2023/2024
Ògụ́ àfọ̀ /Calender
Did you know that: Unlike the Gregorian calendar which has 7 days in a week, the Igbo calendar has 4
days in a week (eke, orie, afo and nkwo), 7 weeks(Izu) in a month, 28 days in a month(Onwa), 13
months in a year (afo), 91 weeks in a year, and 364 days in a year?
This calender was created by Dr Tonti Ndubuisi on behalf of NINEE and assisited by Dr Joan Osiegbu@IGBODAY2023
Designed by @BayworldCreatives
Photo from Ndi Igbo Northeast England (NINEE)
OUR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Igbo traditional musical instruments are majorly percussion
08
SUN MON
August
TUE WED THU FRI SAT
instruments. Here are drums being played by our NINEE Igba
cultural men’s group. 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
09
September
Photo obtained from www.nigeriathelandofplenty.blogspot.com
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT OCCUPATION - A PALM WINE TAPPER
Palm wine is a fresh alcoholic beverage obtained from the sap of
1 2 various species of Palm trees – a skillful process called Palm wine
tapping. In Igbo tradition, marital relationships are not considered
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 solid until the suitor brings palm wine to the father of whomever
they're pursuing!
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
WOMEN’S DANCE
The Igbos will not celebrate without music or dance. There are
SUN
10
MON
October
TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
various types of dance in Igboland – Egedege, Agbacha- ekuru nwa
are some popular types for women. Photo shows NINEE ‘ Ofuobi’ 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
women’s dance group performing
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
SUN MON
11
November
TUE WED THU FRI SAT
Photo from https://wokenationtv.com/kolanut-oji-the-sacred-fruit-in-igbo-land.html
KOLANUT / OJI
‘Oji' referred to as kola nut – a sacred fruit in Igbo culture, is one of the very
many customs that unites the Igbos. It is usually the first thing offered to a
1 2 3 4 guest. It signifies a token of welcome, hospitality, peace, life, acceptance and
goodwill.
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30
MASQUERADES
The Ijele - Towering at about 12 to 15 ft is the biggest masquerade in Sub-Saharan
Africa with origins in Anambra and Enugu states. It’s so large that it takes a hundred
SUN
12
MON
December
TUE WED THU FRI
1
SAT
2
men six months of work to prepare the costume and build an outdoor house to hold it
before a performance. It is brought to evoke fertility and a bountiful harvest feature. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
There are many other types of masquerades in Igboland but Ijele is the King of them
all. It is one of the selected masters bestowed the award of “Living human treasures” 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
sponsored by UNESCO in 2007.
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
SUN
7
01
MON
8
January
TUE
9
WED
10
THU
11
FRI
12
SAT
13
Photo credit to NINEE Youths performing the Atilogwu dance.
YOUTH DANCE
‘Atilogwu’ which literally means “is this magic?” in the original dialect is the
most popular and oldest traditional dances in Nigeria. The dance is usually
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
performed by trained agile youths. It displays the spirit that ignites Igbo
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 culture through energetic and vigorous body movements, acrobatics and
stunts.
28 29 30 31
2024
Photo credit By Dr Michelina Andreucci
BROOM
‘Aziza’ as we call broom in Igbo language, is a common but significant cleaning
instrument. It is a bundle of a brush of bristles, twigs, reeds or grasses, bound
02
SUN MON
February
TUE WED THU
1
FRI
2
SAT
3
together; which in Western societies are usually attached to a handle – broomstick, 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
and used for sweeping dirt, clearing cobwebs out of corners, dusting away dust or
sweeping the yard clean of possible nocturnal footprints and leaves. In Igbo, the 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
concept of cleanliness is personified in a broom and an indication of a well brought
up person. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29
2024
SUN
03
MON
March
TUE WED THU FRI
1
SAT
2
Photo showing some titled men in NINEE. Ugochinyere 1 of Utumakpa (lt), Ogbuefi Nnanyelugo 1 of Ezi -Awka(middle) and Osuu London &
CHIEFTAINCY TITLE TAKING
Okamadu 1 of Amasiri(Rt)
In Igboland, Chieftaincy titles are given to individuals based on achievement and
character by a traditional Igwe or Eze (Kings). It is one of the greatest instruments of
social control and authority and as such titled men are greatly respected. Some titles
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
can be taken without much ritual, although others require elaborate ceremonies and
feasting. In most societies, people are known by their titles, rather than their name.
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
2024
Picture credit: tales-by-moonlight-Eziagulu-Chukwunonso
FOLKLORE
Igbo Folklore represent creation, life, and even death. Through elaborate tales,
04
SUN MON
1
TUE
2
April
WED
3
THU
4
FRI
5
SAT
6
the Igbo people pass on their beliefs about how their people came to be. While
the tales focus mainly on animal characters, they represent many aspects of
everyday life. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
2024
05
SUN MON TUE
May
WED
1
THU
2
FRI
3
SAT
4
From left: Theresa Uwadia (Omu Onicha-Uku), Obi Martha Dunkwu (Omu Okpanam/Anioma), and Obi (Dr) Ada Nwanneamaka Biosah
WOMEN LEADERSHIP IN IGBOLAND
(Omu Asaba).
‘Omu’ Institution is about 822 years old and peculiar to Igbos in Delta State of
Nigeria. It involves assigning leadership to a woman in the community who becomes
principally known as ‘Mother’ and spiritual guide. They also look after women, the
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 markets and settle issues. Whoever is selected by the Ancestors to become the Omu,
will leave her marriage (if married) to return to her Father’s home where she will be
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 built a palace and assigned her executive and spiritual chiefs.
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
2024
Credit: Kashinath Vajpai
FARMING TOOL – HOE
‘Ogu’ as hoe is called in Igbo Language is a large rounded steel cutting end with a
06
SUN MON
June
TUE WED THU FRI SAT
handle. It is used for removing weeds and for loosening the soil, shaping the soil, 1
digging, clearing weeds, and harvesting root crops. Rural farming is a popular
occupation in Igboland. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
2024
SUN
07
MON
1
TUE
2
July
WED
3
THU
4
FRI
5
SAT
6
Photo shows one of NINEE youths modelling in a traditional Igbo female attire. In her hand is the Odu-Agu and her neck adorned by
the traditional coral beads. She is tying a typical ‘Akwa - George’ which is peculiar to the Igbos.
FASHION - CLOTHING
Igbo women typically wear clothing of varying lengths. They often match these with
numerous accessories such as traditional bangles, earrings, necklaces, and
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 headscarves. In modern Igbo society, they now wear a puffed sleeve blouse along
with two wrappers and a headscarf. Young maidens could easily be pointed out with
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 their short waist-wrapper and colorful beads around their waists and necks. The coral
beads are symbolic for power, protection aside from being ornamental
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31 27 28 29
30
2024
