Dr. Andy Umunna Achonna
IGBA ONWE ORU is a concept that reflects the agrarian and communal essence of African society. The concept is a symbiotic and mutual practice that is adopted to ease the burden and cost of labour during farming seasons. It involves coming together as a group of two or more friends rather than as a single individual to engage in farm work. It exemplifies the biblical saying that if one can chase one thousand, two can chase ten thousand – Igba Onwe Oru is synergy at work.
It could be adopted at every stage of farming – farmland clearing, planting, weeding and even harvesting. The friends involved enter into an unwritten understanding to work for one another on a rotational basis until all the works that are to be done for every member of the group is completed.
IGBA ONWE ORU is symbiotic in the sense that every member of the group benefits from the labour of others. It also eases the burden of the individual labouring alone to work in the large portion of their farm lands; and also, reduces cost of paying for labourers as payment is not made by members of the group after work is done.
Some of the benefits of IGBA ONWE ORU is that it enhances trust, strengthens bonds, increases good relationships; engenders peaceful coexistence and development. IGBA ONWE ORU had made it possible for some people to find marriage partners. ONWE ORU provides the right setting to discover those with highly sought after qualities in a wife/husband. Such qualities as hardwork, resilience, traditional virtues, patience, respect, good sense of humor and the ability to share joy and laughter, people of honour, caring, empathetic, and supportive.
The element of mutual trust in IGBA ONWE ORU have brought prosperity and rapid development not only to Ogbuebule but also to distant communities in general. Unfortunately, the concept of IGBA ONWE ORU is gradually dying in our society leading to great TRUST deficit.
IGBA ONWE ORU embodies the true spirit of African communal living where everyone is his/her brother/sister keeper. It is this spirit that affirms the proverbial statement “ONURU UBE NWANNE AGBALA OSO”; where everybody cares for one another.
Leaders in our community should make an intentional effort to revive this dying practice.