Abstract:
This paper attempts to explore how successful Achebe is in portraying the African
religion concepts and practices in selected novels by Achebe. Sudanese Nuba's traditional
religion in the Nuba Mountains is taken as a reference to support the view that these
novels really depict Igbo’s religion concepts and rituals. The study traces Igbo religion
concepts, and practices including funeral rites in Things Fall Apart, Arrow of God and
No Longer at Ease, and then compares them with those of the Nuba’s. The research
employs the descriptive analytical method, and in it is shown that there are considerable
similarities between the two communities in religious beliefs, and funeral ceremonies.
These similarities definitely support Achebe and other African writers in their argument
with their European counterparts, who contend that the Africans have no culture of their
own. Igbo and Nuba believe that there is one creator, the almighty, who created the
universe. But they claim that there are other lesser gods and goddess and spirits, who help
the almighty god. However, they think that their dead ancestors protect their living
descendants, punish, or bless them as the god the almighty's mediators. They also believe
in life after, thus their funeral ceremonies are highly ritualized; including drumming,
animal sacrifices, and dancing. The study reveals that Africa has a great and rich religious
system, which had organized people's way of life spiritually, socially, and politically. The
study is believed to benefit students of literature, linguistics, history, to instigate religious
debates and comparative researches on the topic
