Wearing Igbo Red Cap To Political Rallies Is Abomination, Eagle Feathers Or Not – Odimegwu Onwumere Spits Fire

Hello. A statement by Igbo cultural puritan, Odimegwu Onwumere (Nze Obimgbegbuo), warning against the ‘indiscriminate’ use of Igbo red cap (okpu mme mme) in political rallies has arrived the desk of Igbodefender.com.


Nze Onwumere specifically thundered against the affixing of political emblems on such caps, and demanded an apology to Ndigbo from politicians who have indulged in the act.



According to him, it does not matter weather eagle feathers were attached to the cap or not.

Is he right or wrong? Is it permissible for non initiates of Nze na Ozo cultural institution to put on Igbo red cap even if they do not add eagle feathers? Have your say.

See excerpts from Onwumere’s statement below.

Putting on the Igbo “red cap” is not for everybody, let alone, using it for political rally; something that cannot be attempted in other traditions across the country.

The Igbo ‘red cap’ is for a particular people in the Igbo cosmos and not worn by Tom, Dick and Harry. It is a sign of authority and culture and power in Igbo land. It is not for beer parlour outing!



Whether the Igbo “red cap” it is worn with eagle feather or not, its significance of leadership in the Igbo nomenclature cannot be overemphasized.

The Igbo Nze na Ozo, might not be laughing when a non-initiate in the Igbo tradition is putting on the “red cap” talk of affixing a political emblem on it in the name of electioneering campaign.

This is an insult to entire Igbo traditional institutions and the aberrants have no reason not to apologize.

Source: http://www.igbodefender.com/2019/02/01/putting-on-igbo-red-cap-for-political-rally-is-abomination-eagle-feathers-or-not-odimegwu-onwumere-spits-fire/