TODAY TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 IS IHYIGILE
“Some Taboos in Igede Land” published last Ihygile day was widely viewed and the reach is still swelling and above 3500 people as at today. Many comments, questions and concerns. We need to dedicated this Ihygile to make some explanations and add some taboos to the list.
Are the taboos still effective with corresponding effect even with our new found faith and identity with Christ? Are we to adhere to them when we become Christian? Is Christ not able to deliver His own from the evil codes of the culture?
The punitive method of all the taboos are executed by evils spirits invoked by our forefathers that instituted them, so they are not binding on Christians as we are not subject to the ruler-ship of mundane powers and principalities. Then why are Christians affected when a rule is breached or is Christ not able to deliver? Ecclesiastes 10:8 is instructive here; “HE THAT DIGGETH A PIT SHALL FALL INTO IT; AND WHOSO BREAKETH AN HEDGE, A SERPENT SHALL BITE HIM.” So, let us ask ourselves these questions: What are the goals of some of the taboos? Are some of them forbidden part of what God also forbids? Are some of them aimed at maintaining peace, sanity and neighbourliness in the community and are they issues of concern to God and taught in the scriptures? Are some, injustice and inhuman and are they what God warned against? Are they some, means of idol worship?
If some of the taboos are forbidden by God in the Bible, then you have broken the hedge of protection, the effect of disobedience to God is what you experience and not from the forefathers as they are dead and gone and cannot punish or reward. Some are just funny and just mere restriction and ignorance and such should just be ecstatically ignored.
Additonal Taboos:
1. A pregnant woman is not allowed to eat pork meat, owl, cat or watch masquerade to avoid the child behave or show resemblance when given birth to.
2. A young person is not allowed to eat half cooked yam, as he/she will grow fast and abnormal.
3. It is a punishable offence by terrible sickness which may lead to death if a person in anger remove the tripod stones used in placing cooking pots ‘Iyegwu’ of a wife.
4. Incest is forbidden and if done and concealed, the male will develop a constant headache and protracted fever and never be strong again. The female’s male child on the other hand will not survive until public confession is done.
5. It is a taboo to have sex outside or in a building without covered roof. The female involved will have delivery complications and possible death if not confessed.
6. Folklores are not told in the afternoon, if not the ground will develop thorns and animal horns from the spot of the gathering or siting.
7. A young person is not allowed to be at the back when going to the farm with the elders as the evil spirit will harm him/her.
8. A female is prohibited to see the community cult called ‘Achukwu’ or ‘Akpang’ as that will lead to barrenness or death of all the male children.
9. Sexual intercourse with a wife of your paternal/ maternal relation will lead to a snake bite (Ogbiji or Ugbaka or Uchewee) and the chances of survival is less than 5 percent.
10. And so on and so forth. The next Ihygile is five days away from today.
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