British Council and Eyisi Ebuluo Foundation celebrate Igbu Ichi

Across Africa, there are different cultural creations rooted in local traditions. Every year, these cultural creations become endangered for different reasons. The decline started with colonialism and continues to be perpetuated even today.

While much attention is paid to endangered languages, little attention is paid to these cultural creations also called intangible cultural heritage. The cultural heritage of a people is encoded as values, songs, proverbs, philosophy in such cultural traditions. When such creations go into extinction, a part of the culture that produces it dies. When it is re-created in different forms, a part of that culture is transferred to a different generation, the cultural creation has a chance to live.

In Umudioka, Anambra state, Igbu Ichi, a traditional craft with an entire system of culture around it is gradually going extinct. Done by Nwadiokas, itinerant traditional herbalists cum artists who learned the craft through years of apprenticeship. Every year, Nwadiokas travel with a shoulder bag containing three main items jointly called “akpa mmanka”: the mmanka—a delicately forged sharp and stubby knife protected in a mini-scabbard; okuka mbubu—a slim, curved knife; and okuka eze and the mkpume eze—special chisel and hammer, used for dentistry purposes. However, also built around this act is a social welfare system, a dispute resolution system as well as a legal system that ensures balance in the communal society.

Today, there is only one living person with Igbu ichi in Neni, Anambra state. Only a few people have knowledge of the practice; even fewer know how it is executed and the culture built around it.
“More than ever today, while globalisation crushes local traditions, it is important to teach our cultural heritage,” said Chiedozie Udeze, the Chairman of Eyisi Ebuluo Foundation, a cultural organisation focused on promoting African traditions in its many forms. By educating the Nigerian populace about threatened cultural practices across Nigeria, EEF gives expression to local cultural traditions through different projects.

Between 12noon and 2pm on August 25, 2018 at the British Council Abuja, there will have a re-enactment of Igbu Ichi to educate the public about local traditions under threat. Asides the enactment, the last man with the Igbu Ichi would also be at the event to answer questions about the practice; there would also be cultural displays.

“Through this, people will learn more about igbu ichi, and see the beauty of the tradition. While the actual marking is not being done again, it is important that we do not lose the culture around it. For us to advance as a nation, we have to know our past.” He said that this is why Eyisi Ebuluo Foundation organises programmes such as this to educate the public on the beauty of their local cultural heritage.