What Igbo Traditional Rulers Must Stop Doing||Culture and Tradition By Nze Tobe Osigwe

I believe moving forward there are two things traditional rulers in Alaigbo should desist from being guilty of.

And, younger generation of Ndi Igbo should take note of Ndi Igwe that refuse to repent from these unpardonable traditional blunders.

1. Locking of Igwe’s Palace: An Igwe’s Palace is the foremost Obi in the community. Traditionally, the architectural design of an Obi makes it to be outside the compound, thus, excluding the option of being fenced.

An Obi cannot be placed under lock and key whether the keeper of the Obi is around or not. Obi belongs to a family, clan or community. Anyone who the Obi connects to has every right to access the Obi or even come in and sleep at any time of the day.

Obi is designed to provide succour for humans and spirits. This is the very reason Obi cannot be closed.

In this modern times, it is partially understandable for an Obi to be closed at night but it is not permissible for it to be closed during the day.

Remember, Obi is not supposed to be locked at all, even in the night. Night is the most active period for the spiritual owners of an Obi. Abani ka ndi muo ji azu afia.

Now, you understand why it is shocking that a palace gate will be locked and security men placed at the gate. They interview you to know what business you have in the palace as if you are coming to search for work in a multinational company.

A palace/Obi must throw it gates open to all manner of people. Whether you can see the Isi Obi/Igwe should now be at the discretion of the palace official. But stepping inside is obligatory for any visitor.

2. Including Church Opening Prayers in Traditional Functions: Inviting Christian priests to perform opening prayers. Consequently, handing over such traditional function, let’s say Ofala, into the hands of the white man God, is nothing short of insult to our ancestors, their Gods, their beliefs, which the Igwe is a human representative of.

Many Igwes during Iwa Aji, invite Reverend Fathers or Bishops to perform opening prayers. Tell me, is Iwa Aji a Christian festival? Last year Afiaolu Nnewi, they did not just do Christian opening prayer, they did opening praise and worship session.

So, I ask, will these Christian Bishops be magnanimous enough during Easter or Christmas invite the Chief Priest of the communal deity to come and do the opening prayer inside their sanctuary?

The implication of inviting Christian clergy to preside in traditional events or any Palace function at all is a telling sign that the whole community has been spiritually outsourced to the white man God. It means our colonisation is on Aluta Continua.

Written by Nze Tobe Osigwe

(Ezeikolomuo)