DIBIA NWANGWU UCHENDU

Ọfọ is a staff of equity, Justice and honesty. Only a truthful person who knows what it takes can hold the spiritual staff of office. “Ndụ igbo shí na
Akajiofvo Akajiofvo mana ọfọ malu onye jie”. Ọfọ is a deity on its own. The tree is highly revered in Ọdịnana Igbo Culture and Traditions. Getting osisi ọfọ requires visiting the village or any other neighbouring village where the ọfọ tree is existing. It is not good to buy the ọfọ randomly from the market because some sellers will give you a fake one. During the days of our ancestors, every kindred in ancient time have ọfọ tree. The Dibịa who need an ọfọ should go to the akajiofo of that family whether it is ọfọ obodo, ọfọ alushi, ọfọ mmiri among others will visit the chief priest with kolanut, hot drink, nzu Edo, Alligator pepper, ego. He will take the initiate to the alushi that owns the ọfọ tree with those items and present them before the deity. also The process is to tell the deity about needing the ọfọ as consecrated spiritual staff of office in carrying out spiritual works. However, the deity, Ndi ichie, Ajana will bless the ọfọ and it will significantly activate whatever it is used for.

Sometimes, the new initiate might not know the Akajiofo of the deity that own the ofo tree. The solution is simple, the person who needs the ọfọ should go with kolanut, hot drink, money, Nzu, Edo to communicate with the deity that owns the ofo tree whether known or unknown. Table the mission before the deity and pick one ọfọ stick from the ground. This approach is applied after careful thinking in the absence of the Akajiofo as well as the right thing to do even if the ọfọ stick is picked from the ground. Failure to use this solution will result to ineffective and failed spiritual works.

Ọfọ is used to seal spiritual works and its used to enforce spiritually and physically everything that has to do with igo ọfọ in Igbo indigenous spirituality.

There are categories of ọfọ:
Ọfọ Agwụ.
Ọfọ ndị mmiri .
Ọfọ Alushi.
Ọfọ ọgwụ.
Ọfọ Ndụ Ichie.
Ọfọ Ngwulu.

Ọfọ Agwụ.
Ọfọ agwu connotes the type given by the kinsmen ụmụnna who instituted agwu for the divinely choose one. Every spiritual agwu must have ọfọ. An Igbo adage says “ọfọ kpee gbuo ịnyịnya o rie ibu ya”! Another says “Ifve ofvo na-eri ka o kpee gbulu”.

It is not advisable to buy ofo stick from the market rather look for the ọfọ tree itself and do the needful when it has to do with getting permission from the guardian of the ofo tree. This will enable you pay homage and drop something like money or kolanut, nzu before the spirit to allow one take any sizable ofo stick. Nowadays, people go to the market and buy ọfọ without doing any spiritual consecration. They start using this stick immediately for their agwu and spirit guides without carrying out proper spiritual activation. It is worthy to note,
after instituting agwu, there is need to visit Obi ụmụnna and get okuku agwu (awele calabash).

This where you have to request your ụmụnna to give you ọfọ agwu from the Obi. Then spiritual activation rites will be carried out for you to enable one use that ọfọ for your agwu and to carry out other spiritual activities. For instance: spiritual works of various types, appeasement rituals about spirit guides, ie Chi for people.

Ọfọ Ndi Mmiri.

This ọfọ in particular has to do with ndị ete obi gị, mmiri Ikwunne na Ikwunna na mmiri so chi gị. It is usually used to seal spiritual works done at the river or before Anyanwu na Agbala where the water of a chosen one is instituted. However, this is given after appeasing all water entities that accompanied the Owu Mmiri or Adaeze nwanyị na Nwoke that serve Chineke and the water is their portal and spiritual stronghold. However, it is pertinent and necessary to consecrate the ọfọ before its activeness on any olu mmiri can be accepted in the spiritual realm. It is of utmost importance that chosen ones honor their marine family and accord them maximum respect in their spiritual journey.

Ọfọ Alushi.

Ọfọ alushi is “aka felu aka” this connotes transfer of mantle. Anyone that is chosen by the oracle inherits the oracle staff of office and will be in charge of the shrine too. I have seen aged long ọfọ alushi in Ụmụayom, Ụmụdịọka both villages are situated in Awka in Awka South LGA and the ones at Obu Ikwunne m at Ụmụriam village, Nawfia in Njikoka LGA. They are highly consecrated because of the ancestors that instituted Alukwusi in Igbo society.

Ọfọ Ọgwụ

This ọfọ stick can be bought from the market and made from any type of wood. Specifically made and crafted with special type of herbs, head of cobra numerous spiritual items that cannot be mentioned openly but known by the initiates. This ọfọ ọgwụ is duly consecrated for activating and sealing every type of spiritual work for instance Awele, Oke ite, Udu akọ mmiri, Oké Ibobo, Awele, Mpido Amosu among other ọgwụ.