Chuma: Dibia

Made up of two words, Di (Adept/Master) and Abia (Knowledge/Wisdom). While Chukwu is referred to as Abiama – the knowledge and wisdom that reveals himself. The Dibia is an adept in knowledge and wisdom. All attempts to define the Dibia as a ‘traditional doctor’, psychologist, healer, medicine man and so on falls short of the profession's complete meaning. Defining Dibia this way is like describing a whole with only its part. The profession is a wholistic practice that encompasses the mastery in many other professions at the same time hence a practitioner is rightly defined as an ‘adept in knowledge’. Many attain expertise in different fields of endeavor simultaneously and there's no English equivalent of the word Dibia.

The Igbo society is largely divided into Dibia and Ofeke (Non-Dibia) irrespective of one’s profession and all experts require the care, support and consult of a Dibia to thrive effectively. The Dibia controls all aspects of the people’s socio-political existence, social, economic, cultural, religious and in consultation with Agwu (holy Spirit) and Chukwu, creates Alusi (Deities) for the effective functioning of society.

To be a Dibia, an individual earns Chi Dibia (Dibia’s Chi) from God.