Why Do They Wrap White Clothes Around Some Trees in Igbo Land? By Nze Tobe Osigwe

The Igbo cultural practice of wounding a white cloth around a tree is primarily to denote the sacredness of the tree. In some cases, it is a way of placating an angry tree after something untoward must have been done to it.

For example, there are some trees you cut down without informing them, they go on rampage.

Many believe trees are ordinary and common. Therefore, to them, it’s a sign of paganism for our ancestors or any human to honour trees.

Such belief if stretched, is akin to saying all humans are common and equal, so, it’s a sign of paganism to single out an ordinary human being like Jesus and declare him the son of God.

In Animal Farm by George Orwell, it took some series of events for Snowball and other animals to realise that truly, all animals are equal but some are MORE equal than the other.

Our ancestors will say, Isi na isi ra bu na okwu onu.

The thinking all animals, all humans and all trees are equal ends only in sheer talk. Reality has always proven otherwise.

Our ancestors who are realists try to differentiate these trees that are more equal than the others. Trees that are physical embodiment of psychic powers!

In Igbo cosmology, trees like Oha, Ngwu, Oji, Akwu Ojukwu, Udala, Ebenebe, Akpu Okala Ete, Ofo, once spotted, are watched to know if they are ordinary or spiritual vessels.

Once it is confirmed that there are more to it, robing it with cloth is one of the rituals carried out so that it will be clear to all there is something about the tree.

Many stubborn members of a clan or family have cut down such trees without regards to due process and have nothing but tears and sorrows for their it doesn’t matter thinking.

This is Igbo, this is Africa. Each people have what works for them, what is sacred to them. This different peculiarities is what Odinani tries to remind you.

What is an ordinary tree in another land can be a powerful God, Power Point or Force in another.

Written by Nze Tobe Osigwe

(Ezeikolomuo)