Abominations and taboos in Igbo Land (Arụ na nsọ n’ala Igbo).

Taboos have and will always be a part of African cultures. Irrespective of the tribe you represent, there will be something you must never do in some lands; otherwise, you will face the wrath of the gods. A taboo is something declared forbidden either for its sacred nature or to protect the people of a given community from the wrath of the gods and the leaders.

As beautiful as the Igbo people are, they have specific cultures that must not be joked with even as civilization seems to be sweeping away so many cultural values. Certain things are considered taboos in the entire Igbo land.

Below are some of the taboos of the Igbo land

1. Killing or eating of the eke (python): in the Igbo land, pythons are considered ‘sacred’. As such, they must not be killed or eaten. Pythons are believed to be the reincarnation of ancestors, and regarded as “our father.” Killing a python is like killing one’s own father. Killing a python either by mistake or purposely demands sacrifices.
2. Ogbanje: an ogbanje is ” a ‘wicked’ child who continually re-enters its mother’s womb only to die again and again, causing its parents grief”. This singular act is considered an abomination.
3. A woman blessing the kola nut: The kola nut is considered a sacred nut in Igbo land and must never be broken or shared by a woman. It is only broken by a woman who is a priestess but such kola nut is not shared by a man. A kolanut must only be broken, blessed, and shared by a man because “he that giveth kola, giveth life,” but never by a woman because it is a life-giving nut of the gods.
4. Letting a wine fall: In those days, when a man is interested in marrying a woman, he calls his kinsmen, takes a calabash of fresh palm wine and walks to the girl’s house to ask her father for her hand.This is still practiced in recent times. This man carries the keg of wine on his head to the girls compound. If in his way, the keg falls on the floor, this is a bad sign. Such man is adviced to go back to his place and cancel the wedding.
5. Plantain with two fingers joined together: This is considered a bad omen. When one is separating them, he/she is to put it behind his back and not use his/her eyes to see the separation. It is believed that if this is not done, the person would give birth to conjoined twins.
6. Committing adultery: Fornication is morally wrong but it is not considered ‘a taboo’. But if a married woman engages in adultery, it is totally forbidden. It is believed that a woman can become mad or lunatic for adultery. The husband of such woman must never taste the food prepared by her or he might be a partaker of her punishment from the gods.
7. Suicide: To commit suicide means to kill oneself. Committing suicide is a taboo in Igboland, and so much frowned upon by both man and gods. Any one who does this must never be buried within the community. His/her body is cursed and must never be buried in the land. It could either be buried in the Forbidden Forest or outside the town. This is to prevent such evils from befalling others in the community.
8. Committing incest: this means to have sexual relations with one’s blood relations or with sisters from the same parents. This is frowned upon by everyone in the community and must never be attempted by anyone. The penalty is blindness, deafness, poverty or death.
9. Using the left hand: the left hand is called “aka ekpe”. Using the left hand to do anything is forbidden in Igboland and strictly prohibited. A left-handed individual is trained or oriented to learn the use of the right hand in eating, writing, giving and accepting things. This belief is very common throughout Nigeria and is one every Nigerian will understand.
10. Marrying an Osu: An Osu is an outcast within the caste system, and marrying one is considered a taboo that must never be done. An Osu or outcast is considered the property of the gods or a slave and descendant of slaves and must never be offered or taken for marriage. Free-born men and women are expected to investigate the origins and social class of an individual to be certain he/she is not an Osu before contracting marriage.
11. Unblessed marriage union: In the Igbo land, it is forbidden for a woman to live with a man without the proper marriage rites or without the due approval and approval of their parents. It is expected that a respectable man should pay the dowry or bride-price of his wife before or shortly after starting to live together. If not done, the woman will lose respect in the community and may face problems of poverty, retrogression, sickness and death among others.
12. Causing the fall of an elder: causing an elder to fall from his seat or drop from his feet is considered a taboo, and the offender must kill a goat for ritual or he may never grow to the present age of the elder.
13. Whistling in the night: the Igbo people believe that whistling at night is considered to lure snakes into the home, and also attract evil spirits that roam the night. Whistling in the night is highly discouraged and forbidden.