Igochi Umunwaanyi is also one of the traditional practices in Ekwulobia. It is usually performed by aged women in Ekwulobia, from seventy years and above. This tradition is done in thanksgiving to the deities of the land for their guidance, protection and provision. They also lay their complaints to him and ask for one favour or the other from the gods. Women invites their daughters who are married, they will come from their husbands’ house to the place of sacrifice. Bitter leaf soup (ofe onugbu) is cooked that day .one thing special about the soup is that, it is cooked without salt and little water and they refer the soup as “Iku ukpum”. After sacrificing to the deities, feeding them with the onugbu soup without salt, then they will eat and drink with their daughters and enjoy themselves to the core. If one contributed to the making of the society, lives an exemplary life, and if one loves and is being loved by many, the person will be celebrated more than others on that day. This celebration encourages the old ones among the people that their own people loves and appreciates them for being alive and strong for them.
According to E. Chimezie (personal communication, 28th December, 2018), it is good and memorable to celebrate our old ones when they are still alife and active, it gives them
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more joy that the celebration that would have taken place when they are no more are done in their presence than when they are dead.
However, this type of celebration should be encouraged in the Christian mission, appreciating the old ones in the congregation and not taxing them with one levy or another that if they cannot pay them, at their demise, their family members will clear those debts, if not so they will not be buried by the priest. And this has been one of the major problems bringing down the spread and deep appreciation of the Gospel in Ekwulobia town.
5.1.7. Ezeasika Tradition
Ezeasika tradition is one of the respected traditions in Ekwulobia town, specifically in Ula village in Ekwulobia. Ezeasika is all about a married woman living with her husband in her husband’s house sleeping around with other men outside her matrimonial home. If such a woman cooks food for the husband without the husband’s consent of her way-wardness, her husband will fall sick and die. Again, if such a woman gets pregnant from such evil act, she will not deliver that baby until she confesses openly to the husband and her husband’s relations. This is accompanied with some rituals by the dibia consulted by the family. No amount of prayer and speaking in tongues can save such a woman and the husband.
This tradition is very strong in Ula village in Ekwulobia uptil now; missionaries had fought to destroy it, but their efforts was not enough. According to R. Onuegbu
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(personal communication, 2nd January, 2019), Ezeasika took its bold step when the able men of the people of Ekwulobia started dying prematurely. People were worried about the sudden departure of their dear ones and husband. Many women became widows at daily bases. Men were dying like fowls without a trace of what led to their death. When the situation could be controlled, bold men went into divination (iju ase) in order to know the cause of their problem. When the cause became clear to the people, they engaged in
“Igba ndu” (oat taking), that any woman that sleeps with another man other than the husband and gets pregnant in the process will not deliver that baby until she confesses to the husband and the family she is married to. Again, if the husband of the adulterous woman eats of anything cooked by the woman knowingly and unknowingly, he will die.
Since then it has been that way regardless of over hundred years of Christianity in Ekwulobia. Looking at this issue of Ezeasika, it would be difficult to have a close relationship between the Christian faith and Ekwulobia traditional values if the minds of the people are close to some beliefs and practices.
It is therefore necessary for the Christian missions to look deep into the traditional contents of Ekwulobia people and see whether they agree or disagree with Christian beliefs and practices. It may not be easy but with time, everything will take its normal shape. Obiefuna (2015) supported this view in his statement:
With time, the catechized would adjust accordingly. All may not adjust at the same time. Values are hard to drop. Core values are harder to drop. No building is ever finished with one size of block. Every building, like the church, is made up of
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many different sizes of block. It took Christianity many years to turn the celebration of the festival of the sun god in Rome to Christmas (birth of Christ) celebration. (p.8).