ABSTRACT

An Exploratory Examination of Cultural Redefinition and Realignment in Igbo Society: A Comparative Analysis of Itu Mmanya na Ani and the Biblical Precedent in Genesis 35:14. This paper investigates the theological and ontological discrepancies between the Igbo practice of Itu Mmanya na Ani (the pouring of libations or the ritual use of kola nut to honour ancestors) and the biblical religio-cultural framework. By utilizing Genesis 35:14 as a comparative locus, the study posits that the divergence between these two contexts is rooted in a fundamental disconnect regarding creational knowledge and the subsequent formulation of cultural concepts. This paper argues that this conceptual gap can be bridged through a realignment with Biblical Recreation Accounts and Biblical Human Anthropology. Such a framework facilitates a transformative shift in the Igbo consciousness, providing the necessary epistemological tools to identify the historical and spiritual inflection points where indigenous concepts began to conflict with the character, nature, and moral laws of the Creator. Adopting a dual methodology that integrates theological inquiry with ethnographical analysis, this study advocates for a systematic re evaluation of traditional rites. The findings suggest that while the Igbo practice of Itu Mmanya na Ani may share a structural resemblance to the drink offerings recorded in antiquity, it has diverged significantly due to influences encountered during periods of transitional migration. Consequently, the paper concludes that a culturally constructive and "Creator-friendly" realignment necessitates discontinuing these traditional libations in favor of sound, biblically-based conceptualizations.