Abagworo: Such phrases as "Ada n'eri ukwu anu", "Ikhi nwe ulo" and "Opara nwe ala" are common and widely accepted across Igboland but what I'm yet to understand is how the Orlu'Ulu title came to be and why the importance attached to it.

Orlu is a term widely used in Igbo language in reference to a 2nd child(male or female). While a lot of other African cultures have little or no value for the Orlu, the Igbos seem to cherish it so much that names dedicated to the Orlu child are too numerous to mention. The simplest is Nworlu,Worlu, Nwolu or Nwulu.

Odenigbo Aroli:

What part of Igboland is this custom prevalent in because we dont have this practice in Anambra,Enugu and Anioma areas or maybe its isnt prominent there. Though we have the "ada na eli ukwu anu" and "okpala nwe ana" customs. I will like to know where these custom is practiced.

Odenigbo Aroli:

What part of Igboland is this custom prevalent in because we dont have this practice in Anambra,Enugu and Anioma areas or maybe its isnt prominent there. Though we have the "ada na eli ukwu anu" and "okpala nwe ana" customs. I will like to know where these custom is practiced.

Abagworo:

Maybe I did not do my studies well but I guess Ihiala and Okija are in Anambra State and they happen to have the culture. It is probably more prevalent in the Imo/Abia axis.

nedu210:
like the first and last child, the second is also very important and some times well cherished than the first child, in my part of igboland they are called ulu nwa, and they usualy named after their maternal grand parent making them an 'ogo'. Ulu nwa are more respected both in their village and maternal village. They are called nwa ulu in northern igboland and nwa olu in southern igbo land.

some-girl:
please what is "Ikhi"?

p.s. Owerre people attach importance to third daughters as well who are called "Ibari"

ezeagu: Again, since the okpara inherits the compound of his father, it could be the importance of expanding and spreading out the lineage is mostly down to ulu, since they don't get the main compound.

scholes0:
And exactly why is this topic pinned to the top of the culture section?

absoluteSuccess:


where else should it be na?

It is the most important thread of the year.

BuddahMonk:
We don't observe such in Okija, I have many friend from Imo State who normally regard some of their sisters as "Uru nne" but I never bothered to ask them because I always thought it meant "elder sister"

Its not popular in Okija but I will ask shaa but I have never heard anybody made mentioned of that in my area.

somegirl1:
please what is "Ikhi"?
"Ulu/ Olu" is a very important position in Imo and Abia, I don't know about Anambra, Enugu, Delta and Rivers.
Ulu as far as I'm aware refers to the second daughter not son.
In Cross River and Akwa Ibom states second daughters are called "Uduwen" and second sons "Udo"

p.s. Owerre people attach importance to third daughters as well who are called "Ibari"

Ihuomadinihu:
To the best of my knowledge, Ulu culture is prevalent in parts of Imo and Abia state, am not conversant with the Northern regions.
There was probably a time when Igbos attached strong sentiments to the Ulu or second child. In this day and age, the Ada and Okparas are have the greatest importance in Igbo culture.

However,i know men that bear ''Nwulu'' as a surname in Imo state.
For now, only women are referred to as Ulu, Ulunma and Ulunwa while second male Children are called Di Okpara.
Like i pointed out before,there was probably a time when Igbos had the Ulu culture and both second female and male children were called Ulu , Nwulu or Ulunwa.
Am yet to see a man referred to as an Ulu in 2015.


When i look at igbo culture, sometimes i see them like a large family which developed big traditions. Each group is allowed to hold on to some cultures and others are allowed to discard same cultures adopted by the other group.
That could be the reason for our diversity way before the white man arrived.