THE 5 TRADITIONAL PRAYER POINTS OF NDI-IGBO - WHAT MY FATHER TOLD ME

 Chijioke H. Orji, Esq.

Among Ndi Igbo (the Igbo speaking people) kola nut is revered and used for traditional ceremonies like  marriage, funerals and anything of paramount importance.

If you ever visit an Igbo, the first thing he does to welcome you is to offer you kola nut. If he fails to do so, then you are not welcome to his house. The kola nut is used to offer prayers. This prayer is offered only in the Igbo language and never in any other language, national or otherwise. The prayer is offered by the oldest person around who comes from the home of the person that presents the kola nut. As the prayer is said, at every stage, it is greeted with Amen in Igbo. Depending on which part of Igbo land, the word Amen is IHAA or ISE.  The word Ise also  generally means  5 in the Igbo language.  In a part of Igbo land, because ISE  means 5 as well as AMEN, during the prayer over kola nut, 5 things are demanded of God.

These 5 prayer points namely; Longlife, Prosperity, Good Health, Good Children/Successors, Love and Peace in the family are what I now describe as *the traditional prayer points of Ndi-Igbo.*

 Longlife :
God is requested to grant longevity to all. This is to enable them enough time to achieve their aspirations in life.

 Prosperity :
In the realization however that a person who lives long without the means to sustain good living will live miserably, a second request for the wherewithal to live well is made.

 Good Health :
It is held that a healthy life can make life worth living for anyone who lives long and has the resources to live well. So the third prayer point is for good health.

 Good Children/Successors :
According to the epistemological beliefs of Igbo people, when a man dies he continues to see what is going on but lacks the capacity to change it. Thus the Igbo believe that his home deserves to be taken good care of by good descendants. Hence the fourth prayer is for good Children who will successfully take over the management of home following the eternal departure of one.


 Love and peace:
The fifth prayer and by no means the least is for the reign of love and peace in the home without which life can be rough, uninteresting and unpleasant.