Owfhirí, igó-owfhiri and igó-inyi
These are some of the perceived fetish practices of our fore- bearers which is almost gone extinct in Okunano land.
Some of us here may have experienced something of it, Seen something of this practice with our fathers, elders and people without fully grasping the significance of such annual and regular sacrifices to carven images and molded clayey moulds and sculptures.
Or some awkward looking hole in the ground that is usually decorated with chicken 🐔 blood and feathers🪶....
We saw it all, and even partook in the act of sacrifice howbeit, knowingly or ignorantly.
*What is the significance of such an annual sacrificial practices now gone extinct?*
OFILI,IGO OFILI AND IGO INYI.
ReplyDeleteI want to contribute graphic significance of the three.
I am very surprised at the rate many historical records are being tampered with by revisionists. Although these had been the fate of oral history over time,it always go through a lots of revision.
Again,I choosed to write in Igbo syntax, than the anglicized vowels some of you have chosen.
1. OFILI
A god of fertility. Each house hold, extended family and hamlets has it. It is one of the deity that first harvest of yam are sacrificed to.
One of the most significant aspect of IGO OFILI as you indicated,is that in the olden days,every child is taken to OFILI and symbolically made to postrate before it. We called it"kwatu nwata na OFILI. Point to note here is that bastards don't survive such rituals.
I will pick IGO IYI,next let me watch Egypt/EQ match
- Sir IK Nwobodo
IGO IYI
ReplyDeleteThe Igbo world and anthropological religious beliefs are anchored on the believe in life after death, like christianity and other big religious beliefs. Our people have an eternity anchored on Ndi Igbo Ani and reincarnation.
Therefore igo iyi are one of the top sacred rituals carried out on the day of oriri Ani( Ani Akegbe (Akegbe Ugwu), Ani Awkunanaw,(Obuoffia) Ani Oha (Umah)Ani Amodu(Amodu) Ugwu n'chi(Umuatugbuoma).
People who have the wherewithal, offer sacrifices at the grave of their forefathers to their immediate past father.
Married daughters came from distant clans where they were married out to pray at the grave yards of their fathers for more blessings and progress.
The potency of such believe and faith can be likened to christianity believe in sainthood and martyrdom.
Widows of the late husbands being so honoured abstain from eating the sacrificial meat.
I think I have to stop, to enable questions and Nna Ugwuodo circumspection.
However, revisionists have changed it to New yam festival. A good one at that,but lost the spirituality associated with the ceremonials.
- Sir. Ikechukwu Nwobodo
Akegbe Ugwu Okunano
Wao !, Mmadu ka foduru n'Okunano. Ik, nwanemta, you hit the nail on the head.
ReplyDeleteYou are not far from the rituals associated with the *Igo Iyi*. Moreover, the married daughter used to come with a Cockrel, a jar of unadulterated Palm-wine, tubers of asuadu, usuekpe or nwoboko specie of yams, numbering from four to eight tubers.
If the married daughter has given birth to a male child, and eventually such Son was named after the woman's late father, i.e *Ogbonnayaochie* He would be dressed well, from head to toe. The Father would tie the cockrel's two legs very tight and put it under his armpit.The *Ogbonnannayaochie*, who used to be at the top of the world, feeling very high because of his new dress and the Cockrel put under his armpit, which he would hold very tight so that the Cockrel wouldn't struggle and perhaps escape.
After the *Igo Iyi* on the Orie night, the remnants of the slaughtered goat, ram or Cockrel would be shared in the following morning among the Son's of the deceased ancestor, in order of birth chronology. The husband of such daughters married outside had their own share of the parts of either the goat, ram or Cockrel, which his wife would return back to him.The euphoria associated with *Igo Iyi* in Okunano Osagwede Osawuwa, used to be very rich and enjoyable.
Some stubborn boys *Ogbonnayaochie*, would refuse to go back to his biological father's home on the following day, after seeing the bulk of goat, ram or cockrel's meat put into the paphorated pot (iteazhiara)placed on tripod stand on fire, for preservation. Summarily, I believe it is not idolatry, rather according honour to the *Spirit* of our *Ancestors*.✍��.
- Elder Joseph Chukwuezugo Ugwuodo