Rites and Rituals of Iwa-Akwa as the Gateway to Manhood in Igboland

Abstract

The African man does not just walk from a social status to the other as though he is walking from his house to his neighborhood. He celebrates his attainment of higher social class or status not only with an elaborate cultural celebration but also with the accompanying rites and rituals as he is ushered into the higher world with its expected responsibilities. This celebration is called the Rites of Passage. In Igboland, the rite of passage that ushers the male adolescents into adulthood or manhood is the 'Iwa-Akwa' ceremony, which takes place every three years. The rites and rituals associated with this ceremony are to effectively fortify the initiates into a new world of manhood, fatherhood, and indeed, the decision makers of the land expected to lead an exemplary lifestyle for the younger ones to copy. The rigours the initiates go through are to prepare them for the duties and demands of the society. It has its social, cultural, and religious significance. The work made use of documented and interview methods of data gathering while adopting a sociological study approach.