Curiousity Memoirs

By Jude Obuseh  “ Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” Chinua Achebe To the modern Igbo person, Ekwensu is the Igbo word for the Devil. He isn't just a lookalike of Satan, but Satan himself, merely called by a local name. Much like how a cup is referred to as "iko," Ekwensu is seen as the epitome of evil, the antithesis of Chukwu, the supreme God. He represents every imaginable form of wickedness, from the trivial to the downright hideous.  Interestingly, this view is a recent development that has gained popularity in modern interpretations. Originally, Ekwensu was not the chief of evil, the daring rival to Chukwu destined to roast in hell with the humans he possessed on earth.  According to the book "The Ekwensu Semantics and the Igbo Christian Theolinguistics" by P-J Ezeh, the original Igbo usage of Ekwensu did not connote evil. Ekwensu was a god, one among the many worshipped in Igbol...

  By Jude Obuseh Contrary to common misconceptions, the roots of Christianity can be traced back to before the era of colonialism. It's a narrative of faith, perseverance, and cultural exchange that deserves recognition and understanding. Let's embark on a journey to uncover the rich tapestry of Christianity's beginnings on the African continent. Around the year AD 341, a pivotal encounter took place between an Ethiopian Eunuch and one of Christ's apostles, Philip. This transformative meeting marked the inception of Christianity in Africa. The Ethiopian Eunuch, deeply moved by Philip's teachings, embraced the faith and carried its message back to his homeland. Upon returning to Ethiopia, the Eunuch shared the Gospel with King Ezana, whose heart was likewise touched by the words of Christ. King Ezana's conversion heralded a new era for Ethiopia, as he proclaimed the nation as a bastion of Christianity. This historic declaration, made centuries before ...

By Jude Obuseh  In the annals of history, one name stands out as a stark reminder of humanity's darkest chapters: Ota Benga. Born in the Congo, Benga's life took a tragic turn in 1904 when he was forcibly taken from his homeland and transported to the United States. Instead of being treated as a human being, he became a spectacle, a mere curiosity to be gawked at and ridiculed. Upon arrival in the U.S., Benga was thrust into the degrading confines of a zoo, where he was exhibited alongside monkeys in a grotesque mockery of Darwin's theories of evolution. Placed in a cage with an orangutan, he was subjected to the taunts and jeers of onlookers who saw him as nothing more than an exotic oddity. Despite the indignity of his situation, Benga displayed remarkable resilience. Armed with a bow and arrow, he attempted to defend himself from both the physical dangers posed by the orangutan and the emotional onslaught of the mocking crowds. However, his efforts were often...

By Jude Obuseh In Igbo cosmology, Ekwensu is a significant figure, often misinterpreted through the lens of modern religious teachings. 🌌 Ekwensu, designated as the god of bargains, stands as one of the sons of the creator in Igbo mythology, known as Chi-Ukwu, Chukwu, or Chineke. However, contrary to popular belief, Ekwensu is not synonymous with the devil as portrayed in contemporary Christianity. The European incursion into Africa brought with it the imposition of foreign religious ideologies onto indigenous beliefs. 🌍 Upon encountering Igbo cosmology, which lacked the concept of a devil, European missionaries sought to fill this perceived theological void. Aware of the resilience of the Igbo people and their resistance to colonization, they strategically equated Ekwensu with the Christian devil to instill fear and facilitate conversion. Traditionally, Ekwensu held a distinct role in Igbo society. 🛡️ The ancient Igbo invoked his spirit in times of war or when engaging ...