The
Divine House of Chineke, The Supreme Being
and Magnificent Creator of all that is good
in the universe, which exist within Igbo
African metaphysics are foundation for our
traditional calendar and festivals; instruments
for social discipline and control; the background
against which our traditional medical practice
leans and a deference to our people’s
history.
The
first month of the year is Fijioku, which
falls more often than not, on the 22nd of
August in the Christian or western calendar.
It is wound around the Fijioku Shrine at
which the New Yam festival, called Irindi
or Iriji, which ushers in the New Year in
the calendar, is celebrated. The first day
in the month of fijioku is Ekenta, which
means the small Eke market day. On this
day the New Year and New Yam festival is
celebrated.
There
are many festivals in a year. Most festivity
is connected with a Divine Shrine of Chineke,
our Creator. Some festivals are in remembrance
of specific glorious events in the early
history of our people, or in celebration
of family re-union. The first season of
the year, the rainy season, which begins
in the month of Anyanwu, is called Itum
or Udunmiri. Activities towards the celebration
of the New Year and New Yam festival begins
with Onwa Eja (Month for Sacrifice) a sacred
period in the month of Agwunsi for making
sacrifices and offerings to the Supreme
Being and the needy. The ceremony of Iwusi
Oji, i.e. putting down the kola nut, marks
the beginning of the first day of Onwa Eja,
which falls more often than not, on Ekenta,
the 6th day in the month of Agwunsi. Eight
days after this, Ogbo ceremony takes place.
People return to their respective villages
for this ceremony as a second step in the
move toward the New Year and the New Yam
festival.
Four
days after this, there is the matriculation
or initiation ceremony for entrants into
the school of traditional medicine. Four
days after this, there is the festival of
doctors, Igwa Agwu, devoted to the Agwunsi
Shrine of Chineke. Eight days later is the
New Year, ushered in with the New Yam festival.
But
two days before the New Year, an activity
called 'Afo ibuo agbala', which means the
cleaning of the village in preparation for
the New Year and Yam festival, is done.
The next day, an Nkwo day, the people harvest
the new yams to be eaten the following day,
Ekenta mbu, i.e. the first small Eke market
day, which begins the New Year.
The
New Year's Eve
The
day of harvesting of the New Yams, marks
the end of the old year. This day is called
Nkwo Afua. On this day, a liberty is permitted
whereby it is not an offense if you harvest
a bunch of your neighbor’s plantain,
yams or any foodstuff and take it home without
the owner's permission. You will not be
accused of stealing, provided you are going
to eat it and not to sell it. This liberty
is called 'Ichu Afua', which means cleansing
away the old year.
The
New Year
Every
New Year on Ekenta mbu, the first small
Eke market day in the month of Fijioku,
members of the community gather at the common
Shrine called Obasioha (Temple, Church,
Mosque) dedicated to Chineke, for libation
and thanksgiving, without prejudice to individual
personal Shrines. To this worship and
fellowship ceremony, parents of all children
born within the past year bring their children
for blessing and registration as one Age
Group. The parent of a male child comes
with a rooster and, for a female child,
a hen. All pool this contribution and prepare
a feast for the children. This is followed
by masquerading, feasting and merry making
until the wee hours of the day.
Four days after the New Year, a new
moon called 'Onwa Isiji' is sighted, and
induction into the ‘Egbela’
school system begins. This is the traditional
school into which inducted students are
taught the metaphysics of life until they
have mastered what is being taught. There
is no set time table for completion of the
course of study. They graduate only when
they have mastered a course of study or
craft. After the induction ceremony, a masquerade
celebration , Ite Isiji, is held.
At
the end of Itum or Udunmiri, the season
of rain, a new season called 'Okochi' the
dry season, which falls in the month of
Ekwuruochie (November), begins. It is introduced
with a festival celebration called 'Ite
Mbe'. This celebration is marked with a
democratic liberty called 'Awu Oma', in
which any evil committed by any member of
the community, no matter his or her status
in the society, will be song publicly. The
object of the Awu Oma festival is to purge
the community of all evils and misdeeds
of the past year. This festival is recorded
also about the Mali empire during the reign
of Mansa Musa in the 14th century.
Upon
this knowledge and foundation, we have cause
to celebrate the meaning and beauty in the
African way of life. We must educate our
children, since education is defined as
a course of induction and cultural promotion;
an instigation by which one is forged to
fit squarely into the culture of the society
and race he or she belongs as a responsible
citizen. We must therefore fortify our children
with knowledge of our heritage so they shall
rise, strengthen and celebrate our humanity
and contribute to the diversification and
enrichment of the totality of human cultures.
Of..Yagazie..Ise.
Ogbaja
(Prophet) Ahanyi, Kama Onu Kama Onyioha.
"If
Africa unites, it will be because each part,
each nation, each ethnic group gives up
part of its heritage for the good of the
whole. That is what union means; that is
what Pan Africa means.." W. E.
B. Duboise-Africa Awake, 1958.
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