OFO N' OGU

OFO

(SACRED SYMBOL OF TRUTH, PIETY, POWER, AND AUTHORITY)

 

The Ofo holy stick is from a tree known as DETARIUM ELASTICA, the material and mystical symbol of truth, purity, justice and authority. It was introduced by Igbo forbearers as a symbol of the spirituality of the Igbo nation; and as a mark of sincerity and truthfulness, hence not everybody held the Ofo in the olden days.

From immemorial, Igbo people had a close relationship with the God head, the Supreme God, Chukwu Abiama. Each Igbo group had a symbol that connects them with the spirit of their ancestors and with the God head. That is the Ofo.

Ofo, the holy stick, an insignia for truthfulness, justice and sincerity is always in the custody of the eldest person in a clan during adjudication to demonstrate that the bearer would not thwart justice.

It was the exclusive right of the oldest person in the clan or community; thus people across Igbo communities accepted the judgment from an Ofo bearer as the truth and nothing but the truth. The bearer is not pronounced dead until the Ofo is taken to the next oldest man in the family or clan.

Ofor symbolizes a family, clan or community’s authority and can only be handled by those who are authorized (or otherwise entitled) to wield it. It is revered by the group or society it represents, and is treated as an heirloom-passing from generation to generation.

Ofo in Igboland is equivalent to the Pastoral Staff or Crozier being carried by Roman Catholic bishops during holy mass. Only the bishop holds the staff, the same as Ofor, which is being borne by the oldest man in a family, clan or village - Ejizu (1986).

As a symbolic object, it could be a particular     type of staff, (wood, bronze, brass or any other precious metal or material) that is carried by selected Igbo leaders; notably patrilineage priests, elders, kings, dibias and some masqueraders, that signifies authority, the right to command, legal administrative powers, and/or the conferment of leadership and power bestowed by the gods.

It is the sacred symbol of truth, royal authority, justices, law and administrative power. It primarily bestows upon the holder or bearer the right to offer sacrifices; as well as perform rituals, make prayers, swear to oaths, pronounce judgment, deliberate policy within the family, clan or community, and invoke blessings or curses. 

Prof. Opata held that ofo stick is the most potent object protecting, and represents moral uprightness for the bearers and an antidote for poison.

The Ofo stick can be ritualized as an item of prayer, by speaking to it to activate the efficacy inherent in it. It is normally ritualized in a shrine through prayers, offering a fowl, a goat or even both depending on capacity.

Ofo is the most celebrated tree in Igboland because of its uniqueness, and it is believed to have been consecrated by God as a symbol and guarantee of truth and justice. Other trees shed leaves in season, but the Ofo trees shed off branches. These branches fall off the Ofo tree by themselves; nobody cuts or plucks them.

To pick the Ofo branchlet, requires kolanut to pray to the land that the Ofo would be to do good, not otherwise. There is an orientation in picking the Ofo stick because it has directions or positions. In some cultural zones, the Ofo stick must face North-South positions. Ofo has male and female sticks. The female is usually bigger than the male in size.

Some elders intentionally dodge the Ofo, if they want to thwart justice; because the bearer must say the truth, be it in land, marital or any other matters which he presides over. To do otherwise is to suffer the repercussion, directly or indirectly through his younger generation.

Ofo is a defender of the innocent and oppressed, a mystical symbol of truth, purity, justice and authority with a spiritual dimension attached to it. It is the highest principle of justice, law and morality, binding both the living and the super-natural powers of the gods and the ancestors. Therefore many clans may request a diviner to nominate a person to bear their Ofo, whether he is the oldest or not; to demonstrate that the chosen is accompanied by the spirit of uprightness.

Ofo-na-Ogu: Ofo traditional principles defends the innocent, and protects the weak, only if they are innocent, that is, if they have the “Ogu” (innocence) on their side.

This gave rise, in Igbo cosmology, to the twin principle of “Ofo-na-Ogu”, justice and innocence, which is the foundation of all the basic moral principles in Igbo traditional ethics, such as truth, justice, innocence, uprightness and moral purity.

Ofo is the link that exists between the people and chineke, and a channel between the living, the dead, and those yet to be born. It therefore plays a role in prayers, rituals, sacrifices, contact of spirit patrons, magic, naming ceremonies, determining schedules of events, affirming moral uprightness, sealing covenants, legitimizing states or offices, making decisions, settling disputes, taking oaths of administration, and promulgating and enforcing laws.

Ofo, a small stick that performs wonders in Igboland:

• Ofo stands for truthfulness, justice and sincerity — Igwe Ugwuoke

• It is a symbol of spirituality that connects people with the spirit of their ancestors                             — Enachioken Abiriba

• It is the most unique tree in Igboland, an antidote for poison — Prof. Opata

• Ofo is symbol of authority, truth — Abia monarch

• It is the most celebrated tree in Igboland because of its uniqueness

• Ofo is a defender of the innocent, oppressed — Chief Onyeke

• Ofo is like the Bible; you do not carry it carelessly — Anekwe

The Ofo institution that has been the bedrock in the sustenance of traditional Igbo society is fast losing its relevance among modern Igbo; hence the declination of integrity, truthfulness, justice and sincerity.