From Print To Platform: Religious Communication, Philosophy, and The Remaking of Youth Identity in Igboland, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Religious communication in Igboland, southeastern Nigeria, has changed considerably, from the circulation of traditional religious beliefs through established cultural practices to the print culture introduced by Christian missionaries and, more recently, digital platforms enabled by developments in information and communication technology. This study examines these changes, focusing on their implications for youth identity in the region. It explores the relationship between religious media, Igbo philosophical thought, and how young people understand and negotiate their religious, cultural, and social identities. The study argues that these developments are better understood as a process of coexistence and adaptation than as a straightforward replacement of older forms of communication by newer ones. Drawing on qualitative research and relevant scholarship on Igbo philosophy, digital religion, and youth identity, it examines how young people encounter religious messages, interpret competing expectations, and negotiate ideas about personhood, communal belonging, moral responsibility, and contemporary life. It also considers how digital platforms shape religious visibility and authority while providing opportunities for engagement with religious ideas beyond conventional institutional settings. By bringing religious communication into conversation with Igbo philosophical perspectives, the study contributes to understanding the relationship between technological change, cultural continuity, and youth agency. It argues that digital religion in Igboland is best understood through the continuing interaction between inherited beliefs, changing media practices, and young people's evolving understandings of identity.