospital to see my child, when I got to that hospital I went straight to the bed where the child was lying down and I saw the marks the same way with as my late mother. Immediately, I saw that marks, I said to my new child, Mama are you back­? My new baby smiled at me.

The smile and marks brought a whole picture of my own late mother. It was a moment full of joy to behold as my mother returned back to me. Let me add that, the story of reincarnation is real in Igbo land and our people should believe it. It happens. We see it one way or the other", the monarch said.

Another monarch, this time from Enugu State, the traditional ruler of Ogrute autonomous community, Igbo-Eze North council, Enugu State, Igwe Wilfred Ekere said that reincarnation is real. According to him, "our great grandfathers knew and believed in reincarnation before the white men came".

According to Igwe Ekere, Igbo believe in reincarnation till tomorrow as their knowledge of life beyond the present one on earth is well understood to be a transmigration of human souls. Like the views of the Imo monarch, Eze Matthew Oweni, Igwe Ekere believes that body birth marks of persons who had transited appearing on the body of a new born baby is an evidence to prove that reincarnation is real.Reincarnation is real. Religion cannot change the belief. Ever before the white men came with the Christian religion, our great grandfathers knew about reincarnation, which they called in local language, "Ilo uwa", which translate returning to the world anew. They knew and also believed in life beyond, it is at the same "Ala-muo" , they believe their dead relations to be residing after physical death and from there would reincarnate probably to those that were their kit and kin.

The actual process by which man reincarnates varies. Some believe that man reincarnates with his former body and all its characteristics such as physical height, strength and complexion; while many are convinced that at death our bodies lies there food for worms; only the deathless spirit of God in the man would reincarnate.Other factor that makes the Igbo belief in reincarnation is the reappearance of bodily marks of transited persons on the body of new born babies. Some people will cut finger or ear of dead persons suspected to be Ogbanje before burying them so that when he/she comes back they will know. When such person reincarnates he/she will not have that finger or ear. It is same with people unfortunately killed by fire accident; the scars of burns appear on the body of some such cases upon reincarnation.

Reincarnation is a natural concept which tells about people coming back to the world probably after death. Many people believe in it, while many people do not believe in it.

"In Igbo tradition, reincarnation is a natural believe through which they know when their dead ones have returned to the world, although some faiths don't believe in it. But for me, I am a strong believer in reincarnation.

"Reincarnation usually occurs when somebody dies as a result of what we sometimes refer to as untimely death and the person comes back to the immediate family or to any member of the family. Sometimes somebody will reincarnate as a result of love for the family he or she reincarnated into.

"For someone to show you that he or she reincarnated, he or she will have a unique marks, resemblance, illness or character of the person that reincarnated. For example my late grandfather who had an accident that affected his left leg which made the leg to bend outward, when reincarnated through my younger brother, apart from resembling our grandfather, he is the only person among the numerous first grand children that has that unique bend on his left leg.

The Igbo believe in reincarnation; It is part of Igbo cultural and traditional existence and cosmology. Sometimes, people are born to resemble one of their grand fathers or great grand fathers. The resemblance can be in any part of the body; facial marks, body size, behaviours, colour, attitude. The Igbo believe in reincarnation, it is a legendary belief in Igbo land. In Igbo land, it is believed that one doesn't die and go like that. Death isn't the end of life.

"For instance, a person may die and because he didn't complete his journey, he can reincarnate through another person, especially one of his grand children. The new person reincarnated will continue the process .This is especially in a case where the person dies with un-fulfillment death through accident or another manner. This is why it is believed that the living has a link with his ancestors".