MYTHS AND THE NKALAHA WORLD - Onyeji Nnaji
Various symbolic narratives - usually of unknown origin and at times partly traditional - that ostensibly relate actual events and that which is especially associated with religious belief are prominent in Nkalaha history. These symbolic narratives are however distinguished from some symbolic behaviour or practices typified by cult activities, ritual processes and symbolic places or objects, such as temples or icons. These might be represented by specific accounts of gods or the acts of some superhuman beings involved in extraordinary events or circumstances in a time that is unspecified but which is understood as existing apart from ordinary human experience. Prominent among these is seen in the life of Onojah who was challenged by a human-bird and he conquered it (Nnaji 2003). The concept mythology therefore, denotes both the study of myth and the body of myths belonging to a particular religious tradition. As was the case with all religious belief, there are several ways and ob