Ahanjịokú is an Igbo spiritual educational system that guides the Igbo individual through the progress of life. This education system is designed to transmute/purify the mind of an individual through knowledge acquisition, transforming them from a state of ignorance to a state of knowledge.
It is an educational process in which through specific acts, learning and disciplines, we are able to organize the forces of nature that we are composed of, distilling our essence from the other impurities within us.
The Ahanjịokú system can be outlined into different stages.
The first stages of ahanjịokú is represented symbolically from the planting of a seed Yam (Umeji). This stage is akin to the crude state of the mind of an ignorant child without training
The next stage involves placement of guiding sticks called "achara" which are placed beside the sprouting leaves to guide and support their growth vertically so the leaves can get adequate sunlight for food (photosynthesis).
From this symbolism, the yam seedling (crude state of ignorance) through its leaves (knowledge acquisition) is seeking for light from the sun (Amam-Ihe) through the guidance of education (Achara)
The next stage is the process when the yam is grown, harvested and placed into the yam barn (Oba-ji). The yam placed in the Oba-ji symbolically represents the integration of the individual into society with others.
However the process of knowledge acquisition continues as the individual still has to be educated on how to be a productive member of society. For example, knowledge about family values, social values, social laws, governmental structures, etc.
The next stage iri-ji involves another stage of purification which can be likened to distillation, as the yam cannot be eaten because of its acidity. Like in distillation of water, one has to boil the water to a point of evaporation, to which the water vapour is then condensed to reform the purified water. So in Igbo philosophy, it is assumed symbolically that the vapour from the cooking yam (Ji) re-condenses to form it's essence(the kola-nut (Ọjị)).
The ọjị represents a semi-processed individual that is almost purified but still has more purification to go through. These impurities are still evident as symbolically the ọjị still oxidizes (turns brown on exposure to oxygen). Meaning it is still imperfect. Symbolising the individual must still undergo further processing by way of using the acquired knowledge to continue to uplift and contribute to the progress of the society.
This process of ahanjịokú is also symbolic for the cycles of reincarnation. Meaning if any of the processes are not completed in a lifetime, the cycle of reincarnation continues until the transmutation from Ji to ọjị is complete.
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