17/06/2026
Many people have seen the viral video on Arụsị that has generated considerable attention and debate.
As a research centre, we disagree with several of the claims made in the interview because, based on the evidence available to us, they are historically unsubstantiated. We have found no support for these claims in Igbo oral traditions, nor in the writings of early missionaries, colonial administrators, or other observers, who often sought reasons to justify their opposition to traditional Igbo religion and institutions.
Some have asked why we shared the video in the first place.
The answer is simple. Our mission is to promote and preserve Igbo culture through research, documentation, and honest inquiry.
We do not advance our culture by suppressing ideas or avoiding difficult conversations, even when those ideas may be uncomfortable or controversial.
We shared the video to invite scrutiny and to determine whether anyone could provide verifiable evidence, credible sources, or historical records to support the claims.
So far, the responses we have received overwhelmingly indicate that the interview's assertions regarding Arụsị are inaccurate and lack historical foundation.
There are other statements made in the interview for which we have also found no historical evidence. However, the claims concerning Arụsị touch directly on the heart of Igbo spirituality, history, and cultural identity, making it necessary for us to address them.
Research must be guided by evidence, not emotion, speculation, or repetition.
We remain open to credible sources and documented evidence from any quarter. Until such evidence is presented, we maintain that the claims in question are historically unsupported.
In light of our findings and the feedback received, the video has been removed.
Thank you to everyone who contributed thoughtfully and respectfully to the discussion.
