Igba Ọdụ in Igboland

By Uche Nworah

uchenworah@yahoo.com

Traditionally Igbo women have always distinguished their social status through initiation into various societies in their communities.

Iyom Society, otherwise known as Otu Ọdụ remains the most revered and coveted for women. Elephant tusk anklets known as Ọdụ are worn in both the legs and hands by members of the society as a distinguishing mark. This is in addition to an elaborate initiation ceremony involving great feasting, the type described in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. Once initiated, an Iyom is expected to live a life of philanthropy upholding and defending truth always.

Members of Iyom Society are recognised and honoured, and are given privileged sitting positions at ceremonies and events.

There are communities in Igboland that use brass anklets instead, the way some did in the olden days. However, the Ọdụ has survived till today while it appears that the brass ones have disappeared and are no longer preferred.

In parts of Nri in Anambra State, comprising Enugwu-Ukwu, Agukwu - Nri, Nawfia, Enugwu - Agidi and the rest, ‘Igba Ọdụ ’ is still well celebrated as it is used to initiate a woman of means, wealth and virtue into the Iyom Society, or ‘Otu Ọdụ', a women only society just like the Ọzọ society for men. In Igbo societies where Iyom Society or  'Otu Ọdụ' is observed, it is the highest traditional society women can aspire to belong to due to the honour and prestige it bestows on members who are addressed by the title Iyom.

While many argue that the Igbo society is essentially chauvinistic and patriarchal, the existence of the ancient  Iyom Society shoots holes at such argument.

From observations and interactions with members of the Iyom Society, it does not appear as if they are 'challenging' the men or are 'asserting' any rights or authority, the womenfolk and ndị Iyom just want to carry on with   'their thing'. Why not? Ndigbo say 'Egbe bere, Ugo bere', 'Ndụ mmiri, Ndụ Azụ'. Nke onye chịrị, ya zelu'.

  • Chief Nworah is an Igbo culture aficionado.

Pictorial descriptions:  

Undated picture of Igbo women wearing elephant tusk anklets signifying membership of Iyom society. It is not known whether these women are all wives of onye Ozo, a Chief, or a wealthy man in the society, or if they are just members of the Iyom society but married to different men. It will not be out of place to assume that they are all wives of one man as was the practice during the era the photo was taken. If that is the case, the head wife (isi nwanyi) should be the one seated, surrounded by other junior wives. Further interrogation of the picture compared to the more recent one of members of Iyom society attached with this write-up suggests that the women in this particular picture appear ‘less happy.’ Their demeanour portrays some kind of ‘seriousness.’ Could that be what was demanded or expected of them by the society at the time or should we mirror into their hearts and feelings through their facial expressions? This could be interpreted in different ways. Again, we observe from the picture, the slender nature and body frame of the women of that era, compared to the robust frames of the women in the more modern picture. Perhaps we can explain this away by the fact that civilisation and development have brought improvements in the standard of living and quality of life of our people. 

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Picture taken on Saturday, 4th of January 2020 shows members of Enugwu-Ukwu Iyom society in the Igwe’s procession during the 2020 Igu-Aro Enugwu-Ukwu na Umunri at Obu Umunri Palace. The women are wearing elephant tusk anklets signifying membership of Iyom society. The picture will suggest that the women obviously live in a different, perhaps more happier glamorous time.