Iwa Akwa or Aju Festival which can also be translated as Cloth Wearing is a traditional ceremony that is practised by the

Igbo people The Igbo people ( , ; also spelled Ibo" and historically also ''Iboe'', ''Ebo'', ''Eboe'', / / ''Eboans'', ''Heebo''; natively ) are an ethnic group found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. Their primary origin is fo ...

to indicate that a boy has become a man. Iwa Akwa ceremony is a triennial festival that occurs in

Obowo Obowo, also spelled Obowu is a Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria formed during the Ibrahim Babangida administration in May 1989. It was carved out of Etiti Local Government Area with its headquarters at Isi Nweke. There are twenty-two ...

, Ihitte/Uboma, the Ehime Mbano,

Ahiazu Mbaise Ahiazu Mbaise is a Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria. It has an area of 114 km and an estimated population of 170,902 as of the 2006 census. It is the result of a merger between Ahiara and Ekwerazu towns, and it is headquartered ...

local government areas of

Imo state Imo () is a States of Nigeria, state in the South East (Nigeria), South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its name from the Imo R ...

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

Background

Iwa Akwa Festival is part of the ancient history of Igbo. Whoever dies without performing the rites would be regarded as a child and would be buried the same day just like a child.

Initiation process

Investigation Stage

The members of the community would investigate the boys who are going to participate in the initiation. The age of the boys, the mother of the boys and the father of the boys would be investigated.{{Cite web , last=Shalom , first=Ankrah , date=2023-06-23 , title="From boys to men": Iwa Akwa, an age-grade initiation in Igbo land , url=https://www.legit.ng/people/1540865-iwa-akwa-age-grade-initiation-igbo-land-how-done/ , access-date=2024-08-23 , website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news. , language=en The boys are supposed to be between the age of 21 and 26 years; the mother must have been married and known by the community and the father must have passed through the process.

The Preparation Stage

After the investigation has been completed, the family of the participants goes to the market to buy high quality clothes that would be used for the initiation and also make sure that the reception venue is ready for the guests.

The Initiation Stage

The participants are to follow strictly what the elderly men who have passed through the process dictate for them. The families of the participants are expected to spread wrapper in front of their compounds to receive the blessings of a spiritual leader who walks barefooted along the streets.

Life after initiation

The boys who participated are regarded as men and they can take up governance or any other traditional title in the community.

References

Festivals in Nigeria