*SOME SIGNS & BELIEFS OF NENWE PEOPLE*,©
(Silas Nwenya)
In Nenwe, there exist certain things (signs) one could see, hear or feel to believe that certain other things are likely or most certainly going to happen. Seeing some of these signs and ignoring them may lead one into serious and regrettable situations. Ignoring some of the signs may sometimes lead to death. As signs not much, if anything is expected to be done to avert some of the impending doom(s) associated to such signs for which they are shown. As a Nenwe person, seeing, hearing or feeling some of such signs are simply meant for one to brace up and accept the obvious, good or bad. Some again are seen to be calls to take up some actions; it is only when deaf ears are paid to such warning and signs that repercussions occure.
On the other hand, not all such signs are omen to evil happenings. Some are believed to be forerunners to fortunes; seeing, feeling or hearing them equally keeps one on a high spirit pedestal of reception.
Note: To discuss this here does not negate one's personal religious beliefs. Those personal beliefs are simply personal and one is entitled to them accordingly.
Let us look at some of such signs, feelings and audios.
*1. Glowing pot soots*
In Nenwe, when one is cooking and the soots of the pot begin to glow, two things are associated to this sign. The major one is that some of the person's palm fruits in the bush are ripe and waiting to be harvested. Failing to believe in or work on this sign may lead to the fruits getting rotten or cut and stolen by palm 'poachers'.
Two, though not very popular nowadays, this used to tell the man of the house that his spouse, having reared up her child had gone through her monthly period and is ripe and ready for fresh rounds of meeting in search of new babies. This was popular when both spouses slept in different apartments; only to sleep together when a new baby was to be sought for. Not now that the right hand knows what is in the left and the left, what is in the right since they both husbands and wives share the same bed always these days.
*2. Oke Ọmite* (Consanguinity Rats)
Consanguinity occurs when marriage is contracted between two persons who are biologically related somewhere. The relationship may not be two close so as to classify their sexuality as incest. Example when the parents of both spouses come from the same family, married apart and they beget the newly married. The concerned partners may not be aware of their individual parents' relationship. In such cases, while there is a new birth in the new family so many tiny rats are seen in and around the ọmụgọ house in the early evenings. They dash around in lightning speeds as never been seen in the house before. When such rats are seen, then questions about their families relationships are asked. When the right thing is done, the rats disappear. And what are the right things? The man and his wife will start what is called *ibu alụoke.* This is a simple ritual of boiling a sizable lump of meat. When it is done, they will bring red oil. The father of the new baby will hold one part of the meat while the baby and the mother will hold one part. The man will cut the meat into two, deep the one he is holding into the oil, bite off a portion with his teeth, eat the same and put the other part into the baby's mouth. The mother will collect the meat and eat. Then the baby's father will collect the baby, hug it; it is from then that he can touch his baby as and when he wishes. This ritual must be performed on every new delivery in the family. In a situation where they fail to perform the ritual; the child according to Nenwe's belief will die if the father touches it. When the intending spouses know of this relationship before their marriage, they will be informed of this ritual so as not to be flabbergasted at the initial sight of the oke ọmite, and then get prepared to do the needful when the time comes.
*3. Eshzi Ụkwụ & Édjọ Ụkwụ*
According to Nenwe belief, the two toes and their underneaths are 'fortune tellers' of a kind. This is to say that hitting them mildly (but not purposely) on any object while on a mission tells one of the success or failure of the mission. Their predictability is simply for one who knows how they work and it is as follows: If one is senior to a girl, his/her left toe is the good one (eshzi ụkwụ) if to a boy, then the right toe. Their opposites are their underneaths. Last born children count with those that are senior to them. Remember the hitting is never injurious but very light. What of being a senior to ejima? In Nenwe traditional belief, ejima itself is seen as being evil and does not count in this circumstance. An only children (ovu nwa) have to determine what happens often when he or she has a hitting on an object, example if as an only child, one succeeds when they hit the right toe then they count with the right; and left with the left.
*4. Throwing of Hot Water On the Compound.*
Nenwe people believe that whenever a farmer throws a pot of hot water on the compound, it goes to affect her vegetables in the farm. To avoid that one has to spill one's saliva into such hot water before throwing it on the compound or should allow it to cool down before throwing it away. It is not every quantity of hot water that counts. It is always a reasonable quantity of hot water such as the one obtained after removing ịgbọrọ from the pot with which it is cooked/boiled.
*5. Ọrịa Kororo*
In Nenwe, kororo is a kind of albatross. It is a kind of bird that flies majorly at nights. It looks like the hawk. Its chirping pierces the ears. It is believed that wherever and whenever it chirps at night someone must as a matter of fact die there. According to Nenwe belief, this has no remedy. The only thing needed is for all at the vicinity of its cry to pray: 'let it not be me and all that are mine.' But eventually, it has to be one! This therefore gives vent to the Nenwe saying: 'kororo amaa' when somebody reacts angrily in rejection of anyone's suggestion. Or 'la kororo evee' when a hopeless situation presents itself.
*6. Ewite Ngoronwe & Ozu Ewite*
It is widely believed that seeing the carcass of a dead ewite (African bush rabbit) at any time of the day or night simply means that someone related to the person must die soonest. It is also applicable when a live one is seen wandering during the day. This does not apply when it is hunted out of its hole.
*7. Itching on the Palm* Itching of the palm is not a frequent occurrence. When it occurs it is seen as a sign believed in Nenwe that puts one on the expectation of a receipt of a financial gift.
*8. Twitching on the Eye lid* Twitching of the body is a natural occurrence that when medically viewed reveals that one is anxious about a certain thing. In Nenwe, when that takes place on one's eye lid(s) it is a sign that one should expect a tear-inducing happening around him/her, such as death or some other heavy loss.
More of these signs exist but for a start let's discuss these ones as we wait for others.
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