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Dr. Echezona Obiagbaosogu, a Catholic priest, has converted to African traditional religion from Christianity.

His PhD study is on rainmaking in Igboland and he said the knowledge he obtained during his research prompted him change the trajectory of his spiritual journey.

The skill of rainmaking and ancient African spirituality captivated Obiagbaosogu, who teaches African ancient Religion at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, according to “The Punch.”

Following the defence of his PhD dissertation titled, “Rainmaking and Control in Igbo African Medicine,” on Wednesday, he claimed that colonial forces had destroyed Africa’s vast riches and worth.

He revealed that he studied the nuances of the trade for several months under a famous native physician, and that he carried out research with the goal of reclaiming the lost African values.

“Come to realise that my true calling is to serve my people through the ancient traditions of our ancestors. I was a Catholic priest for 17 years before resigning to embrace the traditional African religion. The topic of my research is ‘Rainmaking and control in Igbo African medicine: A case study of Isieke in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State’.“

“I partly lived with my maternal grandfather, who was a traditionalist, while my father was a Christian before he passed away. Though he was a Christian, he still believed in traditional materials. He was an agriculturist with trees around the compound and always brought in new ones, some of which he said were medicinal.“

“So, I learned from him to appreciate nature. My background is also significant. I was once a Catholic priest—Rev. Father. I began this research as a priest five years ago and then left the priesthood, so now I am married.“

“Everything about this research stems from my curiosity about nature and God. The research reflects my curiosity about spirituality and the nature of God. As a priest, I had the opportunity to work in health sectors, and I understand what health is all about.”

He explained further, “I conducted this research with the intention of recovering our lost African values. There was one of my father’s friends, and when I was in the seminary, I founded a school called the Society for African Culture.

“During that period, we invited my father’s friend to demonstrate that rainmaking was possible. He came and made it rain. This experience led me to investigate it in an academic way.

“My research in rainmaking and control is rooted in finding the truth and understanding how native doctors contribute to preserving African values. I discovered that it is indeed a reality and done by dibia (native doctors). I am not turning my back on God, but rather, I am embracing the divine in a more meaningful and authentic way.”

Additionally, Obiagbaosogu discussed his ideas regarding the connection between science, religion, and magic, saying, “Civilisation began with magic, moved to religion, and today we are talking about nanoscience and other fields.“

“The white man was able to explore these magical laws, codify them, and call them science. So, science is essentially what was once magic.“

“We can also access these magical laws, which we call African magic or religion. It is not the African magic of Nollywood. The African magic of Nollywood is one of the tools used to destroy our culture and values.“

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