Iwa Akwa festival – celebrated every three years by some ofl the communities in imo state.
obowo, mabano, mabise, etc

I'd like to know more, do you have pics ?

Please do a proper academic work on this rich cultural heritage-Iwa Akwa. It is a cultural festival that comes up once in every three years. It is celebrated in Ehime Mbano and not in entire Mbano. It is celebrated in Etiti division which is Ihitte, Uboma and Obowu. Part of Mbaise that shares a border with Ihitte (Ogbo) also celebrates this rich Igbo culture.
More to come later.

Thanks.

Andre Uweh:

Please do a proper academic work on this rich cultural heritage-Iwa Akwa. It is a cultural festival that comes up once in every three years. It is celebrated in Ehime Mbano and not in entire Mbano. It is celebrated in Etiti division which is Ihitte, Uboma and Obowu. Part of Mbaise that shares a border with Ihitte (Ogbo) also celebrates this rich Igbo culture.
More to come later.

That is more accurate. Its mostly predominant in Obowo where the whole lga celebrates it. Its a very rich cultural festival that marks the coming to age of an age grade. The age grade is a very important aspect of them community as most activities are done in age grades and once u belong to an age grade,its for life. Your life in the community after the iwa-akwa practically revolves around activities of your age grade. Its mostly for men even though a few ladies join them.

Iwa Akwa is celebrated in every community in Ihitte, Obowu and Uboma.

Ardenb:

That is more accurate. Its mostly predominant in Obowo where the whole lga celebrates it. Its a very rich cultural festival that marks the coming to age of an age grade. The age grade is a very important aspect of them community as most activities are done in age grades and once u belong to an age grade,its for life. Your life in the community after the iwa-akwa practically revolves around activities of your age grade. Its mostly for men even though a few[b]ladies[/b] join them.

For real
Join them as in cheering them or particpating

In the memory of Iwa Akwa, women have been active participants and partakers in Iwa Akwa. They belong to the age grades and held key positions in the age groups. Shortly after the civil war, the role of women and participation waned.
Since, the 90's, there have been rekindled interest in Iwa Akwa by women. Even those who are married, come home to participate in Iwa Akwa especially in Ihitte and Uboma areas of Etiti, Imo state.

Mr Uweh are u guys saying women na awa akwa ?

Women do Iwa Akwa. I do have photographs of women participating in Iwa Akwa. I have tried so hard to download it here but all attempts prove abortive.
Famous Iwa Akwa communities are as follows:
Umuihi
Amakohia
Abueke
Okwuohia
Umuezeala nsu
Umuakagu Nsu,
Umunumu Nsu
Umualuwaku
Okwuohia

Thank you.I believed before now that Iwa akwa is strictly for males.

Apart from the communities earlier mentioned, other notable Iwa-Akwa communities are:
Alike Obowu
Umuezegwu, Ihitte
Umuike, Lowa, Uboma.

otuocha!!! unu wu ndi uzo ulo?
okwa nu umunne m oooooo!!!

Iwa Akwa Umuihi, Etiti ebe ano.

Age bracket? 3 years in Obowu. Say those born in 1979, 1980 and 1981. If one has not been at home to participate in the meetings before the IWA AKWA, he has to do NCHEDO MEETING. Depending on the supposedly member, it could be done by paying the monetary value as high as $150 at N150 to a US Dollar to the age group or hosting them.
For someone who has a sister within the age bracket but she is not interested in joining the age group, he as the younger one could join by doing IHE EBIRI (doing the age rights). But this is dangerous as the person may not have so much say when it comes to decision making as he may be perceived as a minor.
Before IWA AKWA, ISI NRI IWA AKWA is done. Verbatim, this is cooking for the iwa-akwa. This is the hosting of the age mates as well as the kinsmen. Where it is the first son in the family doing IWA AKWA, he has to be accompanied with his parents to his maternal home to formally inform them of his IWA AKWA. That is known as NTUGHE. ISI NRI IWA AKWA could be done also after IWA AKWA and is compulsory.
In Obowu, IWA AKWA is dependant on the market day. Okwuohia Obowu IWA AKWA 2010 falls on the 4th but will start on the night before.
Hey, by the way, you are invited to mine 3rd and 4th of January, 2010 in Okwuohia Obowu.

A very significant aspect of Iwa Akwa Okwuohia is the exhibition of roots of ancestry. Okwuohia though in Obowo is believed to have come from Umuihi. So during Iwa Akwa Umuihi, Okwuohia lines side by side with their Umuihi brothers. Here, you see the largest crowd ever in an Iwa Akwa festival. The crowd could be up to one hundred thousand. It is a must see at Orie Umuihi.

Iwa Akwa Amakohia (Isinweke-Etiti) this December.

Iwa Akwa cultural festival of Isinweke people.

Iwa Akwa

Iwa Akwa in Ihitte/ Uboma LGA.

See Handsome men with kissable lips
Could it be that Iwa akwa is same as[b] Iba nmuo[/b] in Onitsha Though that one is strictly for males.

ifyalways:

See Handsome men with kissable lips
Could it be that Iwa akwa is same as[b] Iba nmuo[/b] in Onitsha Though that one is strictly for males.

Iwa Akwa is initiation into adulthood. No gender prohibitions though predominantly male oriented.

Andre Uweh:

Iwa Akwa is initiation into adulthood. No gender prohibitions though predominantly male oriented.

OK

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following....nwa Umuoheh