Hello hivers..its a pleasure to be back here once again inspiring you with my content.Please read on;
Tradition is a belief or a practice which a group of people hold onto which shows their true identity and values and can be shown through ceremonies and rituals.
In Nigeria,the igbo tradition are numerous like the iri iji (new yam festival) nze na ozor (chieftain title) igba nkwu (Traditional marriage) mmanwu (masquerade)
And here's the traditions that mean alot to me as "nwa afor igbo" (son of the soil)
Iri iji (The new yam festival)
The new yam festival is celebrated by the igbo indigenes and it's once a year.this celebration is a special one as many people from far come to pay homage.This celebration is usually centered at the celebration of a bountiful yam harvest.
The ceremony usually last up to week or more where the community bonds. people cook native foods with the yam such as iji mmiri oku(Hot water yam) iji agwuruagwu(porridge yam) iji na mmanu (yam and palm oil). During this period the villagers are expected to be in Peace and Harmony with other as thank and offer scarifies to our 'chi' (God) for a bountiful yam harvest. Indeed during the festival are usually memorable one.
Mmanwu (Masquerade)
This is always during the dry season. we call it "okochi" and it's also during the Christmas period for the christians.It is time where where men wear mask and fluffy clothes for entertainment and also they have some certain connectivity with the spiritual realm.
The igbo land has different masquerade.The physical and the spiritual.The physical are used for entertainment in funerals, traditional marriage, during chieftains taking,or used to announce when a "odogwu" (Great man) is in town.
But,the spiritual are mostly during the night as they are mostly frightening.These are not worn by human or neither humans.But spirits, they punish criminals and protect the custom and traditions of the land.
I love other tradition in the igbo land.The nze title,the igba nkwu and lot's more,but above two in details are ones that i am always eager to participate in and they mean alot to me.
And of course the mmanwu (masquerade) will coming up in less than two months.As a son of soil I'll tell to come you to come and have experience of an undiluted culture embedded into tradition.
Here's the link for the contest
@indiaunited/indiaunited-new-contest-and-last-f0117e317ce7e
Image are ai generated
Thanks for reading through.