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Welcome!
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Associate
Professor, Folklore, Ethnomusicology, and Intercultural Studies |
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The Nigerian Slave Routes Project
The road that leads from Iyi Eke to the
Temple of Chukwu is not the only route to the Temple of God and the
Oracle of Ibin Ukpabi. Many forest trails, footpaths, and a meandering
stream lead from various points in Arochukwu to a place where a gully
connects the smaller caves to the temple of Chukwu.
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Mr. Oji made it clear to us that the Iyi
Eke is sacred and dangerous, especially in the rainy season.
"You see," he told us, "the people of
Amannagwu have maintained the sanctity of the Iyi Eke. After the Civil
War, yes, in the 1980s, I believe it was. Well I can't remember
exactly. But anyway, they appointed Maazi Aniyom as a spiritual leader
of Iyi Eke. Since then, Maazi Aniyom with able assistants has managed
to preserve the sanctity of Iyi Eke. Before the villagers take you to
the Iyi Eke cave, you have to perform specified rituals and make
sacrifices."
It was not until I returned from the Iyi Eke
cave that I found out there are at least six other caves in Arochukwu.
The caves served as centers of slave trade and related cult activities.
The biggest one of the caves in Arochukwu is the abode of Chukwu (the
Supreme God). Together they made up a system, providing a framework
for a very elaborate network of slave trading activities in Arochukwu.
"At this point, if we had people who came here
for consultation, they will stop here. At this point they will make the
sacrifice, the necessary sacrifice. In the course of time we shall have
come back here and make the sacrifice with a ram. If you look up there that
is just the kitchen side. Anything brought here is cooked there, yam and
whatever."
Before we crossed there, the man representing
the chief priest of Ibin Ukpabi Chief Otisi performed a libation ritual,
saying:
"We are in your presence.
People come as far as from Yorubaland and
other places.
Today, the people visiting you today are our
kinfolk--the Old Bende people.
There is no stranger among us.
We ask you to extend the act of kindness
that you extend to our clients.
Let them say, 'Thank God that we have
visited here today.'"
| Current
Routes: Arochukwu |
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