Jgoldie:
I am not familiar with the Igbo culture but of what significance is the nose mask??

Very colorful event I must say

Someone pls explain?

Dust I think, everywhere there is red sand. The flogging is odd and ridiculous according to Capslocked and the OP mentioned they were showing the celebrant pepper so I don't know why he reacted with insults.

Do Igbos not insult Rochas, Ikpeazu etc, why conclude he is a Yoruba man?

This is just like BARMITZVAR in Israel

NwaAmaikpe:





This is a very, very detailed piece.
Tradition is all we have and it gives me orgasms to see the next generation carry on with it.

My dear Ihitte-Uboma

Brings back long memories of when I visited Ihitte-Uboma for the burial of a friend's husband.
She couldn't freely receive me there so we managed to drive to neighboring Obowo, she was still inhibited so we had to drive all the way down to Umuopara in Umuahia where she gave me debbé as appreciation for the sacrifice of coming.

We almost crashed at '7-and-half' on our way back if not for God who cautioned her late husband and told him that he had no reason to be jealous since death had done them part.

Nice town aside from those SARS that always stay around Ishinweke waylaying AKTC and Abia Line buses.

...and what is *debbé* if l may ask ?

Nnaa eh, Donstan18, nwoke m i gwa gi ezi okwu, dis una iwa akwa looks just like a low budget cultism initiation.

sassysure:


U want them to be severally flogged?

I think the tradition might be for those who have reached the age to marry.
There is a yardstick and benchmark for this I guess.

I was going by this quote by OP:

It is a ceremony that entails the passage of a young boy transforming into a full- fledged man

What exactly has made them men? through wearing cloth and small small flogging? They haven’t shown the community their prowess by farming one acre of bountiful harvests, defeating fellow men in traditional wrestling and building a hut with their bare hands. . We are tired of these 21st century audio men who only have sharp mouth and, can make internet videos better than slay queens. . Or come on NL beating their chest about blue and red pill when not even pangolo is in their pocket .

Oh ok, on the age to marry. I wonder what age that is in traditional Igbo culture cause these ones look like 30yrs.

My guy, why are you using the n-word to refer to the men and women participating in this beautiful, traditional ceremony?

bluefilm:
Nnaa eh, Donstan18, nwoke m i gwa gi ezi okwu, dis una iwa akwa looks just like a low budget cultism initiation.

Lol. Oweghi ihe omere nh. So long as anyi adighi egbu mmadu, we are good to go.

safarigirl:


You are speaking from a perspective of someone who lives in urban areas. Culture is not dying in the rural areas, people still have shrines in their father's compounds, where they go for ablution, many still poor libation to their ancestors at gatherings.

To say culture is dying is a far reach. Culture is still very much alive.

for the emphasis, people still have shrines in their father's compounds. ibos are originally traditionalists before their large conversation to Christianity. As a number of practices among ibos are deep rooted in tradition and culture, isn't it ridiculous as ibos mock yorubas for being traditionalists?, some ibos go as far as saying yorubas are either Christians, Muslims or traditionalists, thus, unstable whereas, they, being ibos are 99% Christians and are therefore better off. seeing ibos play the masquerades, perform ablutions, sacrifice to the gods, erect family shrines, etc, does this practice conform to Christianity?.. why do they glorify themselves as being predominantly Christians & relegate other people's traditional practices even though they do same in their various communities?. Can you be sure that the folks wearing the masquerades regalia or the large crowd in spectacle aren't ibo Christians?
why do ibos mock others practicing their tradition while they proudly do theirs?

baby124:

I was going by this quote by OP:




What exactly has made them men? through wearing cloth and small small flogging? They haven’t shown the community their prowess by farming one acre of bountiful harvests, defeating fellow men in traditional wrestling and building a hut with their bare hands. . We are tired of these 21st century audio men who only have sharp mouth and, can make internet videos better than slay queens. . Or come on NL beating their chest about blue and red pill when not even pangolo is in their pocket .

Oh ok, on the age to marry. I wonder what age that is in traditional Igbo culture cause these ones look like 30yrs.

just negodu. these same people insults the northerners who flog themselves for marital rites. the hypocrisy stinks.

franchasng:
But they don't carry gun. Most people give them money on freewill unlike the Special Armed Robbery Squad, SARS!!

They have canes, canes are weapons and can be used to assault someone.

rafabenitez:
your apt knowledge about places and towns marvel me,u know these environments so well

Nigga is a driver at peace mass transits

donstan18:
Firstly, What is Iwa Akwa?


The Iwa akwa, also known as 'cloth wearing', means an initiation into manhood. It is a ceremony that entails the passage of a young boy transforming into a full- fledged man; and it is highly valued, respected and usually practiced by the people of Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma, Obowo and Ahiazu Mbaise Local government areas, all in Imo state. The participants are usually mates of a certain age grade. The wearing of cloths has a symbolic representation. It is a symbol of coverage. It is assumed that they (initiates) were naked before but they are now covered.


I wouldn't want to stress you with too much details as a Nairalander by name Igbodefender had once opened an educative thread on "Iwa Akwa". https://www.nairaland.com/5001028/iwa-akwa-festival-igbo-initiation

Before I forget. The person "Wearing the cloth" is a senior friend, cousin, colleague and buddy. He's just almost everything to me. So base on those settings, I couldn't help but had to forfeit my programs just to be there for him.

This very ceremony happened in Ihitte Uboma LGA, IMO State.

Please help with audience.

That was a good one there.
what a detailed information with pictures. op, you tried.

donstan18:
12: More Photos

Oga where be this?

BTW, Nwanyi ona away akwa?

rumasy drumasy donstan18 ;
My neighbours from ETITI and Mbano told me about this.

NaijadrivaCars:


Oga where be this?

BTW, Nwanyi ona away akwa?

rumasy drumasy donstan18

Sure, women are allowed to participate FULLY.

It's not just a man thing, but as a woman, it's optional because there are 98% possibilities that you are at your husband's place.

Ihitte Uboma LGA, very close to Mbano.

NwaAmaikpe:





This is a very, very detailed piece.
Tradition is all we have and it gives me orgasms to see the next generation carry on with it.

My dear Ihitte-Uboma

Brings back long memories of when I visited Ihitte-Uboma for the burial of a friend's husband.
She couldn't freely receive me there so we managed to drive to neighboring Obowo, she was still inhibited so we had to drive all the way down to Umuopara in Umuahia where she gave me debbé as appreciation for the sacrifice of coming.

We almost crashed at '7-and-half' on our way back if not for God who cautioned her late husband and told him that he had no reason to be jealous since death had done them part.

Nice town aside from those SARS that always stay around Ishinweke waylaying AKTC and Abia Line buses.

This man sabi this route sha Ubomiri, Isinweke etc.

donstan18:

Sure, women are allowed to participate FULLY.

It's not just a man thing, but as a woman, it's optional because there are 98% possibilities that you are at your husband's place.

Ihitte Uboma LGA, very close to Mbano.

I know that Ihitte-Uboma,Mbano and co have this culture.

Do you know any CHUKWU family there?

NaijadrivaCars:


Do you know any CHUKWU family there?

Lol. I find this deeply amusing.


How am I suppose to know your particular CHUKWU's family from a Local government area?

I know many CHUKWU's family all over Nigeria.

Emmanuelhector:
Nigga is a driver at peace mass transits

Lol, nairaland people ehn

Which time women begin do age grade?

safarigirl:


You are speaking from a perspective of someone who lives in urban areas. Culture is not dying in the rural areas, people still have shrines in their father's compounds, where they go for ablution, many still poor libation to their ancestors at gatherings.

To say culture is dying is a far reach. Culture is still very much alive.

Well, you are right but also know that there is high rural to urban migration which means people coming from rural area will be assimilated into urban settings and the trend keep growing.
In the next 50-100 years, culture may likely fade away naturally.

joyandfaith:


if a culture is not refined, another culture will swallow it. advanced or improved culure is termed civilisation. every civilized society used to practice some barbaric cultural practices but with improvement in ways of doing things certain cultural practices were abandoned, followed by cultural assimilation. if colonial masters had met a superior culture, they could had adopted some of our cultural practices. but they met barbarians.

And that is all the point have made that Culture is dying and we should know that instead of deceiving ourselves.

baby124:

I was going by this quote by OP:




What exactly has made them men? through wearing cloth and small small flogging? They haven’t shown the community their prowess by farming one acre of bountiful harvests, defeating fellow men in traditional wrestling and building a hut with their bare hands. . We are tired of these 21st century audio men who only have sharp mouth and, can make internet videos better than slay queens. . Or come on NL beating their chest about blue and red pill when not even pangolo is in their pocket .

Oh ok, on the age to marry. I wonder what age that is in traditional Igbo culture cause these ones look like 30yrs.

Don't mind those ones that don't know the names of their towns

Look at this one I posted. They don't look that old. I don't know much about this cultural practice as its not done in my state and also it seems like its modernising. I know for sure that they spend money a lot when doing this. So one jas to make the money first. Maybe thats why they stay that long. Unless your parents or family will do that for u.

Some cultures still do traditional wrestling even outside Nigeria.

[s]

pocohantas:


And backward...

99.91731% fall into that subset.

The worst being those who spent the larger part of their formative years in the SE or have never lived outside the SE for reasonable time. Let alone abroad.

[/s]


And the < 1 of us who are not backward have now seen you're a foolish girl. Tweh! Ifele megbukwagi. Agafu!

donstan18:

Sure, women are allowed to participate FULLY.

It's not just a man thing, but as a woman, it's optional because there are 98% possibilities that you are at your husband's place.

Ihitte Uboma LGA, very close to Mbano.

Really?
So women do this too.

Is there a particular age one is supposed to do this?

Also, do people who engage in this later belong to age grades?
Sorry, I'm asking lots of questions.

what's the age one must get to before engaging in such rite?

bluefilm:
Nnaa eh, Donstan18, nwoke m i gwa gi ezi okwu, dis una iwa akwa looks just like a low budget cultism initiation.

donstan18:
I wish I can continue posting, but I'll just stop here.

For all lovers of Cultures and Tradition. May you live long for understanding the importance of Culture.


Bigfrancis21 Mynd44 Lalasticlala

Good reporting but we of Ahiazu Mbaise we don't do it, my village we share boundary with obowo.

sassysure:

Really?
So women do this too.

Is there a particular age one is supposed to do this?

Also, do people who engage in this later belong to age grades?
Sorry, I'm asking lots of questions.

Yes. Women do participate.

There's no specific age. We have about 3+ Local governments in IMO state that participate in this, and each of the LGA v'got different age range that qualifies you.

How do you know you've come of age? They have what they call "Umu Ebiri", that's age grade, once you've gotten an age grade, you are to wait till it gets to your set.

Its normally done every 2 or 3 years, depending on the LGA.

Emmanuelhector:
Nigga is a driver at peace mass transits

evidence to prove this

BiiDii:
Good reporting but we of Ahiazu Mbaise we don't do it, my village we share boundary with obowo.

Not all parts of Ahiazu, but some parts, if not a particular part.

@donstan18 in what way did Davido marry Chioma traditionally?

pocohantas:


And backward...

99.91731% fall into that subset.

The worst being those who spent the larger part of their formative years in the SE or have never lived outside the SE for reasonable time. Let alone abroad.

this would be useful in politics sec.