| Ikenga | |
|---|---|
Alusi of Time, Success and Achievement | |
 Wooden statue of a man with ram horns | |
| Planet | Mars |
| Symbol | Ram's horns |
| Color | Red |
| Number | 3 |
| Equivalents | |
| Roman | Saturn |
Ikenga (Igbo literal meaning "strength of majesty ") is a horned god found among the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria. It is synonymous to the Christians' Angel Michael. It is one of the most powerful symbols of the Igbo people and one of the most common cultural artifact. Ikenga is mostly maintained, kept or owned by men and occasionally by women of high reputation and integrity in the society. It comprises someone's Chi (personal god), his Ndichie (ancestors), aka Ikenga (right hand), ike (power) as well as spiritual activation through prayer and sacrifice.[1]
Ikenga is exclusively an Igbo symbol. Nevertheless, various peoples of Southern Nigeria have slightly different notions of the components of an individual personality, but all agree that these various aspects can only be affected through ritual and personal effort. Some variants of it are found in Ijaw, Ishan, Isoko, Urhobo and Edo areas. Among the Isoko people, there are three types of personal shrine images: Oma, which represents the "spirit double" that resides in the other world; Obo which symbolizes the right hand and personal endeavor and the lvri which stands for personal determination. In the Urhobo areas it is also regarded as Ivri and in the Edo areas it's called Ikegobo.[1]
- ^ a b Okere, Rose. "Ikenga In Traditional Igbo Society". Ngrguardiannews.com.[permanent dead link]