Okonko Cultural Practice, Its Support of Security of Human Lives and Property in Ikwuano

Abstract

The paper is meant to bring to our knowledge some of the good cultural practices that helped to build Igbo as a people. As a borrowed culture of the now Akwa Ibom people, Okonko became a colonial cult which the Igbo man will call “Mbiara Chiwa”. It grew and became the governing body in all the villages in Ikwuano and other villages and towns in Igbo land. Where it was found, its influence stretched to all aspects of lives of the Igbo man including religion, social and political lives. This was achieved through wielding all the titled, wealthy and elderly men of the land who asserted their influence on the community though Okonko. Okonko became the task master over every individual both on justice, security, moral, social and religious aspects of life. Due to the optimistic determination of Okonko to assert influence over every individual in the community, the elite in the society had no choice than to belong and by so doing; all the powers for making decision were given to her. It was discovered that there were many good and bad things found in Okonko and like every other human society, when corrupt men joined the society and began to introduce strange laws, the society become corrupted. At this point, the Church came and condemned everything about this cult that had brought life and light to many people before now. The intention of this paper is to say no, that everything in this cult is not just bad. Therefore, some of its practices could be preserved to help inculcate the usefulness of culture in the lives of the coming generations. Okonko should purge herself of evil men, change her religious focus and still maintain her socio-cultural aspects as to remain a memorial for our future generations. Keyword Okonko Cultural Practice, Ikwuano Cult, Human Life, Cultural Practice, Community