It now appears to be a renewed interest in connecting to ones ancestry, and figuring out where one has been. Websites like Ancestry.com have helped a number of people, as well as methods such as DNA testing. To encourage people to help connect to their roots, I have decided to share my experiences, observations, and insights I have received from my own ancestors (both the living and “non-living” ones).

The first thing I would recommend is for people to shift their perception of their ancestry. Many people today like to use terms such as “lineage.” The problem with the term “lineage” is that it generally only counts the males ancestors of ones father as being important. This is patriarchal, linear thinking! The fact is, you get the same amount of chromosomes from your father as you do from your mother. When you look at your ancestors in their totality, what you get looks less like a line and more like a pyramid. And guess who is at the apex? YOU!

Standing at the apex

If you go back just one generation, you have two ancestors. Go back two, and that number becomes six. Skip to ten generations and now you can have up to 2046 ancestors . Mind boggling isn’t it?  You are a combination of millions of years of evolution. You contain traits from every one of your ancestors, starting from the first divine seed that humanity sprang from (Ifenta, which means “small light” was the name of the first human in Igbo cosmogony).

One should not fall into the trap of elevating your ancestors above ones self. Some people use the term “ancestor worship” to describe what a lot of Africans do to those that came beforehand. While I feel that back in the day, it was a misnomer, from my observations, today many people of African descent do tend to put to put their ancestors on a pedistool that they are unable to reach. Rather than elevating them to a high place, think of them as people in a relay race who have passed their torch to you. Your job is to run faster than they did. As long as you are caught up in worshipping them, you can never outdo them.

Passing the baton

With that being said, I would say that the first thing one should do if they wish to connect with their ancestry is to begin with your relatives that are in the flesh. This is a step that TOO many people neglect to do. It troubles me to see folks who yell and scream about their “ancient” ancestors but haven’t made sincere attempts to have a good relationship with their parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents or other living relatives.  The very first time I connected with my “non-living” paternal grandfather, it was a powerful experience. While in meditation, I began to focus on his image and name intensely. In making the connection, he told me very clearly that if I really wished to be able to connect with him on a deeper level, that I would have to connect better with my father, who I have often had a rocky relationship with. But it makes sense doesn’t it? Your parents are the bridge to your grandparents, and if you have a blockage in that relationship, it will extend to any deeper ones. The point that I’m trying to make is that one should do things in the right order.  It would be crazy to try to climb Mount Everest before conquering a small hill, just like it would be crazy to try to connect with some “ancient” ancestors if you don’t even have a good relationship with your recent ones.

I am blessed to still have both of my parents, and I have one grandparent left (on my mothers side). I met my maternal grandfather before he passed, and also my paternal grandmother when I was a baby. If you have any living grandparents, or great-aunts or uncles, you are a lucky person indeed. They are a living gateway to your “non living” ancestors, and you should took full advantage of their presence in the physical. Talk to them as much as you can, and if possible record the conversations using either audio or video. These conversations will prove to be invaluable in the future, both for yourself as well as your descendants, especially after they have made their transition. Don’t hesitate to also record conversations with other relatives including aunts and uncles, as well as your parents.

A very important step that I would implore everyone to do is to take it upon themselves to create a family tree. This one single action can open up doors in ways that many people could not even imagine. By creating a family tree, you put together a puzzle that shows “your ingredients”, start to retrace the footsteps of your ancestors, and you gain the support of elders in your family and appreciation of the younger generations. Plus it will help you to connect to your ancestors more if you know their names,  what they looked like, where they were born, what they did for a living, how they lived, etc. Take note:  African definitions of family differ from the Western definitions as they includes as many people as possible from a particular bloodline, i.e extended family. That means aunts, uncles, cousins, and everyone in between. However, you can go as deep as you see fit.

Creating your family tree will quite literally be like trying to solve a grand mystery. In fact, to do it well, you will have to interview numerous family members of different ages, most likely visit various cities, states or countries, look into public records, etc. It will not be an easy process, but along the way, you will build key relationships, get valuable information, perhaps get hold of  key family artifacts and relics, and maybe even uncover some priceless secrets! One thing for sure, you and your family will not be the same after you start this process.

If you are a person that has a limited knowledge of their ancestry due to the Maafa (African Holocaust),  you might want to go and take a DNA test. These tests can trace your maternal lineage as well as your paternal lineage even down to a specific ethnic group in Africa. I personally would recommend African Ancestry as they are a black owned company and a number of my good friends have gotten excellent results from them.

Creating a family tree will turn you into Sherlock Holmes

As you continue on your ancestral odyssey, once crucial thing I would recommend you to start building would be an ancestral shrine. Although the word “shrine” has negative connotations due to Judeo-Christian propaganda, one definition of a shrine is simply “A site hallowed by association with a revered person or object or with an important event.” Another word for this would be a memorial. Here are some examples of some popular shrines:

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial

Stonewall Jackson Shrine

Shrine of the Black Madonna

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

All the time and energy you spent on putting together your family tree will enhance the ancestral shrine that you construct. Keep in mind however, that there is no “right way” to build an ancestral shrine. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that whatever is done on the African continent is more “correct” than what you can come up with. Let your spirit guide you, and you won’t be mislead. I recall a lecture I attended a few years ago from an organization who had a program of helping teach Africans in the Diaspora how to construct ancestral shrines. The women giving the lecture said that when they had an event with some older Black American women from the south, the presenters actually ending up learning more from the older Black women!

I’ve seen simple shrines and I’ve seen complex shrines. Use your imagination! Utilize pictures, personal possessions, candles, historical memorabilia, etc. to create your ancestral shrine. If you want, you can also include an alter where you can place water, plants, seeds, as well as articles of food or alcohol from time to time. Traditional Igbo ancestral altars typically contained sacred objects such as an Ofo stick (passed down from generation to generation) and an Ikenga. Kola nuts were broken at it every morning accompanied by a prayer for good favor.  Below is an example of one:

Igbo Ancestral Shrine

Here are some examples of ancestral shrines and altars from different cultures:

Urhobo Ancestral Shrine

Edo (Benin) Ancestral Shrine & Altar

A Korean jesa altar for ancestors

Mexican Day of the Dead Outdoor Altar

A Vietnamese altar for ancestors

Haitian Voodoo Ancestral Altar

I foresee a future where ancestral alters will resemble the hologram of  his father Jor-El that Superman keeps in his Fortress of Solitude, as seen in many of the Superman films. Its one project that I’m personally working on making a reality.

As you continue your journey, you will start to become aware of your ancestors speaking to you through signs, symbols, dreams, as well as through other people. In time, you will learn the language that they speak, and be able to communicate more effectively with them. If at any time you feel isolated or in need of guidance, become very still and remember that your ancestors live in you, and they will always be there to support you. Your body is a living shrine to them and your positive actions are better than any type of sacrifice you could offer them or libation you could pour. Yagazie (May we prosper) !

A huge gaping gap
Is left unfilled
And its implications so vast
And beyond the grasp of an ordinary man.

Dim Ojukwu weeps
As he glides along the eternal lane.
Yes, he weeps, for we are a mere flotsam
Inside a boat in a capricious sea of existence.

Yes he weeps
’cause our boat needs a rudder
And a compass
To direct it to the harbour to berthe

Is it not true
That when the iroko tree falls,
Dwarfs tighten their girdles
To climb over it.

But after death
Dim Ojukwu proved to be huger than life.
And our today’s leaders
Have lots to learn from him.

He did not come
To line up his pockets but to serve.
His vision was to transform
And to challenge the status quo

His action, born in response
To events manufactured by history
And he rendered his vision in the present tense
As to bring the future near to his people.

Call him a rebel,
And he would respond
That he had a cause,
A cause to meet the needs of his people.

His mind created metaphors,
Symbols, slogans and examples.
Yes, whatever his shortcomings,
His people did admire him till death.

And clouds yeilded up their lightenings
To be imprisoned in his political rod.
In darkest hour of our history,
He proved his meetles.

Rest in Peace

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

(November 4, 1933– November 26, 2011)

Ezeigbo (King of the Igbo)

Ikemba (Strength of the people) of Nnewi

Dikedioramma (Beloved hero of the masses)

Our father is the great rising Sun

Our mother, the serpent who birthed humankind

Records of our footprints reveal we have marched this way before

Who is our mother you may ask?

She is the energy in your spine, your back bone, the ground beneath your feet…

Our father is a wise king descended from a realm of gods

A city with numerous vortexes of light

He is known by some as The Dweller

He also dwells in our hearts

Which is why we smile so much

Even through the rain and the whirlwind

Through hunched backs and trepid movements

We dance & sing & make music…

By our stripes, the world was reborn into a new way of doing things;

Of loving, of expressing, of worship

More than that, the ones to come later were fed

Because of the great human sacrifice

That history shall never forget

Umu anwu (children of light) we were

And just like Anyanwu (the Sun), We rise

Just like our father

Who came before us

So that we may also live

And like our mother who bears witness in this breath of time.

]]> http://odinanilawsofnature.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/we-rise/feed/ 4 sacredw Ouroboros AKA Dan Aido Hwedo Igbo Children Senior Woman Dancing in Onicha Sunrise http://odinanilawsofnature.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/a-monologue-with-an-omenka/ http://odinanilawsofnature.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/a-monologue-with-an-omenka/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:00:46 +0000 Omenka Egwuatu Nwa-Ikenga http://odinanilawsofnature.wordpress.com/?p=1163 ]]> It has occurred to me that this blog has been up and running for just over a year, and so I figured that this would be a great opportunity to introduce myself and tell how this blog came to be.

My name is Omenka Egwuatu Nwa-Ikenga. Omenka is not really a name, but a title that translates to doer of art. Egwuatu is my fathers name, that means fearless, which he passed down to me. Nwa-Ikenga means child of Ikenga, which all Igbo people are, but I have pledged to live my life by the principles of Ikenga, which represents my highest self.

Ikenga

This is not the only name that I go by, and there are others that know me by other ones. However, none of them is more valid than the other, and the name that I choose to use is dependent on the way I choose to portray myself to the world at the moment. A good analogy to my different names would be Kal-El, Clark Kent, and Superman. All three names are equally valid, depending on the context and the situation.

Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El

I was born sometime between January 15, 1970 and December 26,1991 in Washington District of Columbia, United States of America, the first of four children, which made me the okpara of my family. Both of my parents are also omenkas and a lot of my talents were inherited from them.

Besides what she does for a living, my mother is a singer, a dancer, a playwright and an actress. I inherited only the last two talents from her. She is a daughter of Agukwu-Nri, which was a holy city of Igbo people, and home to the Ozo holy men that went around Alaigbo cleansing abominations and stopping conflicts.

My mom in her younger days leading the pack

My father is also an omenka, and his talent happens to be in public speaking and storytelling. I would say that my father is perhaps the greatest storyteller I have ever heard. He is so great of a storyteller that he often believes the stories he tells. I inherited his imagination, speaking ability and storytelling prowess. He is a son of Arochukwu by means of Aro-Egbu, an Aro settlement in present day Egbuoma. My great- grandfather was one of the people who helped found the settlement. The Arochukwu people were another powerhouse group of Igbos who were known for their trading, for their great oracle Kamalu Chukwu Abiama, also known as Ibini Ukpabi, as well as the introduction of the Ekpe society into Igboland.

Both Ozo and Ekpe are in my lineage, and since they can be passed down through ancestry, I am eligible to gain access to them. In the near future I will return home to claim my birthright, and will be able to enhance the abilities that my Chi gave me. In particular, I am looking forward to meeting Ekpe in the bush.

Mask of Ekpe

As a child, I was interested in astronomy, mythology, comic book characters, books of all kind, world history, art, video games, music, sports, and a lot of the other things that a male child born and raised in the United States would be interested in. I discovered my talents and passions very early in life and was given ample opportunity to develop them through participation in dramas, literature competitions, open mics, talent & cultural shows and various school  projects.

I also struggled with my identity growing up, and having Igbo parents, but being raised in an American society left me with several voids. For one, I was missing the Nigerian experience because of not being raised there or being taught as much about it as I would want or even visiting there frequently enough. And number two, for obvious reasons, I couldn’t really have the same  African American experience that many of my friends had. It would take me several years before I became balanced in my identity and become comfortable just being myself.

"Other African Americans"

I was raised in a Christian home like most Igbos born nowadays. Although I was raised Pentecostal, both sides of my family have mostly been Anglican for a few generations, with some playing key leadership positions in the Anglican Church Missionary Society (also known as the CMS). If I had decided to remain a traditional Christian, I most likely would have aspired to follow in their footsteps. Nonetheless, I have admiration and respect for the service to their communities as well as the educational opportunities that the CMS has offered through the years.

My voracious appetite for books lead me to learn more about the history behind the Bible, and Christianity as a whole. I eventually became dissatisfied with mainstream Christianity and began to start studying the esoteric paths of the religion, which is truly the narrow road that few travel on. I studied Gnostic Christianity as well as Kabbalah, and was able to see the symbolic messages of the Bible.

The Tree of Life

I then began to study Sufism, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and many other different POVs. The study of all of these paths eventually lead me back to my ancestral one, which I realized was just as valid as any other one. Regardless, I feel that people should follow whatever path brings them joy and fulfillment.

The things that I read also helped me to get more clarity to  my life experiences as well. Since I was a child, I have had a number of different insights as well as spiritual experiences that I could not explain at the time. One event in particular happened when I was around 5 and left me seeing certain things that others do not. My experiences and research has helped me, as well as many other people, that have not had explanations for some of the more peculiar things happening in their life.

Around my birthday in 2010, I received a message from Ani, the Earth Mother in a dream, in the form of a symbol. From that day on, I began to receive more symbols from a number of different sources, as well as connect the dots to several things. In fact, I was gaining so many insights so fast that I felt that I was going crazy. I couldn’t even concentrate in class. So to keep myself from going insane, I decided to start to start this blog and help myself to process it all.

Nsibidi symbol for Ani

Since then, I have received several messages and insights in many forms, and I have tried my best to share them with the world. And to be honest with you, I have actually been the person who has benefited the most from this blog. It has caused me to receive alot of important messages and see things more clearly. And it also has been a source of therapy for me. In fact, all through my life, writing itself has been therapeutic for me, and I really do feel that if I did not do it, I would either go into depression or into insanity. One of my aspirations is to become trained as a writing therapist so that I can aid others in healing from their emotional wounds as well as uncovering their talents and life purpose through expressive writing.

The Odinani blog is a result not only of my insights, but information and wisdom I have received from conversations and personal relationships with a number of people including (but not limited to) the Ekpe Society USA, Dr. Nnedi Okorafor, Ebele Chizea, Chief Ikenna & Dr. Uwa Osimiri, Nwaonishe Ezenwanyi, Udee Onyioha, Dr. Ozodi Osuiji, the Omenala Artists Collective, Dibia Oscar Mokeme, Obinna Ozoigbo, Lazarus Emenogu, Ms. Ezi,  Dibia Patrick Iroegbu, Odi Okaka Oquosa , Papa CE, Chuwkuka Omenigbo-Nwafor, Rowland Egolum, Nwabueze Okoye, Emmanuel Anizoba and the rest of the Odinani listserve members, Dr. Maduawuchi Stan Ogbonna,  Chioma Oruh, Dr. Sylvanus A. Enworom, Wise, Dr. Catherine Acholonu, Baba Awotunde, Nana Kwabena Brown and the Temple of Nyame, and most importantly, YOU! Without you reading this blog, commenting, and sharing it with your friends, it could not have developed. I hope you have nearly gained as much from it as I have in this past year and years to come.  Yagazie (May we prosper)!

"Anywanwu" by Ben Enwonwu

The sun is one of the most universally revered objects in human history. Just about every culture on the planet honors it for all the different gifts that it brings to our planet, bringing both the light and heat that make life on our planet possible.

Sol Invictus

For one, our method of keeping time is based on it, as for the majority of human history, our clocks were sundials. Most of our modern calendars (including days of the week ala Sun-day), are based off it, and lot of our major holidays originally started as solar equinox or solstice celebrations (such as Easter and Christmas respectively). Even western astrology focuses on a person’s sun signs. Needless to say, our lives revolve around the sun…literally.

"The Sun Shine Brightly" by Uche Okeke

Amongst Ndi Igbo, the Sun was referred to as Anyanwu (An-yan-wew). This is a combination of two different words. The first word, anya means eye. The second word, anwu, means light. Together, the phrase reads as “eye of light.”

Anywanu and other cosmic entities on an Igbo compound wall

Metamorphosing the sun as an eye is not an exclusively Igbo concept. Another famous example of this can be found in the ancient Egyptian character of Ra, who was depicted as a Falcon headed man who hand a sun disk on his head.

Ra

Eye of Ra

A modern example of a celestial eye can be found on the left side of a dollar bill. Here are some other examples found throughout different cultures:

Back of $1 bill

Masonic Eye of Providence

Coat of Arms of Brasłaŭ, Belarus

With the multiple appearances of this “all seeing eye”, one question will naturally arise: Exactly whose eye is it and why is it portrayed in that way? The answer will be revealed throughout this post.

The sun is a symbol of both physical and spiritual awakening. In most societies, peoples sleep cycles closely followed that of the sun. They would wake up around the time the sun rose, and go to sleep soon after the sunset. Many plants and animals also follow this trend.As an agriculturalist, I have been taught that the best way to save seeds is to keep them dry and in the dark, as they will germinate (awaken) if exposed to moisture and sunlight.

Awakening of a seed

When spiritual awakening occurs, its usually referred to as enlightenment. If one has a good eye, they will notice that many of the holy men and women throughout history are quite often portrayed with a sun disc behind their head. Even their titles and epithets reveal as much. The Buddha, for example, name literally means “The Awakened One.”

Lao Tzu

Green Tara

Jesus the Christ (Annointed One)

Kwan Yin (A Female Buddha)

Krishna

It is no coincidence  that Alaigbo (Igboland) was referred to as the land of the rising sun. Many of the most enlightening spiritual teachings and examples in all of Africa had been found in that land in what is now southeastern Nigeria. One place in particular was so highly developed that people considered it to be the cradle of Igbo civilization. This place was known as Agwukwu-Nri, from which I am descended from on my mother’s side.

Land of the Rising Sun

Nri is said to be responsible for the development of the Ozo title system, the artifacts of Igbo Ukwu, the cult of Ikenga, the creation of the  Ofo stick, amongst many other things. Anywanu played a very large role in life of the Umunri. “Nri people believed that the sun was the dwelling place of Anyanwu (The God of Light and Agbala (The Holy Spirit). They believed Agbala to be the collective spirit of all holy beings (human and nonhuman). The Holy Spirit was a perfect agent of Chi-Ukwu or Chineke (The big God or the Creator God). The Holy Spirit chose its human and nonhuman agents only by their merit. It knew no politics. It transcended religion and culture, and of course, gender. It worked with the humble and truthful. They believed Anyanwu, the Light, to be the symbol of human perfection that all must seek. Anyanwu was perfection and Agbala was entrusted to lead us there.” (Anuobi, Chikodi. Nri Warriors of Peace. Page 210).

Anyanwu and Agbala by Odera Igbokwe

Nri people were so serious about their veneration of Anyanwu, that they would wear it on their faces. This facial scarification was called ichi.  “In standard Nri scarification, the artist would carve the first line to run from the center of the forehead down to the center of the chin. They would then carve a second line to run across the face, from the right cheek to the left. The second line met the first at the center of the nose, making it a perfect cross. The second cross was drawn with one line running from the left side of the forehead down to the right side of the chin and another line running down the opposite direction. This sequence and pattern was repeated until the pattern looked like the rays of the sun. Altogether, it took sixteen straight lines, eight crosses, for a full face scarification that mirrored the rays of the sun. It was their way of honoring the sun that they worshiped. But it was more than that. It was the face and service and another way of losing one’s facial personality.” (Anuobi, Chikodi. Nri Warriors of Peace. Page 203-204).

Ichi Facial Markings

One very important part of Nri’s mission was as the peacemakers and cleansers of abomination in Igboland. They attempted to broker peace deals and end wars, even going so far as to run onto battlefields to stop them. When a land needed to be cleansed for whatever reason, and it was beyond the scope of the ritual specialists of that area, Nri priests were sent in to do the job of restoring balance.  Ironically, the sun itself is a cleansing agent, and it is capable of destroying pathogens in liquids.In alot of ways, the Nri were like the Jedi of the Igbo people. However, instead of using lightsabers, they used Otonsi rods to vanquish evil.

I always thought Obi Wan's name looked Igbo

Anyanwu bestows many gifts to people. One gift is the one of sight. When the sun is out, things that were once in darkness are brought to light. This is meant both in the physical as well as metaphysical sense. Darkness is often used to symbolize something that is hidden or unknown, while light in this sense represents something that has been revealed.

Anyanwu Shrine in Ovoko Village

Returning back to the previous examples of the Sun manifested as an eye, it should be clear by now that the eye that is being symbolized is YOUR OWN. It represents YOUR enlightenment, YOUR sight, YOUR vision. This is is reiterated by the usage of a hawk to represent Ra. One of the things that hawks are known for is to be birds of prey. For an animal that flys to be able to spot and capture its prey from so high up in the sky, they must have incredible vision. The Avenger known as Hawkeye is appropriately named as such because of his ability to hit targets with his bow and arrow, which requires a very sharp eye.

Hawkeye

A former mentor of mine once told me that ones eyes are their first oracle. For this reason, he said, he was unable to consult Afa Ugili/Akpukpala (divination apparatus)  if he were outside, as Agwu (the Igbo spirit of divination) would be working primarily through his eyes. In fact, in his book, After God Is Dibia Vol. 1, legendary Dibia John Umeh proclaims that “As Ose Obala, Agwu is the God of Light, Anwu, whose eye is the Sun (Anyanwu). ..As the God of Light, Agwu is an integral part of Ose Ora (Uche Chukwu), the universal Consciousness of God…which is the completeness awareness of what was, what is, and what will be…..God of Light whose blze or Divine Light disperses and/or extinguishes danger, evil or darkness.” (Page 114).

"Anyanwu and Agbala were not there, only coldness" by Uche Okeke

Metaphorically, this sight represents itself as insight, which is the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing, and foresight, the ability to predict what will happen or be needed in the future. In short, insight is the ability to see things as they really are, and foresight is the ability to see things as they will be.

There are many people who seek solutions to problems when the answers are typically right in front of their face, and the thing about your senses is that if you don’t use them, you will lose them. Have you ever wondered why despite all of the oracles that were all over Africa, none of them seemed to give an adequate solution to the coming domination by the Europeans? (Or if they did, the people definitely did not listen to them!)  Why is it that the only nation that was never to formally colonized in Africa was Ethiopia? Could it have anything to do with the incredible foresight of its leader, Emperor Menelik II? Were other African people overdependent on their shrines and oracles that they forgot how to use their abilities of foresight and insight?

HEM Menelik II: King of Kings of Ethiopia

One also didn’t need to use an oracle to see that the present systems we have (economic, political, industrial, religious etc) were unsustainable and would eventually fail us. A major flaw of Western Civilization is the complete lack of foresight in a lot of the decisions that have been made throughout the years. Sometimes it makes one scratch their head and wonder if those in power ever consider the future consequences of their actions or if they even care.

Other examples of a Sun god granting powers of foresight and insight would be Apollo of the Greeks and Romans, whose Oracle at Delphi was the most important oracular site of the classical Greek world. Apollo once granted Cassandra the gift of foresight in order to seduce her, but after she rejected him, he proclaimed that nobody would ever believe her prophecies. She foresaw the fall of Troy due to the Trojan Horse, and even foresaw her own death, but was powerless to stop either. Pretty messed up situation to be in right?

Apollo: Graeco-Roman God of Light, Wisdom, Prophecy, etc

As  I stated in the Amadioha post, my personal shrine of Anywanu uses the image of the Johny Storm AKA the Human Torch. He is one of the members of the Fantastic Four, with each member representing one of the four classical elements of: earth (The Thing) , air (The Invisible Woman) , fire  (The Human Torch) and water (Mr. Fantastic). However, that is a topic for another day.

The Human Torch

Another comic book character that can be used to represent Anyanwu would be Phoenix from the X-Men. In fact, I would say that she represents Anyanwu way better than the Human Torch because of the significance of the Phoenix, which is  a mythological fire bird found across many cultures that represents rebirth, immortality and renewal. Plus, the comic version also granted enhanced psionic (psychic) abilities  to its host, as Anyanwu also does.

The Phoenix

If you wish to gain access to the infinite wisdom, joy and love of Anyanwu, you can start by greeting her every morning as our ancestors used to do. If you decide to do so, ask yourself: Are you ready to be awakened? 

"Igbo Woman" by Arteyez

I: Invocation 

Ogolo Mmuo!!

The river-sides have gathered basins of sun.

Descend now, unnoticed, in your ethereal flush

My bright-faced maiden, revisit once again—

And possess the idle wind with your buoyant vigor.

Bring with you, all the gleam of your wonder realm

Come—blind our eyes with your shimmering beauty,

My vibrant one, rip your way through our red earth

And leave behind your unique dance trails for all to see.

With your frail, measured landings—never out-done,

Impact our fertile ground with unaging beatitude.

Possess the trees Ogolo—the eyes and ears that seek you

Out from the dark. Loosen our stiffened, mortality

With your enchanting aura, my gleaming one.  salvage

Please descend, for the river sides have gathered—

Sufficient sun; enough to fill up your rain-pouch,

My queen. Descend and I, seated by the ant-hill,

Untiring, Shall be waiting for you, Ogolo.

"Igbo Grace"

II: Manifest

The Maiden’s Dance

Faster than thunder through plantain-leaves

Follow those legs, famous for their tedious,

Penetrance of varied human soils.

Swiftly, stately—with few ascensions,

Ogolo, you rejuvenate the staid-struck

Pulsation of  an eager-earth—circling,

Through and through, endless…

With eyes that are life transient,

While doubt-shattering,

You induce in all soul: your distant home’s allure

Dream-rich and serene,

Like deep-flowing agrarian pastures…

I stare on as those sprite fingers,

Finely weave into the dread-troubled wind,

Unfettered tranquil—unbroken at all times,

Like the eternal reach of pure bliss.

Indeed Ogolo, the rain-chap does hold to himself,

Far greater feats—that to mere mortal life,

Will remain eternal yearnings.

Igbo maiden spirit maskers near Akwa, Nigeria 1935

Many people think that modern day Igbo sacred sciences (Odinani) is a good overall representation of the very ancient metaphysical systems. They are very incorrect. In fact, the decline of the divine Kingdom of Nri and the rise of the European controlled Atlantic slave trade corrupted Igbo civilization. British colonialism and the Nigerian Civil War practically destroyed what was left of Igbo civilization. What is left of Odinani is only a very faded shadow of how it used to be.

Anyanwu (Eye of Light) : The Igbo divinity that dwells in the sun

Although Odinani is one of the oldest science systems in the world, we will just briefly discuss the last one thousand years. Nri Kingdom (in present day Anambra State) was a major power in present day Eastern and Midwestern Nigeria from 1000 A.D. to 1600 AD.  Unlike most kingdoms, Nri did not gain their influence nor maintain it through military force. Nri’s influence came from metaphysical power. Their culture, tradition, and philosophy was centered on peace, harmony, knowledge, wisdom, justice, and oneness with Creation (Chi, Aja Ana, Anyanwu, Igwe, and etc) and the Creator (Chineke). Eze Nri (Divine king of Nri) was the traditional Igbo pope and he and his mediators (real Nze and Ozo men) spread peace and civility throughout the land and found many settlements abroad. The Nri are responsible for the Igbo Ukwu sites, Four market days, Ozo/Nze title systems, Igu alu, and etc. Unfortunately, between 1400-1700 Nri declined due to internal disputes, the slave trade (which was illegal in Nri), and the rise of rival states.

One of the many famous Igbo Ukwu bronze castings

In the late 17nth and early 18nth century, the Aro Confederacy (their capital Arochukwu is in present day Abia State) was formed and quickly became a major economic power in present day Eastern Nigeria. The Aro people were expert long distant traders that developed and controlled a complex trading network in the region. The Aros were also known as priests and agents for their famous Ibini Ukpabi (Drum of the high God) oracle that was located in Arochukwu.  After Aro conquest, Ibini Ukpabi was also used as an oracle to settle disputes serious disputes and problems. The oracle quickly became popular for its effectiveness, accuracy, and its useful divinations. Ibini Ukpabi became the main oracle in the region and beyond for many years until the early stages of British colonialism in the 20^th century. However, shortly after Aro expansion, the Europeans increased their slave trade interests on the Bight of Biafra. This brought chaos.

Ibini Ukpabi Oracle

Igboland and adjacent areas was very violent and chaotic in the 18th century as the result of the Atlantic slave trade. Some oracles in Igboland such as Ibini Ukpabi unfortunately became commercialized. Although many agents and priests of the oracle continued to do honest and fair work, others used the opportunity to sell innocent people as slaves. The Slave trade also introduced the outrageous Osu caste system in Igboland. Initially, Osus were very sacred and respected assistants to high priests. However, as a result of the slave trade, wars in Igboland increased and many people (including runaway slaves) sought refuge in shrines and become an Osu. In some cases, criminals also decided to be an Osu rather than becoming enslaved. Suddenly, being an Osu became a taboo.

Shrine priest (sitting) and Osu (standing)

British colonialism and Christianity tried to destroy what was left of Odinani. After the 1901-1902 Anglo-Aro War, British troops attempted to destroy the Ibini Ukpabi shrine. The British even called the Nri people, a group that has always stood for justice and peace, evil. Initially, Christian missionaries referred to Odinani as totally evil and tried to force the population to convert. Although Igbo people embraced Western education, they heavily resisted colonialism and the British efforts to destroy their tradition. While the British condemned our culture, they did absolutely nothing to help it. Many Igbo people (Osus were among the first) did convert to Christianity but there was still respect for the many good aspects of Odinani and Igbo culture overall. A strong traditionalist population was still among the Igbo before Nigerian “Independence” (1960) and the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). After the brutal Civil War, more missionaries came to a war torn Igboland in the 1970s and began the evangelical movement. This movement has been very devastating to Odinani and Igbo culture in general. Some foolish and overzealous Christian youth have looted and destroyed shrines and priceless artifacts. And what have they gained? Absolutely nothing! Instead of creating jobs, developing Igboland, and becoming self sufficient some misguided youths have decided to take the place of the European missionaries and destroy their own Igbo culture.

Igbo children during Biafran War

Igboland in modern times is lawless and very violent. We have been losing wars for our freedom and now have lost our minds because we are fighting a war against ourselves. The land is very underdeveloped and polluted. Many Igbo people at home and abroad have completely turned their back on our ancestors and put a much higher value on Western culture. Many Igbo children have close to no knowledge of their own people. IGBO PEOPLE THIS IS A EMERGENCY. PLEASE LISTEN! Unless we get back to who we are and revive/improve on the productive aspects of our sacred science system or “spirituality”, get rid of outrageous aspects of our tradition like the Osu caste system, stop putting useless foreign institutions over our own WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN DEEP TROUBLE!

-Chi (God) Bless

A long time ago
in a land far, far away
I arose to distant hills
in translucent shades of blue
In the backdrop
Black birds soared
flapping their wings to the rhythm of their coos
They spread gossip about other towns
Grandma listened, nodded and suddenly went:
“okay!”

I only got the part about Emekuku
What happened at Emekuku?
Grandma’s lips were sealed
It was older people’s business

I long for the days when birds could talk
and we took the time to decipher
When chickens and goats co-existed with humans
on the front porch
Swearing away the heat
each in its own tongue
Longing for harmattan…

Sitting under moonlit skies
Listening to a particular tale of duality
as corn roasts with crackling sounds under the fire…

Chanting:
“udara mu cha nda cha cha cha nda…”
sniffling at the girl whose stepmother starved her
and who prays for the udara to ripe so she can eat

In a famine Udara dwarfs itself to feed girl
and grows infinitum when step mother sings to it

We cheer!

It’s bedtime

And with a belly filled with corn and ube
I move lethargically towards my mat
determined to rise early
to decode what the bird from Emekuku had said.

Everything was all good just a week ago. There are some people who say that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Well it took seven days for Chidi’s life to come crashing into pieces. You see, from the surface, Chidi seemed to have it all; a high paying job at an investment firm, a beautiful wife, kids in college. However, things started to fall apart last Wednesday. That’s when he came home to see that his wife had packed up her things and left a note explaining that she was calling it quits after 24 years of marriage. Chidi had no idea why she wanted a divorce. He had done his best to give her the type of lifestyle that most Nigerian women had desired. After 19 of his calls going straight to voicemail, and 18 of those 19 calls actually ending up with him leaving a message, he decided to give her space while he called his family members and in-laws asking what he should do. Just as he was still in the midst of making sense of his imminent divorce, the second blow came to him two days later when during his annual doctor check up, he was diagnosed with cancer. As a person with no ailments, who attended the gym religiously, Chidi was one of those people who felt that things like cancer could never happen to a person like him. But cancer, being a disease, is no respecter of persons and could strike anyone at any time. The straw that broke the camel’s back occurred Tuesday when he found out that he would be let go by his job despite his 15+ years of service to them.

Each of these three situations were tough to handle on their own, and them happening at the same time was pure torture. Upon facing this immense level of stress in such a short time, Chidi did what most people do when put in similar situations: he turned to drugs and alcohol. After a few days sitting in his room, drowning his sorrows with hard liquor and barbiturates, he decided that life was no longer living anymore; Chidi would commit suicide. Chidi had known alot of people who had nearly died from taking certain over the counter drugs in combination with one another. He figured that if he took those same drugs at a higher dose, he would be sure to kill himself but still make it look accidental. Although it was the 21st Century, suicide was still considered very taboo and cowardly amongst his group, the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria, and if he died of drug overdose, he would still retain some type of dignity. And perhaps his family members could sue the drug companies for negligence. Maybe it would work, maybe it would not. The most important thing was for him to be able to off himself in a peaceful way since he definitely was too cowardly to do things like jumping from a bridge or shooting himself.

Despite not being in the right frame of mind, Chidi was meticulous in preparing his cocktail of death, calculating how much of each drug it would take to ensure his relatively painless death. He said a short prayer and raised the cocktail of death to his lips, preparing to take it with some alcohol. Just as he was ready to pop the pills in his mouth, he heard a voice say “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

Chidi paused. Perhaps it was a figment of his imagination or a product of his drunkenness. He raised the death cocktail to his mouth and once again heard the voice, but even louder this time. Chidi was confused. He hadn’t been taking any hallucinogens, so he was confused why he was hearing voices. The voice appeared to be coming from the mirror. Perhaps it was someone deciding to play a trick on him.  He put the pills and the alcohol down, rushed over to the mirror and shouted angrily, “Who are you?”

The voice replied, “You should know who I AM my child.” Chidi was confused. Both his parents were dead. Suddenly it dawned upon him who it was that was speaking to him.

He put both hands on his head and yelled out, “Chinake nna! I can’t believe this is happening to me!”

The voice replied, “What were you expecting…a burning bush or something?”

Chidi’s bewilderment immediately turned to rage as he yelled out, “Where were you when I was going through all of my suffering?”

The voice replied to him, “I’ve been here all along, where have you been?”

Chidi responded by asking: “What do you mean where have I been?”

In return the voice asked ,“All the many years that things were going great for you, when your life was full of blessings, where was your appreciation? Where were your songs of praises? Where were your prayers of gratitude?”

Chidi paused and looked at the mirror. It had been a couple of years since he last made thanked God for all the blessings in his life. “But I pay my tithes faithfully! And yet you allowed me to lose my job!” he responded.

The voice replied, “First of all, do you really think that I NEED something like money or anything for that matter? When you give, you give to one another, not to me, and there are plenty of better things that you can give , such as your time and talents in service to your fellow man and women, in other to show appreciation for your blessings. Secondly, when you were giving money, you were doing it solely because you felt that doing so would bring you more money, like an investment with a guaranteed return. It was the same type of thing that you did for your job, and there was no sense of gratitude in it whatsoever! Now on the issue on your job, everyday you would say to your Self  how much you hated it, but how you just loved the money that it brought to you. In all honesty, I was doing you a favor. You losing your job was designed to give you an opportunity to re-evaluate your life and find your calling. Do you really think that you or anyone else was put on earth to work 40+ hours a week for 40+ years, retire and then die soon afterwards?”

Chidi was flabbergasted. He had indeed hated his job. He hated the commute. He hated his coworkers and his superiors. He hated the unscrupulous practices that went on there everyday. But he loved the money and status that it brought to him. As he looked deeper in the mirror, he remembered how he had a passion for agriculture when he had been younger, but how his mother had laughed at him and asked him if he wanted to be a menial yam farmer like his great-grandfather had been. She had told him to follow the money and get rid of those silly notions that had crept in his head.

Chidi then asked “Well what about my marriage? Why did my wife Amarachi leave me? I did alot for her!”

The voice replied: “When was the last time you told her that you loved her? When was the last time you showed that you appreciated her? When is the last time that you spent time with her? Sure you brought home enough money to keep the entire household comfortable, but what about her contributions? She has a career too you know!  And she after a long days work, she wants attention and affection from the man she married! Where you thinking of her all those late nights you spent at the office? I hope you know that she was thinking of you!”

Chidi was dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He had worked hard and given her so much…

The voice interrupted his thinking by saying: “Why can’t you admit to your selfishness? Why is all about what YOU brought to the table? This woman sacrificed so much for you. She suffered for many years and brought you four children. And yet you neglected her for the sake of your career. How long will you keep lying to your Self? I don’t have to remind you of the numerous issues that you have in your marriage, but I will say that you have have avoided addressing them by hiding behind your career!”

Chidi continued looking in the  mirror and remembered the numerous times he would come up with work related excuses to avoid having to deal with the difficult issues with his wife. He recalled how she had told him that he had stopped doing the things that had made the marriage so magical in the first couple of years and how she barely even knew who he was anymore. He realized that he had indeed sacrificed his relationship for career advancement and now had lost both. He began to cry.

“Well Chi,” he said with tears flowing down his cheeks, “what did I do to deserve getting prostrate cancer?”

The voice replied: “Its very unfortunate that this type of cancer disproportionally affects men of African descent in America far more than of any other group. There are a number of reasons why you, and other men of African descent have developed this cancer, but that’s something that I would rather you to discover for yourself. Nonetheless, be encouraged that you possess all the tools and resources to heal yourself and to help other similar men to do the same. The same applies to all of the other issues that have befallen you. Always remember that…”

With that last statement, the voice faded away. To where? Only Chi knows. But Chidi was left staring at nobody but himself in the mirror. He really didn’t know whether the entire episode had been real, or merely a figment of his imagination. But at this point, it really did not matter. It had dawned upon him that he had no one to blame for himself for his recent pitfalls. They say you never know what you have until its gone. He had a job that he hated, but was even more upset when he lost it. He had a wife that loved him, but who he had neglected and now she wanted to leave him. He had health that he had taken for granted, and now it had failed him. He decided that from this day forth, he was going to show appreciation for everything that he had, and was going to take responsibility for his actions and reactions. He wiped the tears from his eyes and said words of thanks in his native language. He arose a new man, with a new lease on life. He would do everything in his power to get his life on the right track. He would make amends with his wife and make sure that she always felt appreciated. He would look at how and why he developed this illness, and most importantly, what he could do to heal himself. And last but not least, he would begin a new career in something that dealt with agriculture, because feeding people was an excellent way for him to feed his soul. Chidi planned on doing all of these things, but first, he wanted to call his good friend Onyemobi and tell him everything that had just happened to him.

Know Thy Self and Know God – Ancient Egyptian Proverb