The Socio–Religious Impacts of Agbalanze in Onitsha, South East Nigeria

Abstract

Agbalanze cultural society of Onitsha is an association reserved for indigenous Ọzọ titled men. With its immemorial existence, men of Onitsha who love their tradition aspire for membership regardless of its cost implications. Primarily, men of Onitsha join this society to have  a sense of belonging and benefit from gains accruing from being a member. Though a lot have been written about Ozo in Igbo land, not much has been written about Agbalanze Onitsha. The researchers therefore seek to unravel the social and religious impacts of Agbalanze in Onitsha. The research methodology employed in this paper is qualitative. The data was sourced through the primary and secondary sources. The researchers were able to establish that Agbalanze plays critical social and religious roles in Onitsha society.