DIBIA NWANGWU UCHENDU

I was very young about 5 years old when I saw a little heap of red soil with stones and clay pots attached to it inside my late father’s compound. Overwhelmed with curiosity, I walked towards it to run my fingers around it thinking its that mound looking like a fireplace where garri is usually fried, my dad called out to me “NNE!!! Shí ị ka fvu fvta!” I recoiled in surprise as I never knew my late dad was behind me. I asked him, what is that daddy? He answered, “Akwali Ọmụmụ”. Baffled, I shook my head and asked him again, dad why is it so small and hidden away in the compound?. Nwa m, when you grow up you will understand what it is! Alas, I grew up many years later, I never saw it anymore with both eyes. His siblings and kinsmen had already destroyed many traditional things, all in name of catholicism. The suffering, death and setbacks began.

Akwali Ọmụmụ is the spiritual symbol of the goddess of Fertility, Goodness, Success, Wealth, Excellence and a positive life-force. She gives fruitfulness in every endeavor in the life of a individual. I once met a fierce looking elderly man called Nwude Nwagbala, he visited my dad one-day and people ran away from shaking his hands as they rumored, he will inflict one with an incurable disease once his hands were shaken. Curiously, I approached him and greeted, I introduced myself and same time asked him, if it was true that he is a bad man? He replied, what do you think little one? I replied, people do not understand you, that is why they runaway from you. He smiled at me and said great one, you are wiser than these elders. He gave me 5 naira as a gift.

Ichie Nwude Nwagbala, my grandfather’s brother from my paternal side was deeply rooted in Ọdịnanị Igbo spirituality. Many people claimed he was a notorious wizard simply because he was a Dibịa and followed the ways of our ancestors. It was him who carried out various required spiritual rituals and sacrifices to Ngwu, Orji, Akpu, Akwali Ọmụmụ among others when alive. When he died, things went awry. Many “okwu Mmụọ” were completely destroyed as my family did not want anything to remind them of the ancient path. That Includes changing my immediate family’s name from Nwangwu to Uchendu.

Today, we have IVF, Surrogacy, Adoption among various ways to solve issues of infertility while in the olden days, it was Akwali Ọmụmụ that catered to the problems of infertility in every family across Igbo land. When a family cannot reproduce, they consult afa and they will be instructed to install ODA ỌMỤMỤ. Ọmụmụ means birth – giving birth, it is an altar to seek for goodness, fertility and multiplication of both male and female children in families even where there is bareness. Akwali is approached for blessings by giving certain offerings and invoking her help. Akwali Omumu is the goddess that represents family in the spiritual realm. A spiritual mother hen that watches over the family, kinsmen, communities in Igbo society. Many call her names like 1. Akwu Agali. 2. Ekwu Ọmụmụ. 3. Ogu Ọmụmụ 4. Udala Ọmụmụ 5. Oda Ndị Ichie 6. Odede Nsị. A family or their kinsmen can institute Akwali Ọmụmụ for all round success, progress, solutions, fruit of the womb, goodness of the family and as protector of the family. Hierarchically, after ancestors (Ndị Ichie) it is the goddess Akwali Ọmụmụ. Akwali Omumu is jointly owned by the kindred or installed in the Obi of a family in general.

DESTRUCTION AND DESECRATION OF THE GODDESS AKWALI ỌMỤMỤ.

Destroying akwali ọmụmụ connotes ignorance on her roles and functions in families that made many destroy theirs. The rave, trend, colonialism and forceful conversion of many Igbos to imported religion called Christianity contributed a lot to its destruction. In addition, it was severely demonized and termed to be fetish, equally rumored to be instituted using blood of humans, pure fallacy! The destruction of Akwali Ọmụmụ generally in Igbo land made men and women at liberty to abort. Nowadays, many in Igbo society do not find it disturbing in killing a fœtus which is deemed a soul in african spirituality. When a woman miscarries accidentally or deliberately aborts, cleansing of the soul that was lost, is done before Akwali. Destruction of one’s family Akwali Ọmụmụ hundred times over will not make her go anywhere because the destroyer is not the one that instituted it to stay there especially if one does not have prior knowledge about the covenant with their forefathers! Ignorant people destroy only the visible little red mud mould, what about the invisible spiritual side of Akwali Ọmụmụ?

SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES OF DESTROYING AKWALI ỌMỤMỤ ABODE.

Akwali Omumu will go all out to battle spiritually and physically. Strangely, one never know especially those who indulge in abortion like no man’s business. Many people avoid abortion during our forefathers era because of Akwali Ọmụmụ. Imported christian religion enabled and supported abortion with their doctrine and teachings as abortion is now rampant common. Among them is the saying; “The blood of the lamb has set you free” forgetting the Igbos are a spiritual race. Dibịas, prophets, pastors etc will lose their divine powers, if they willfully aborted. The feminists will opine, it is the removal of unwanted pregnancy to explain why women should be encouraged to chose the option of abortion, if such issue rears its ugly head. The goddess will handcuff the offender spiritually while physically afflict strange Sicknesses, Evil dreams, Bad luck, Strange Attacks, Disappointment, Depression, Hearing strange voices, Poverty,Retrogression, no spiritual work will work for the person, among others.

SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS OF AKWALI ỌMỤMỤ.

Many family’s spiritual heritage and legacies were instituted under the agreement and protection of Akwali Omumu by their forebears and their children cannot escape, as it is a covenant. Akwali Omumu is the pillar behind the family’s Ajani, Alusi, River, Ndị Ichie, Agwụ, Ndị Mmiri and so on. She is the swiftest medium to access and pacify the spirits I mentioned. First, one has to visit their family’s Akwali Omumu by self, after visiting Akwali Omumu, the intentions will be granted. Visiting the family’s Akwali Omumu will make one blessed to have a baby and boost your businesses. Relieves one from strange sickness. Our forefathers trusted in her motherly protection and care.

NEGLIGENCE OF THE GODDESS.

This portends grave danger if the family abandons, desecrate or destroys her abode in various families. It is catastrophic and many things will go wrong like lack of success, near success syndrome, infertility, hardship, terminal illness, depression, frustration, madness, untimely death, families become desolate, lack of unity, rise and fall, hatred, stomach problems among others. It is so especially, when one’s ancestors have a covenant with Akwali Ọmụmụ and that same family decides to pay her back with evil.

ITEMS USED TO APPEASE AND SACRIFICE TO THE GODDESS.

After spiritual cleansing of an abortion, one must confess their sins and ask for forgiveness before Akwali Ọmụmụ using raw native egg, Ọjị, Nzu, Edo, Mmanya oku, young chick. On sacrifices, animal offerings. For instance when a male child is born in any family, she will be offered a native cock while a female child is a hen. If any member of the family finds it difficult to have own child, they will visit their family or Umunna Akwali Omumu and make a vow, that if Akwali blesses them through conception, they will offer her a native cock, hen, Goat or Cow. It depends on the difficulties they passed through. It is quite difficult to overlook Akwali during our forefathers era. After visiting Ndichie, one must visit Akwali Ọmụmụ too for she is a strong goddess. If one is in good terms with her, she opens doors of goodness, wealth, favour, grace, blessings and all round breakthroughs in families.

ITEMS FOR RESTORATION OF AKWALI ỌMỤMỤ.

Note, a person in the family does not install Akwali Ọmụmụ solely, it is a joint responsibility. Those days, some families will promise their Akwali Ọmụmụ a goat or fowl to be sacrificed every 6 months or yearly aside from visiting anytime she rewards acts of benevolence or does something for any individual. However, it depends on the covenant. Akwali Omumu has links to other spirits as an intercessor. The goddess helps to intervene when there are water spirits or issues to settle before any deity, visiting the family’s Akwali Omumu can reduce the tension. Visiting your paternal or maternal Akwali Ọmụmụ before embarking on water sacrifice (ibu Mmiri) makes it work out successfully.

Items such as:

1. He-Goat

2. Mkpume Agụ iyi

3. 2 egbene/cock among other items, reinstalling will be supervised and done under the spiritual directives of a good dibịa ajani Ọdịnanị/Ezeana Igbo.