A church named Ogbanje Church of All Nations has been opened in Anambra State at Nnewi North Local Government Area.
The church member had their first worship service at the church, where they sang and danced to a compilation of songs eulogising the names of some popular river goddesses in Nnewi.
This was corroborated by a video currently trending in social media, showing members of the church as they rejoiced and danced to the tune of songs composed in praise of goddesses of some popular rivers in Nnewi.
While addressing the congregation at the uncompleted building, the cleric, presiding over the service, advised the congregation to worship what they know, rather than what they donโt know.
The clergyman who spoke on anonymity in Igbo said people had used the names of Bethsaida, Jericho, Samaria, and some other biblical locations to compose songs without knowing the meaning of those locations.
Supported by echoes of joy and commendations from the congregation, the cleric began singing a praise song in reverence to the Ogbanje, while the church members cheerfully dance around in joy.
He said, โPeople usually sing and dance to songs composed with names and places in the Bible while they do not actually know who, what, or where they are and what they represent. It is high time we started going back to our culture and tradition.โPeople should start singing songs composed with names of rivers that are known to them and the goddesses of those rivers, rather than singing and dancing to the names of what they donโt know.โ
Together with the congregation, he mentioned some names of rivers and some river goddesses in the area including Oboฬ River, Mmiri Ele, Orasoฬ River, Mmiri Edo, Ofala River, Ota, and Ezu River, among others.
While proudly identifying as an Ogbanje, the cleric claimed that he and other people who were Ogbanje โusually shine, prosper and live fine from year to year because they worship the rivers and the goddesses of the rivers they know, rather than those unknown to themโ.
