Odeshi And the Ontology of Self-Preservation in Igbo Epistemology

Self-preservation has remained a fundamental concern of human existence across cultures and philosophical traditions, yet its ontological interpretation varies significantly across worldviews. Within Igbo epistemology, this concern is metaphysically articulated through Odeshi, an indigenous protective system grounded in a force-based understanding of reality. The problem addressed by this research is the persistent dismissal of Odeshi as superstition or fetishism due to the imposition of Western scientific and ontological categories that inadequately capture its metaphysical logic. Adopting a philosophical and analytical method rooted in African and Igbo metaphysics, the study examines Odeshi within the Igbo conception of being-as-force, the hierarchy of beings, nommo, and communal epistemology. Through critical analysis of Igbo cosmology and indigenous experiential validation, the study finds that Odeshi functions as a coherent ontology of self-preservation rather than an irrational belief system. It demonstrates that Odeshi operates as ontological resistance to destructive forces by reordering force relations rather than suspending natural laws. The findings further reveal that moral discipline, ritual speech, and communal authorization are central to its efficacy, underscoring the inseparability of ontology