Igo ofo is a significant ritual in Igbo traditional religion and justice system. The ofo is a sacred staff or stick that symbolises truth, righteousness, justice, and ancestral authority. It is held by the head of a family, clan, or community and is considered a direct link to the ancestors and the divine.
The ritual of igo ofo (holding/raising the ofo and making declarations upon it) is performed when a na-achosi eziokwu (people are seeking truth or affirming the truth). When there is a dispute, an allegation, or a need to establish the facts of a matter, the ofo is invoked. The person holding the ofo calls upon the ancestors and the spirit of truth to witness their declaration. Swearing on the ofo is the most solemn form of truth-affirmation in Igbo tradition - it is believed that anyone who lies while the ofo is invoked will face spiritual consequences.
The ritual is not associated with gossiping (akpo asiri), childbirth (a muru nwa), or completing school (a guchara akwukwo).
