OBI OR OBU IN IGBO TRADITION.
In Igbo tradition, the ‘Obi’/‘Obu’ is a separate hut from the main house/huts where a man exercise his authority over his Family. Simply put, It’s a place of authority where a man drives power to govern his family. It is place where he keeps his ọfọ, ancestral stool, family calabash, ojirishi or any other thing that constitutes a great important to him and his Family.
Obi is predominantly a heritage of a ‘Male Child’ in the Family. Women don’t have or inherit Obi from their parents or build one for themselves. The first son always inherits his Father’s Obi and the rest of the other sons goes out to build their own Obi. In most cases, if the father is benevolent enough he helps them to build theirs. And sometimes too, their age grade helps them to build it. It’s more of a collective labor and shared responsibility to help a man stand on his feet especially when he didn’t inherit much from his father.
In Igbo Pre colonial and post colonial history, the strength of a man is well demonstrated in what he has in his Obi. For a man who is a hunter, you will see things like skin or s.kulls of animals he has k..illed. Dangerous and fearful animals like Leopards, Tigers, Crocodile, Pythons etc. For some men also like the Great warriors of Ohafia, who went to the land of the spirits and conquered. They fought with mortals and immortals and came out victorious. They came face to face with death and defeated death( For further reference, watch the movie’Battle of Monzanga’)For Men like these, you will see human s.kulls hanging on the walls of their Obi. It shows you that this man is not someone who you dare challenge to a w.ar. For the blacksmiths Men of Ọka, you will see great and sophisticated f.ighting amours hanging on the walls of their Obi to show you what they can actually do and produce.
As a social position, a man receive both important, special and causal visitors in his Obi. Bride price of a man’s daughter must be paid in his Obi so that his ancestors will bear witness to the union. His ancestors are always present in his Obi and whenever he breaks kolanuts and drinks wine, they partake with him. And that’s why most traditional marriage for the Igbos are done in the hometown and in the compound of the bride’s Father.
With civilization, development and advancement in human history, the Obi now becomes part of the main building and sometimes a man can use his sitting room/Palour as his Obi. For the Ọzọ na Nze titleholders, they must dedicate a special chair for themselves alone where they can sit and administer justice to their families and members of their community. If you visit an Igbo man and they tell you that a particular seat is for their Father alone, don’t argue, find somewhere else and sit.
In Igbo Mythology and Metaphysics, every man is a King in his house, so therefore reverence and deference must be shown when you visit a man in his Obi. His symbol of authority rests there.
As advancement and culture intersect in Christianity, the sanctuary of God in the Church is seen as his Obi. For the gender of God is attributed to be Male. And that’s why the Igbos call the Sanctuary of God “Obi Eze Chukwu di Ndu”(The sanctuary of the living God). The sanctuary of God may have in it the Tabernacle or the Ark of God(for most Pentecostal churches), the altar, pulpit and crucifix.
In most homes owned by an Igbo man, you can easily notice if the man believes in the sanctity of his Obi from the way he decorates his Sitting rooms. He may leave every other part of the house unattended to but his sitting room must be unique. Except for few of us who have mastered the act of simplicity, for many others the decoration and sophisticated royal chairs and artifacts in their sitting rooms will definitely tell you the caliber of man you are dealing with. You can even see a real skin of a leopard hanging on the wall. Igbo Men who have conquered a lot in life, especially those who has conquered Poverty will be well displayed in their sitting room. They import and go for the best furnitures, electronics and gadgets in the world that money can buy.
In essence, the Igbo shows the strength of their Obi from the names they give their male children. You hear names like Obieze, Obierika, Obinna, Obidike, Obiajaulu, Obiechina, Obiadada etc. To know how far an Igbo man has gone in life or what he has achieved, go and visit him in his entire glory in his Obi and you will have one or two things to say about him.
