The word ncheta is derived from the Igbo verb icheta (to remember/to recall). The prefix n- transforms the verb into a noun, creating a word that refers to the concept or product of remembering.
Ncheta means ihe eji echeta ihe - something used to remember things, a remembrance, a memorial, or a souvenir. It can refer to a memorial event, a keepsake, a commemoration, or anything that serves as a reminder of a past person, event, or experience.
The word does not mean mmeghari (repetition/reaction), nzuko (meeting/gathering), or ichefu (forgetting). In fact, ichefu (forgetting) is the opposite of ncheta (remembrance). The root cheta (remember) is the key to understanding this word's meaning.
