The Pastoral Implications of Confession in African Traditional Religion: The Case of Adultery in Nsukka Culture
Rev. Fr. Dr. Christian O. Ele, Ph.D.

Abstract
In Religions, there is the practice of confession, either as avowal of faith or acknowledgment of transgressions, or even both. This paper discusses the pastoral implications of confession in African Traditional Religion with special reference to adultery in Nsukka culture. Nsukka is a male society with characteristics of absolute patriarchy. The findings of this paper include the fact of Christians confessing the sin of adultery according to the belief system in African traditional Religion instead of accessing God’s mercy through the Christian style and sacraments. This cultural practice has significant pastoral implications for Christianity in Nsukka area. In the light of this, therefore, the strong persuasions of this study are the need for Christians to maintain Christian sanctity by avoiding the sin of adultery, upholding fidelity in marriage and respecting the dignity of womanhood which patriarchy has gravely distorted.

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