Ten Dreaded Taboos Across Igboland

Some people say that morality is subjective, the line between right and wrong is what you make of it, hence, the birth of taboos. For every society to thrive, there are checks and balances, there are dos and don’ts, out of these interactions and rules come taboos. A taboo is a prohibition applying to something that is forbidden or set apart because it is sacred, consecrated, or unclean and therefore considered dangerous. A place, a person, an object, or an act can be taboo.

Ancient Igbo people are highly spiritual, it’s no surprise then that a lot of taboos surround their everyday life. Simply put, taboos are mores of the Igbos adopted to avoid incurring the wrath of the gods.

There are thousands of taboos in Igboland, let’s look at a few of them:

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Climbing of Sacred Trees:

Some Igbo sacred trees include alligator pepper, Ogirisi, Oji, Omu, udara, and ofo.

There are trees considered sacred in Igbo land. There are set out rules guarding them. A woman is not allowed to pluck from the trees no matter how low the tree is, it is considered taboo. A woman is not allowed to climb the palm tree either.

Chicken crowing at night:

When a fowl crows at night, which is unusual, it is seen as a bad omen. At the dawn of every day, cocks crow to announce the day; for a cock to crow at that time, traditional Igbos will believe a mighty man has fallen or calamity has befallen the land. Or about to.

Incest:

This is a taboo that is frowned upon by almost every part of the world. In the olden days, siblings caught indulging in this act were most times ostracized from the village and denied by the family. It is considered an Nsoala (abomination) that sometimes leads to death for the perpetrators.

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Whistling at night

In general, it is believed that whistling at night brings bad luck, but among the Igbo people, there is a stronger belief that it may call upon evil spirits. If you are caught whistling at night, an elderly person may give you a resounding slap as a way of warning you against the potential danger.

Growing the upper teeth first:

In olden Igbo days, when a child starts growing his/her first set of teeth, if s/he grows the upper front tooth first it is considered an abomination. This abomination is considered such a terrible one that the baby is thrown inside the bush. This taboo has long since been abolished even though people still have their reservations as it was more common for a child to grow the front down tooth first.

Osu (Outcast)

In Igbo society, there is a class divide between free-born individuals and those who were once sacrificed to the gods for various reasons, known as “osu”. Osu individuals are not allowed to marry or congregate with others in the community due to their social status. This practice has indeed been abolished but the marriage divide is still there, in most cases.

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Stealing of yam

In Igboland, Yam is a highly revered food item and is considered the king of all foods. It is the only food that has a dedicated festival/ceremony. According to tradition, Yam is referred to as the “food of the gods”, gifted to us by Ani. Therefore, stealing it is considered an nsoala.

Suicide

The Igbo people hold a profound belief that life is sacred and belongs to the gods, who alone possess the authority to end it. In the tragic event of suicide, it is believed that the individual has invoked the displeasure of the gods upon their family, necessitating a cleansing ritual. According to tradition, only a priest is permitted to handle the body of the deceased, and it is not laid to rest within the family grounds but instead in a secluded forest area. This ritual underscores the deeply ingrained reverence for spiritual customs within Igbo culture.

Masquerade and Women

Masquerades, also known as mmanwu in Igbo, are believed to be the spirits of the dead. They are considered to be a highly respected representation of their ancestors and therefore, are considered sacred. Masquerades are sometimes referred to as masked spirits. It is taboo for women to wear the masquerade costume, and in some communities, certain masquerades are even considered taboo for women to behold. During masquerade festivals, women in some communities stay indoors.

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The killing of Python (Eke)

This taboo is not general to every Igbo community. In some communities like Idemili in Anambra, Njaba in Imo state, etc., it is taboo to kill a python as it is the totemic symbol of their gods.

These taboos are countless and any attempts, no matter how invested in resources, are bound to leave out droves of taboos. It should be noted that most of these taboos were adopted mostly out of fear of the gods/unknown and no longer holds today as Christianity and modern science contradict a lot of them.