Removing Caps to Break Kolanuts

I have said this privately before in a discussion. But I want to say it publicly so that people who make this mistake stop bastardizing our customs.

An Igbo man with kolanut in his hand calling on the ancestors is performing a solemn duty. Please don't tell him to remove his cap especially if he is onye Nze na Ọzọ. Many people have Christianized our customs and traditions and don't know their left from their right.

Many think that they are just praying with ọjị. Ọjị is a sacred mode of communication with our ancestors. It is not your church prayer.

If you invite me to break kolanut, don't ever come and whisper to my ears to remove my red cap na ala anara apụ gị.

Never do that.

I never seen anyone tell their bishops or Pope to remove his skull caps when they pray.

Ignorance of Igbo Customs is killing our people. So, they resort to what they learn in the church.

An Nri man, or ọzọ title man is an equivalent of a priest or a Levite. Besides, Ọzọ title is not a sacrament in your church. You can tell your Knights to remove their caps, not onye Nze na Ọzọ.

We do not remove our cap. Rather, we remove our shoes. Our feet must connect with the ground.

#omenalaigbo
#igboamaka