Please I would really appreciate if those who are really knowledgeable about our igbo culture and traditions to educate me on who an "Nmaji" really is.

I've searched well for answer with none meaningful laying around and so would be happy if I'm educated properly. Thanks.

ugnoble:
Please I would really appreciate if those who are really knowledgeable about our igbo culture and traditions to educate me on who an "Nmaji" really is.

I've searched well for answer with none meaningful laying around and so would be happy if I'm educated properly. Thanks.

Are you referring to mmaji kwulu mmaji?

Or nmachi as in nmachi akpa?

Listening

I wonder if the OP is referring to the Nmaji/Njoku cultural practice. I'll expand on that. Worst case scenario, I am wrong and this is not what you are looking for @OP, so you can feel free to ignore it. Best case scenario, this is exactly the information you seek. I'll leave that for the future to determine, since I don't know.

Anyhow, Nmaji is part of the agricultural practice of Ngwa and Mbaise (at least, I'm sure of these communities -- I cannot speak for all others). It's literal meaning is "knife of the yam". Nmaji is the female counterpart of Njoku. Both are dedicated to Ahinjoku.

The practice had a number of different implications and some of it varied from community to community. Some communities used to use the skulls of dead Nmaji and Njoku as totems for worship. While alive, it was thought that the Njoku and Nmaji had claims to yams of their choice from people's barns. It was thought that to allow the head of an Njoku or an Nmaji to touch the ground was effrontry to Ala and would invite her punishment. Any attempt to prevent them from asserting such a claim was disrespectful to both Ahinjoku and Ala.

In essence, the Nmaji/Njoku culture was sort of like a fertility cult, centered around yam, Ahinjoku and Ala. For example, anywhere they co-occur (an Nmaji and Njoku that acknowledge each other's existence), they were effectively considered as married. No one could make any claims on the bride wealth of the Nmaji except for the Njoku in question. But if they ended up not marrying each other, they would at least marry a different Njoku and Nmaji respectively.

Nmaji and Njoku are high status symbols within the cultural region.

There's no need for me to dive any deeper than this since I am not certain it is what you are looking for. If it is, then hopefully I've said enough to get you going on your research to learn more about it.

ChinenyeN:
I wonder if the OP is referring to the Nmaji/Njoku cultural practice. I'll expand on that. Worst case scenario, I am wrong and this is not what you are looking for @OP, so you can feel free to ignore it. Best case scenario, this is exactly the information you seek. I'll leave that for the future to determine, since I don't know.

Anyhow, Nmaji is part of the agricultural practice of Ngwa and Mbaise (at least, I'm sure of these communities -- I cannot speak for all others). It's literal meaning is "knife of the yam". Nmaji is the female counterpart of Njoku. Both are dedicated to Ahinjoku.

The practice had a number of different implications and some of it varied from community to community. Some communities used to use the skulls of dead Nmaji and Njoku as totems for worship. While alive, it was thought that the Njoku and Nmaji had claims to yams of their choice from people's barns. It was thought that to allow the head of an Njoku or an Nmaji to touch the ground was effrontry to Ala and would invite her punishment. Any attempt to prevent them from asserting such a claim was disrespectful to both Ahinjoku and Ala.

In essence, the Nmaji/Njoku culture was sort of like a fertility cult, centered around yam, Ahinjoku and Ala. For example, anywhere they co-occur (an Nmaji and Njoku that acknowledge each other's existence), they were effectively considered as married. No one could make any claims on the bride wealth of the Nmaji except for the Njoku in question. But if they ended up not marrying each other, they would at least marry a different Njoku and Nmaji respectively.

Nmaji and Njoku are high status symbols within the cultural region.

There's no need for me to dive any deeper than this since I am not certain it is what you are looking for. If it is, then hopefully I've said enough to get you going on your research to learn more about it.

Thank You very much for your input, and yes, I'm talking about Njoku/Nmaji of the Ngwa Culture. I'd really appreciate if more information is been given out.