Religion is considered to be a very important aspect of the Ibo culture. The Ibo people routinely sacrifice animals in order to satisfy their many gods and goddesses in which they believe in. The Ibo people talk to the gods through oracles, which are mouthpieces of gods.
The Ibo religion has a huge impact on the Ibo government. All trials are officiated by "spirits" and the spirits refer to humans as bodies. Also, who is allowed in their villages relates to who is accepted in society within the religion. For example, in the Ibo religion twins are considered to be outcasts, and therefore aren't allowed in the Ibo villages.
There are also many aspects of the Ibo religion that relates to evil. These evil aspects influence the Ibo peoples actions. For example, the Ibo people don't go out at night because they believe that animals become sinister during the evening hours. They think that the spirits will invade their souls if it's dark out. In addition, if a woman keeps giving birth and her baby keeps dying, then the baby is an evil spirit. If this happens, then the Ibo people have to perform a ritual in which they destroy the baby and leave it in the evil forest.
Once colonization started, there were many aspects of the Ibo religion that were challenged. For example, there was a conflict between gods v God. The Ibo people believe that there is a main god named Chukwu, however there are also many messengers of Chukwu. The Christians believe in one God. Christianity challenged the bonds of the kinsmen in the Ibo villages. Many Ibo people were interested in Christianity and because of this other traditional Ibo people shamed them.
Oracle
Igbo society respects the orders of the Oracle, which demands that Ikemefuna should be killed
belief in the gods dictates how characters behave. Obierika warns Okonkwo that the earth goddess will seek revenge for his part in Ikemefuna’s murder. Later, when the village men destroy Okonkwo’s compound in order to cleanse the earth of his sins, they do this as they feel it is essential to please the earth goddess and to protect their own lives. This violent act is essential according to traditional beliefs and customs
the religion of the Igbo people is central to their society. The people obey the commands of the Oracle and they call on the spirits as their judges. The arrival of the Europeans and the representatives of the Christian church change the nature of Umuofia beyond recognition.
Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and Caves, is based on the real Oracle at Awka, who controlled Igbo societies for centuries
• Okonkwo represents the traditional Igbo view of the world and its beliefs. When Nwoye converts to Christianity, it can be seen as a threat that Western culture presents to the traditional Nigerian way of life