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The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by tomakint: 1:05pm On Nov 14, 2012 |
In some parts of Igboland, the specie of snake called python is treated with utmost respect and dignity while in some other areas in the same Igboland, python is regarded as a dreaded reptile. Idemili clan is a conglomeration of towns that make up the present Idemili North and Idemili South Local Government Areas of Anambra State. It is a well known fact that in Idemili clan, people worship pythons to the extent that it is a taboo to harm or kill the snake. In a situation where the snake which goes by the name Eke Idemili, in the local parlance, is killed by someone, the wrath of the community where the incident took place is always brought to the person who committed the crime and he or she is compelled to accord the snake a befitting burial like that of human being To a very large extent I love studying about wildlife and on most occasions predators (Lions, Tigers, Pythons, Anacondas, Eagles, Hyenas and the likes have always catch my fancy)! One thing about animals is that they are ruled by Instincts (that means where animals are cared for and not killed they are known to be docile no matter how ferocious they might be, this is true in almost all cases, although not in general terms) unlike humans that are ruled by Instincts and Emotions. However, my emphasis is on the mystery of the pythons that roam free in Idemili where they have been harmless with no recorded case of killing humans despite the monstrous sizes of these serpents. Legend have it that they are sacred creatures that must not be killed, in as much as many of my Igbo friends always tell me about this 'strange culture' I will like to know of any versed Igbo Nairalander who can shed more light and perhaps give graphical representation of how true this cultural practice is and perhaps let us know if the said practice is still on. 3 Likes 3 Shares
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Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by Nobody: 6:54am On Nov 16, 2012 |
I searched the internet and came up with a brief history of the Idemili Python. "The history of how the people of Idemili began to worship the short pythons was linked with the river in the area called Idemili River which cuts across towns like Obosi, Ogidi and Ojoto, adding that the river has a network. The name, Idemili, was derived from the river, while the snake called Eke Idemili lives in the river. The people of Idemili regard the snake as a representative of their deity and therefore, a custodian of their culture and tradition. There is a story that says that when a child is born in Idemili, the short python crawls to the place where the baby is kept and curls around the child harmlessly to the admiration of the parents of the little child. It was also gathered that the visit of the snake to people’s homes could mean different thing as the snake is said to have the power to bring good or bad tidings. If, for instance, a noble person is about to pass on, a python could visit a relation of the person by dying in the house of the person." It is very true. It is a non poisonous python/adder and it is treated with utmost respect and dignity. It is forbidden to kill it. It is also called the Royal Python and whoever kills it must give it a befitting burial, in a coffin and all. 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by Valon4ego(m): 5:37pm On Nov 16, 2012 |
0Most places in Anambra forbids the killing of pythons. Although the tradition is much more pronounced around the idemili axis. It's a well known fact that in idemili, pythons roam around freely without harming anyone. There have also been reported cases of persons sleeping and resting their heads on a 'pillow' only to find out when they wake up that they have actually slept on a python. The exact reason why these serpents don't harm the villager is not know i.e whether it can be explained by scientific reasoning or it being spiritual. |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by PAGAN9JA(m): 6:00pm On Nov 16, 2012 |
excellent post. this tradition and religion of Seprent worship is also present among the Nair and Bantavaru tribes of South-West India. they call themselves the Nagas or Serpent race. they worhsip Seprents to a large extent, especially the poisonous King Cobra. apparently these Serpents rarely harm human beings members of these tribes , especially around the Sacred Groves. if a person even witnesses a dead snake , he/she must conduct an appropriate funeral for the deceased snake and feed the entire village (approx 100 persons). if a person kills the snake, that individual must be ready to face the much feared wrath of the Cobra. apparently the influence and the power of the Serpents in these areas is such that muslims who live there have also secretly taken to worshiping these snakes. |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by elothaddi(m): 7:38pm On Nov 16, 2012 |
i can confirm that i have had to use a very long stick to move the snake out of the room where i sleep move than once. Its very heavy and harmless. I went to a boarding school in the east and I do tend to see it the room any time I spend my holidays in the village. Its quite interesting when they tell stories about it and one of them is that if any body from Idemili kills it, he/she will have to bury as if u are burying a dead human being. 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by tomakint: 7:55pm On Nov 16, 2012 |
elo thaddi: i can confirm that i have had to use a very long stick to move the snake out of the room where i sleep move than once. Its very heavy and harmless. I went to a boarding school in the east and I do tend to see it the room any time I spend my holidays in the village. Its quite interesting when they tell stories about it and one of them is that if any body from Idemili kills it, he/she will have to bury as if u are burying a dead human being.Wao, what a tradition! |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by Antivirus92(m): 7:52am On Nov 17, 2012 |
Yes, i am from idemili in anambra. We don't worship pythons but we respect them. 5 Likes |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by wesley80(m): 8:14am On Nov 17, 2012 |
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/pythons-reverred-in-some-anambra-communities/130846/ 2 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by tomakint: 10:53am On Nov 17, 2012 |
@wesley80, you got me held spellbound with that illustrative and educative piece! I also confirmed that there is a particular community in a LG in Abia State where lions are also reverred please can you shed more light on that too? Thanks in advance! |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by OdenigboAroli(m): 8:21pm On Nov 17, 2012 |
Antivirus92: Yes, i am from idemili in anambra. We don't worship pythons but we respect them. Nop,our forefathers worshipped the "eke Idenmili" and it is a curse to kill one even up till this day. I have a personal story regarding this python but I will do that later. Been working my a..ss off. 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by PAGAN9JA(m): 8:27pm On Nov 17, 2012 |
^ nevermind the forefathers. do you respect the serpents of the land |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by OdenigboAroli(m): 8:34pm On Nov 17, 2012 |
elo thaddi: i can confirm that i have had to use a very long stick to move the snake out of the room where i sleep move than once. Its very heavy and harmless. I went to a boarding school in the east and I do tend to see it the room any time I spend my holidays in the village. Its quite interesting when they tell stories about it and one of them is that if any body from Idemili kills it, he/she will have to bury as if u are burying a dead human being. If you kill a python in any Idenmili town "ikpuo aruru eke"! I have also picked a python out of our house with a long stick and you should always throw the stick in the same direction you yanked the snake so it doesn't find its way back. We have had to chase Nsukka ppl out of my town(Umuoji) because they killed the "eke" and ate it. We also don't pound palm fruit on a motar on an "nkwo" market day. We usually go to a neighboring town to pound it and bring it home to cook. We have lots of customs and traditions like that in my town Umuoji "mmili manyulu oku". 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by OdenigboAroli(m): 8:36pm On Nov 17, 2012 |
PAGAN 9JA: I do respect the serpent because what belongs to Cezar goes to him. 3 Likes |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by OdenigboAroli(m): 9:06pm On Nov 17, 2012 |
Here goes my encounter with the "eke Idenmili"; On a very warm night just after eating supper with my family,I went to lay down briefly before the night long boring rosary. In our room my bed and my elder sisters bed was arranged in an "L" postion so the feet side of the bed were touching. I was 16yrs old and my sister 2yrs older was laying on her bed and we were discussing how mean our mother was and all of a sudden my feet touched something I believed was my sisters feet but they were very cold. Out of curiousity,I asked my sister why her feet were feeling so cold and she says if I were sure it was her feet that I felt because her legs were folded and she doubts they could reach the feet of the bed. I disagreed with her and rose to reach for them because it was dark and there were no electricity. I touched a thing I instantly realized was not my sisters feet and felt like the object moved so I went out to got some light. On returning back to the spot and shed some light I immiediatelly saw a big pile of python crawling down my bed. I screamed so hard and our neighbors all came out. I broke the lantern and tear race! To be continued... 4 Likes 1 Share |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by wesley80(m): 9:18pm On Nov 17, 2012 |
^ Where you come dey run go? abi no be una town juju again? If you wey be son of the soil 'took', wetin JJC go come do? |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by OdenigboAroli(m): 9:29pm On Nov 17, 2012 |
wesley80: ^ Where you come dey run go? abi no be una town juju again? If you wey be son of the soil 'took', wetin JJC go come do? I hate snakes and this is no joke! |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by odumchi: 4:09am On Nov 18, 2012 |
Odenigbo Aroli: Here goes my encounter with the "eke Idenmili"; On a very warm night just after eating supper with my family,I went to lay down briefly before the night long boring rosary. In our room my bed and my elder sisters bed was arranged in an "L" postion so the feet side of the bed were touching. I was 16yrs old and my sister 2yrs older was laying on her bed and we were discussing how mean our mother was and all of a sudden my feet touched something I believed was my sisters feet but they were very cold. Out of curiousity,I asked my sister why her feet were feeling so cold and she says if I were sure it was her feet that I felt because her legs were folded and she doubts they could reach the feet of the bed. I disagreed with her and rose to reach for them because it was dark and there were no electricity. I touched a thing I instantly realized was not my sisters feet and felt like the object moved so I went out to got some light. On returning back to the spot and shed some light I immiediatelly saw a big pile of python crawling down my bed. I screamed so hard and our neighbors all came out. I broke the lantern and tear race! To be continued... How can a full-grown Idemili guy like you fear pythons? |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by ifyalways(f): 3:07pm On Nov 18, 2012 |
^no bi small thing. A whole Odenigbo @topic, I've slept with a "python pillow" when I was 11 @ otolo Nnewi. On waking and because of an early oreintation and information by my aunt who was my host, I calmly walked to the kitchen, got some salt and sprinkled from my bed to the door. The Python quietly crawled out. 2 Likes |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by wesley80(m): 4:46pm On Nov 18, 2012 |
^ Which one be "Python pillow"? Python dey fear salt? You sure you didnt mistake pythons for earthworms? |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by ifyalways(f): 5:17pm On Nov 18, 2012 |
Python pillow simply means I slept on a python thinking it was pillow. As for your other question, perhaps you should ask any Nnewi guy around you if they use salt to "remove" python from their homes. |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by OdenigboAroli(m): 5:17pm On Nov 18, 2012 |
ifyalways: ^no bi small thing. A whole Odenigbo See you....I was very scared of Pythons when we first arrive villa but I did overgrown it as time passed. I used to pick them out with a long stick,but I still don't like snake. You guys need to stop f..ucking with me. Ify,how would you feel if you wake up and find a python beside you ? Let me guess...you will kindly kiss it,breast feed it and slowly walk to the kitchen to get some salt...ina akoolu biati |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by OdenigboAroli(m): 5:34pm On Nov 18, 2012 |
So let me finish my story from where I stopped yesterday; my father went into our room and searched every where for the python all to no avail,so he went and call an "eke idenmili" deity priest who came to our house with some rituals object to beg the python to come out and let her children sleep well because we(I and my sister) insist the snake must be taken out before we step foot in that whole building. The priest came and performed some rituals in front of our house and went in to look for the creature. He was calling the snake all kinds pleasing names like "nna","agbala idenmili","onolu ife nolu enyi" biko dajuo....puta ka ayi chuolu gi aja ma dunaa gi. I didn't take him more than five minutes to find a snake that my father looked for over two hrs and he came out with the python wrapped around his forearm. He petted the snake and made some ancient chant while he walked away with the snake. My sweet mother washed down our room that night and poured olive oil admist hot prayers and singing. We ended up going to bed late and I couldt stop thinking about the incident untill we left villa. 4 Likes 1 Share |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by PAGAN9JA(m): 5:40pm On Nov 18, 2012 |
Odenigbo Aroli: So let me finish my story from where I stopped yesterday; my father went into our room and searched every where for the python all to no avail,so he went and call an "eke idenmili" deity priest who came to our house with some rituals object to beg the python to come out and let her children sleep well because we(I and my sister) insist the snake must be taken out before we step foot in that whole building. The priest came and performed some rituals in front of our house and went in to look for the creature. He was calling the snake all kinds pleasing names like "nna","agbala idenmili","onolu ife nolu enyi" biko dajuo....puta ka ayi chuolu gi aja ma dunaa gi. I didn't take him more than five minutes to find a snake that my father looked for over two hrs and he came out with the python wrapped around his forearm. He petted the snake and made some ancient chant while he walked away with the snake. My sweet mother washed down our room that night and poured olive oil admist hot prayers and singing. We ended up going to bed late and I couldt stop thinking about the incident untill we left villa. interesting account. truly! 1 Like |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by ezeagu(m): 3:18pm On Nov 19, 2012 |
The python is the messenger of the earth 'goddess' ala (the highest deity in Chineke) in many places in Igboland. The Igbo deities do not appear to humans directly, in Igboland it is believed if you see a deity it means you are dead, so these agbara or arushi come through means of animal messengers, for example Amadioha comes through a white ram and ala, a python. These animals are therefore seen as sacred.It's also possible that the python may be the messenger of the deity Idemili. I've heard stories of the python (éké) making a drop in visit on successful births, some say with edible chalk in its mouth, so the python may be linked with idemili since water goddesses in Igboland are usually also fertility goddesses. In many other parts of Igboland there are family lineages with totem animals of all kinds, from a wall gecko, to a hippo. Many of these clans were believe to have possessed knowledge of metamorphosis (i hi anu) into their totem animal, which is why it was (and still is in many places) a crime to kill any of the totem animals of the community since it could actually be your uncle in 'beast mode'. 2 Likes |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by Antivirus92(m): 5:16pm On Nov 19, 2012 |
Eke idemili is very sacred in oraukwu. But i don't bleeping like it. They are very frightening. Inshort when i become the next igwe, i will change that tradition. 1 Like |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by PAGAN9JA(m): 5:19pm On Nov 19, 2012 |
Antivirus92: Eke idemili is very sacred in oraukwu. But i don't bleeping like it. They are very frightening. Inshort when i become the next igwe, i will change that tradition. By the Gods you will never become the next Igwe. 4 Likes |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by Antivirus92(m): 5:23pm On Nov 19, 2012 |
PAGAN 9JA:who said so? ,i am an igwe in the making, a very troublesome one oooo! Lol! |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by PAGAN9JA(m): 6:07pm On Nov 19, 2012 |
Antivirus92: who said so? ,i am an igwe in the making, a very troublesome one oooo! Lol! no chance. the people will never accept one who destroy their religion. you can go become a pastor. |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by wesley80(m): 10:34pm On Nov 19, 2012 |
PAGAN 9JA: Sorry pal, Spiritism is no Religion. I just hope African communities grow to a stage where they realize these are some of the reasons their people are relatively backward and face retarded progress. Yes I know it sounds absurd, but its true nontheless. i've seen such village traditions translate to huge obstacles in the lives of individuals who only knew their villages had such traditions or where themselves passive participants. Earlier this year I accompanied a friend to an occassion in Nndoni community in Rivers state a community notorious for their reverence of the Iguana and surprisingly I didnt see any of the usually ubiquitous reptiles throughout my stay and I wondered aloud where they had all gone. It turned out that their now late king - you didnt hear he's dead from me - had asked his people to drop the tradition and allow the Iguana serving tradition go back to the town they "acquired" the tradition from (forgive me for letting the name of the town slip thru my memory, I'll confirm tomorrow) and his people wholeheartedly consented - apparently, they were all tired themselves. And so the people got liberated from the shackles of a backward tradition. I wont bore you guys with tales of deliverance sessions I've watched of those posessed by spirits emanating from such traditions from Amadioha to pythons but my point is in 2012 we should have passed the stage of Animal worship and reverence. 1 Like |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by ezeagu(m): 2:04pm On Nov 20, 2012 |
wesley80: You don't know what you're talking about and let me explain why: Animal totemism isn't animal worship, the animals are considered to be part of the community, so much so they are given the same rights or more of a full human member of the community. Spiritism exists as part of many religions. The idea of animal messengers is linked with the veneration of different deities, so that the animals become a link between the temperamental deities, and the community. You really didn't explain what the obstacles were of having totem animals. You just explained that the Crazy Christians™ in Ndoni had enough of local traditions (like they usually do all over Nigeria) and decided to get rid of it. I can make a statement like 'the late king of nireraland had his people drop the practice of paying tide, the people happily accepted'. You leave no explanation as to why the Iguana totemism was backward, apart from the undertones in your entire post implying that all African religions and religious practices are inherently evil. Your "deliverance" religion is bullshit, and yes, because I say so. I can pay someone to wiggle and writhe on the ground too and claim Jesus was spooning them. It's funny how the traditional deities are the only ones who even bother to show that they exist through the same practice you condemn. It's funny how you condemn the traditional answer to the conservation of endangered species like the leopard or iguana, yet you support Christian spiritism boxing matches where people come to demonstrate the skills of rolling on the floor, acting possessed, and blaming it on innocent witches who did nothing to no one or blaming it on our dear father, Amadioha. Ashemanahabanakoshamokalakalakakawakaonyeiberibeashachakrouva. I bind and cast you into the pit of ignorance. 3 Likes |
Re: The Mystery Of The Idemili Culture!!! by PAGAN9JA(m): 6:26pm On Nov 20, 2012 |
wesley80: Spiritism is no religion so now it has come to this is it Religion started with ancient Pagan spiritism and now you say it is no religion?!!!! so now the father has to be subordinate to the kid? so what is religion to you paying tithes in a man - made insttution, reading some foreign book written by a long-dead man, killing people of other beliefs? so that is religion is it? your christianity lacks basic Spirituality. that is the reason why it is not a religion, but an irreligion. all it does is to dictate to people what to do and what not to, play with peoples emotions ,etc. just mere rules aand useless guidelines. that is YOUR religion. what obstacles do you talk about people have all the time to do other useles stuff but cant spend a few minutes for spirituality plz dont give me this stu.pid excuse. you are very narrow minded. you hear what happened recently to that useless Oba who tried to do away with Yoruba religion in Ondo and how the young/youth of the city hounded him and threw him out of the palace and very nearly lynched him you see how in this modern world how the ancinet codes of Spirituality still play an important part of people. something for which there is just no compromise. it is ingrained. go look at Japan , China, India, etc. you wont be surprized to find the high levels of advamced totemism, animism and spirituality that exists over there. that doesnt hinder them from progress. infact if anything, that has helped them progress to new levels due to their broad outlook towards life, fueld by their beliefs. unlike how silly and narrow-minded and irrational Nigerians have become due to abrahamism. also you should be aware of the rise of Neo-Paganism across the west,South America, ec : Wicca, Odinism, Neo-Shamanism , Mayan religion, Inca religion, etc. [size=16pt]THIS IS THE NEW RENAIZSSANCE! HUMANITY WANTS TO BE FREE FROM THE SHACKLES OF NARROW-MINDED SPIRITLESS ABRAHAMIC MAN-MADE MONOTHEISM![/size] 2 Likes |
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