Why Do Dibias Not Work for Free?
This question comes up often, with reasoning in line with this other question:
“If the work is spiritual… why isn’t it free?”
At first glance, it may seem like a fair question. But within Igbo consciousness, the answer is both practical and deeply philosophical.
Dibias do not work for free because their work is built on balance, responsibility, and reciprocity.
And removing compensation does not make the work more spiritual, it only makes it less balanced.
Beyond the Obvious: They Are Human Too
Let’s begin with what many people already understand.
Dibias are human beings just like everyone else:
They have families to care for
They have personal needs
They must sustain their lives
Just like anyone else offering a service, their time, energy, and expertise require support.
But this is only the surface of the answer.
Spiritual Work Comes with Real Risk
What many people do not consider is this:
The work of a Dibia is not neutral.
A Dibia’s role often involves:
Resolving spiritual imbalance
Intervening in difficult situations
Liberating individuals from negative conditions
In doing this, they expose themselves. They become:
More visible spiritually
More accessible energetically
More susceptible to backlash or resistance
Because of this, Dibias must:
Maintain their own protection
Strengthen their own alignment
Invest in their own spiritual upkeep
This is part of the cost of doing the work.
So when a Dibia is compensated, it is not just payment for time. It supports the sustainability and protection required to continue serving others.
The Igbo Principle of Reciprocity
Nothing meaningful exists without balance. That’s a deeper cultural truth at play here.
In Igbo consciousness, relationships are built on reciprocity; a mutual exchange that keeps both sides aligned.
When you receive value, you must give value, because:
It maintains equilibrium
It honors the exchange
It prevents imbalance
A one-sided relationship, where one gives and the other only receives, eventually breaks down.
Why Free Work Can Disrupt Balance
When spiritual work is taken without compensation, the exchange becomes incomplete.
The receiver:
Gains value
Takes insight
Receives intervention
But gives nothing in return.
Over time, this can create imbalance, not just materially, but energetically.
This imbalance can lead to:
Weakening of the relationship
Reduction in effectiveness
Loss of respect for the process
This is why compensation is more about closing the loop, than it is about money.
Nothing Is Owed — On Both Sides
Another important outcome: Nothing is owed, both ways.
A Dibia is not obligated to work for free. And the client is not obligated to engage.
When both parties enter willingly and exchange value, the relationship becomes:
Clear
Balanced
Respectful
This mutual understanding strengthens the outcome.
Compensation Is Not Commercialization
Some people fear that payment “commercializes” spirituality.
But in reality, compensation is not commercialization, it is acknowledgment.
It says:
“I recognize the value of what I am receiving.”
“I am participating in balance.”
“I am not taking lightly what has been given to me.”
When done properly, it improves, not reduces, the integrity of the work.
A Deeper Way to See It
Think of it this way —> If you plant nothing, you cannot expect to harvest.
Reciprocity keeps energy moving.
And movement is what allows transformation to occur.
Final Thoughts
Dibias do not work for free because their work should be centered on balance.
They give:
Time
Knowledge
Energy
Protection
And in return, they must receive something that maintains equilibrium.
When this balance is honored:
The work is stronger
The relationship is healthier
The results are more stable
In Igbo thought, the question is not: “Why is it not free?”
The real question is: “How do we keep the exchange balanced so that the work remains effective?”
Because in the end, it is balance that sustains the work.
