20/12/2021
Only In Ọdịnanị You See Women Are Free
In Ọdịnanị the power to chose or reject a man for a husband is placed solely in the hands of the bride, that moment when she must locate and offer her wine to her chosen groom. A short but moment, for if at that moment she gives the wine to another, returns the wine to her father, pours the wine away, then their could be no marriage. It does not matter how much bride price her kinsmen have taken, the final decision lies in her cup of wine.
In Ọdịnanị women do not lose their identities to marriage . She is not called Mrs. Okafo, no she is called Olamma, the daughter Ezeugo, the wife of Okafo, we are too civilized to kill a persons identity.
In our world "church" differences do not tear lovers apart, the woman is free to set up the altar of the deity she venerates in her husbands house, as a matter of fact, her husband helps her do that. She is that free, you do not hear "you must become a catholic else no marriage", we are too civilized for such.
In Ọdịnanị women were not locked down as full time house wives, no, women work, their husbands allocate them land where they farm cocoyam and cassava and vegetable, they trade and keep their money.
And when the goats and fowls are slaughtered, while the Diọkpara grapples with the meatless heads of the kill and the father settles for the tiny gizzard, the Ada walks away with the priceless ukwu anụ.
And when the Umuada take a stand on an issue who dares to challenge them?
In ọdịnanị women are not suffocated in one room and on one bed with their husbands all in the name of "what God has joined together ",no, our women have their space in their own quarters built by their husbands, enjoying their freedom.
In Ọdịnanị a woman is never forced to remain in an abusive marriage in the name of what "God has joined together", she immediately packs her things and returns to her father until you come with your people to explain and to beg, that is if her brothers did not invade your house to crack your skull.
And if you do anyhow, she simply refuses to go back and her father would be left with no option but to return her bride prize, and that ends it.
And when it pleases the Anị, She chooses one of her daughters as priestess to a deity before whom men pay respect.
And when she passes on her body is returned to be intered with her own people, she is free even in death.
Yes, in the world of Ọdịnanị, our women are that powerful, our women are that free.
In our world, before the rapists and murderers arrived, women had their strength, men had their strength.
So next time the brainless Masters Holders open their uninformed mouth to tell you Ọdịnanị has "enslaved" women, say to them..
"Sssssssssh...you know nothing about Ọdịnanị"
~Oziọma Ọdịnanị, who brings good news from Igbo ancestors.
First Published Dec 8 2017. let go back to our root
