Olumba Olumba Obu (1918-2003?)[1][2] is a Nigerian religious leader who is believed by followers to have been God in human form.[3][1][4][5] He was the founder of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, an organization which has been described as a new religion.[6]
Olumba Olumba | |
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 Olumba Olumba In Cross River state. |
During his lifetime, some adherents believed he had almost supernatural powers.[7] Others suspected him of practicing occultism.[8] Members of his spiritual organization claim Olumba Olumba was not entirely human, but part human and part spirit.[9][page needed][2]
Early life and biography
editOlumba was born in 1918 [10] in Biakpan,[5] a small village in Cross River state which is the South South region of Nigeria inhabited predominantly by the minority tribes of Nigeria. Olumba had no formal education.[10]
Biography
editOlumba Olumba Obu was the founder of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS). It was formed in 1956 in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Nigeria,[7] and registered in March 1964 as a "religious organisation under the Land (perpetual succession) Act cap 98 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria."[11] Over the next fifty years, it gained recognition by assisting disadvantaged children and adults. A school was built and job training was provided to followers. Membership in the church grew and in 1980, it had approximately 600,000 followers, and over 1 million, worldwide, by the 1990s. Olumba Olumba Obu's followers referred to him as "OOO", and painted the letters on their homes and cars.[7]
The organization has been described as a new religion,[6] a "prime example of the kind of syncretist religion that sprang up in Africa during the colonial period."[7]
In 2000, Olumba was said to have transferred leadership of the BCS organization to his eldest son, also named Olumba Olumba Obu, but known as Rowland.[7] BCS was reported to have been dismantled in 2003.[5]
In 2020 a church spokesperson, Christ Shepherd Edet Archibong, stated that although the elder Olumba Olumba Obu was no longer seen in public, he was alive and well, having turned over administration of the "Kingdom" to his son, "King of Kings and Lord of Lords, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu" who would celebrate the 20th anniversary of his coronation on 9 August 2020. Archibong said that although BCS was not a church/religion or family enterprise, business assets of the organization include "[a] printing press, royal farms, rubber plantation, palm plantation, bakery and table Water."[12]
Theology
editOlumba Olumba was familiar with Judeo‐Christian religion, and his followers considered him to be "God in human form … He is Jesus Christ back on earth". Olumba Olumba's view was that Jesus Christ failed to obtain true enlightenment, due to his sins, despite eight reincarnations. He stated that Christ's final reincarnation is "under the name of Olumba Olumba Obu." Olumba Olumba claimed to receive revelations, which coupled with his personal Biblical interpretation, resulted in his own "system of doctrines", which were considered doctrinally unorthodox, and viewed by some as un‐Christian.[5]
Death disputed
editThe members of his spiritual organization claim he is immortal alive and well,[12] whereas a former follower states that he died in 2003.[13]
Family
editOlumba Olumba Obu, referred to as “Sole Spiritual Head of the Universe,” had five children. The eldest children, Olumba Olumba Obu (Rowland) and Helen Ibum Udoh (née Olumba) were based in Nigeria. Three younger children, Ajah Obu, Fred Obu and Orlando Obu entered the US to pursue an education, and later set up residency, careers and family.[7]
In 2000/2001, Rowland and Helen Ibum, began to contend for the right of succession to their father. This encompassed spiritual control of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, well as control of "the religion’s considerable finances." In Nigeria, this split led to violent clashes between followers, as well as lawsuits.[7][3]
By 2006, the disputes had spread to the US based siblings. Ajah Obu, “the Supreme Mother of Peace, Love and Justice,” and her brother, Fred Obu, filed lawsuits against one another, regarding the right to sell church property in the US.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "OLUMBA OLUMBA OBU (the one who called himself God) IS DEAD". News Express Nigeria Website. Archived from the original on 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ a b "Scooper - Bf Religion News: Drama As Olumba Olumba Obu Hands Church To Son, To Crown Him As 'King of Kings'". m.scooper.news. Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ a b "Meet Five Nigerians Who Have Claimed To Be God". The Native. 2017-04-14. Archived from the original on 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ Bassey, K. E. (1988). "I Am that I Am": Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, Sole Spiritual Head, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. Brotherhood Press. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
- ^ a b c d Sabar, Galia; Shragai, Atalia (2008-08-01). "Olumba Olumba in Israel: struggling on all fronts". African Identities. 6 (3): 201–225. doi:10.1080/14725840802223549. ISSN 1472-5843. S2CID 143483603. Archived from the original on 2022-05-11. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ a b Mbon, Friday M. (1988). "Brotherhood Thanatology". Archives de sciences sociales des religions. 33 (65.1): 161–171. ISSN 0335-5985. JSTOR 30118477. PMID 11616606. Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Distant Spat Plays Out in L.A. Courts". Los Angeles Times. June 7, 2006.
- ^ Uzorma, Iyke (1993). Occult Grand Master Now In Christ. 19/23 Bale Street Ajegunle - Apopa Lagos Nigeria: GCEE BRUNO CONCEPT LIMITED. p. 85.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Obu, Olumba Olumba; Etteh, Solomon David (1992). He is the Father: Remain as Indefinable Spirit... in Olumba Olumba Obu (as Man, Spirit and Soul)... The Spiritual "Manifest" of the Past, Present and Future Plan of the Spiritual Case Studies (Book One). Everlasting Gospel Centre. ISBN 978-978-2175-48-9. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
- ^ a b "Who is this man OOO". Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. Archived from the original on 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ "Tussle for control of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star gets to Supreme court -". June 13, 2016.
- ^ a b Edem, Edem (August 6, 2020). "Olumba Olumba Obu hands over to son, to be coronated as 'King of Kings". Daily Post. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021.
- ^ Roti (2012-11-23). "Olumba Olumba Long Dead, Followers are Being Deceived – Former Avid Follower". Information Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2022-05-11. Retrieved 2020-11-21.