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igbo Calendar
Igbo calendar
The Igbo natural calendar starts around September; this calendar was designed to follow the natural and geographic circles respecting seasons and natural phenomenon experienced within a given location.
The Igbo calendar also incorporates within it, Igbo cultural and traditional values designed to explain the natural phenomenon present at the moment. Like the natural rhythm of the day, months, seasons and year; the calendar follows the rise of the year just like the rise of the day beginning in the morning.
Just as the day has morning, noon, evening and night, the ancient Igbos designed the Igbo calendar to follow the same circle in the regulation of life through Igbo daily morning rituals of kolanut breaking culture, down to the yearly bursting of the sun within Igboland, instituted in the Igbo yearly new yam festivals (Ị́wa-Jị́ ọ́hụ́rụ́).
Based on the reality of nature operating within Igboland, the proper orientation of the world map is applied here as against the current political map of the world that put colder regions of the world on top of the warmer regions of the world, which according to basic scientific observation will prove to be false orientation.
By changing the orientation, the poles are switched as well, thereby switching the south pole with the north pole; which means the current West Africa becomes East Africa, and the current East Africa becomes West Africa.
IGBO NEW YEAR STARTS AROUND SEPTEMBER
FOLLOWING THESE CULTURAL AND NATURAL CIRCLES
GEOGRAPHICAL REALITY
YEARLY MORNING
(September spring equinox) in the northern hemisphere; and YEARLY EVENING (September fall/ autumn equinox) in the southern hemisphere.
YEARLY EVENING
(March fall/autumn equinox) in the northern hemisphere; and YEARLY MORNING (March spring/ rise equinox) in the southern hemisphere.
YEARLY NOON
(December summer solstice) in the northern hemisphere; and YEARLY MIDNIGHT (December winter solstice) in the southern hemisphere.
YEARLY MIDNIGHT
(June rain/ cold/ winter solstice) in the northern hemisphere; and YEARLY NOON (June summer solstice) in the southern hemisphere.
CULTURAL SYMBOLISM:
- Ọ́jị́ ụ́tụ́tụ́ - morning kola
- Emume Jị́ ọ́húrú - (new yam festival)
- As the sun separates darkness daily, so as ị́wa Ọ́jị́ ụ́tụ́tụ́; and as the sun to the yearly darkness, so is ị́wa Jị́ ọ́húrú
DAILY SYMBOLISM:
- Sunrise
- Day light
- Consciousness
- Waking up
- Ihenando = spring equinox
- Ndonaihe = Fall equinox
- Ihekando = summer solstice
- Ndokaihe = winter solstice
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IGBO LATE IRON AGE CALENDAR
Igbo late iron age also called "Ogé ị́gwé", is based on the period metal works was at its peak in Igboland which is dated around 5000 BCE and beyond. Evidences of this period can be found used as names of these Igbo cities namely: Lejja, Amaụ́zụ́, Ọ́kaị́gwe, Ọ́kaụ́zụ́, Ị́gweedo, Ị́gweọ́cha, etc.
This period marked the mastery use of metals in many ways in making agricultural tools such as machetes, hoes, pots, kitchen equipment, etc., and the creation of Igbo artifacts found in IgboUkwu and other parts of Igboland.
This iron period is also ingrained in Igbo philosophy in the principle of Ị́gwe bu ike (Mass is power), also Igwe as the mass of people. The ideals derived from this age form many Igbo ideals, main example being the principle of 'All for One, and One for All'. Just like the metal molecules behave in relation to the environmental forces, holding each other so tightly and sharing pleasures and pains amongst themselves.