Ime Nnu Ji in Awgu Culture Area of Enugu State

Abstract

It has been observed that Awgu people living in Diaspora do not know anything about ime nnu jirite. Various titles are being taken today in Awgu lgbo culture area. Some titles are bestowed on indigenes based on their achievements while other titles are bought by individuals who want to show that they have great repute, Thus, this paper wishes to contribute original information about Awgu lgbo aspect of culture which would have died without being noticed by the younger and modern generation, The paper therefore, was to investigate the meaning of ime nnu ji rite, its stages and significance. The study is a descriptive survey design and it was carried in Awgu. The research population consists of selected Awgu indigenes who earned the titular sobriquet of "Omenyirioha", arising from ime nnu rite. The instrument for data collection was tape recorder which was used for oral interview and personal observation. The data collected were analyzed using theory of diffusion. The research found out that omenyirioha has his own Nnu ji deity-Njoku ji instituted in his barn during the ceremony, Unlike other titles taken in Awgu, it is only Nnu ji that shows the holder's prowess. After the harvesting of yams each year, he is expected to share yams with widows and the destitute. During planting season, he will have many young men coming to him for seed yam. The conclusion shows that Ime nnu ji title taking should be encouraged by Awgu community and the Igbo nation at large because it sets a man out as hardworking, trustworthy, and morally sound.