INVESTIGATING MMANWU OZA-EBILI FOR SOCIAL CONTROL IN THE TRADITIONAL SOCIETY OF ULI TOWN

The belief in Mmanwu is one of the peculiar culture heritage of the Igbo people in the ancient and contemporary time. As far as Uli community is concerned, Mmanwu Oza-ebili is believed to be an ancestral spirit who periodically visits their living in Mmanwu form. Their visits are regarded as a spiritual intervention to the world of the living and as a result are highly venerated and respected. The work discusses the Mmanwu Oza-ebili as a machnism for social control and adjustment in the traditional society of Uli in Ihiala LGA. Recently, there are a lot of misinterpretations and misconceptions of Mmanwu Oza-ebili in Uli town by some Christian fanatics. They tagged Mmanwu Oza-ebili with derogatory notions; fetism, devilish and outdated. And holding the conception that Mmanwu is no more relevant in this digital age. The work X-ray the original concept of Mmanwu; it's original roles, significances, and symbolisms in Igboland especially Mmanwu Oza-ebili in Uli town. Findings indicate that Mmanwu Oza-ebili has been seen as an irrelevant culture in this contemporary times and as such should be abolished. The study also found that, despite the dubious conception of Mmanwu Oza-ebili by some Christian fanatics, the Uli people still have strong belief in the reality of Mmanwu Oza-ebili as most effective mechanism for social control and adjustment in the traditional society of Uli town. The work employed both primary and secondary means of data collection. The data collected were analysed using the culture area approach. The study will be of a great benefit to Igbo people especially the Uli people, because it will make them know more about the Mmanwu Oza-ebili and have concrete argument to convince the Christians fanatics and others who are pushing for the abolition of Mmanwu to be aware of the symbolisms of Mmanwu in Uli town and Igbo land generally. The work recommends how to ensure dialogue between traditionalist and Christians in the basic belief systems other than the idea of misunderstanding and destroying each other's religious basic tenets. The people should debunk the idea being circulated by Christian fanactics that Mmanwu Oza-ebili is superstitious, primitive, devilish and outdated belief by some people and see Mmanwu Oza-ebili as a unique culture of the Uli people that served as an agent of social control and adjustment in this digital age.

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