Ofo Symbol: The Sensory Implications for Peace Building in Asaba, Nigeria

Abstract

Ofo is known throughout Igbo land but the extent of its conceptualization and the degree of the recognition of its importance with the range of its usage are not uniform in all the parts of the region. These vary from one sub-cultural area to another. In Asaba, an Igbo town in Delta State, Ofo is a dominant ritual symbol that serves as alternative method for peace building. It occupies a central place in the traditional activities of the town. However, due to the influence of Christianity and modernization, many attribute the oblivious nature of Ofo to fetishes and some do not know that Ofo is used in Asaba community, thus, its significance seems diminished in the contemporary time and the wealth of meaning remains largely unappreciated. This has informed the curiosity of the researcher to examine the structure of Ofo symbol as alternative method for peace building in Asaba. Qualitative method is employed for analysis of data collected from primary and secondary sources while phenomenological approach is used to allow the symbolic object speak for itself. The methodology via sensory pole brought out some physiological phenomena of Ofo symbol towards peace building. Some of the findings from the sensory pole are family unit and unity, sense of sacred and anthropomorphic sense which are some of the elements of peace building in the traditional Igbo society. The understanding of these values of the symbolism of Ofo will remove the doubt of those who view Ofo as a symbolic object for negative actions and help people to appreciate and clarify the practices of traditional office of Ofo title holders.