The Igbo Calendar – Izu Igbo | Igbo heritage

In the Igbo calendar, the Izu Igbo which translates to days of the week in the Igbo language is; Eke, Orie, Afor, and Nkwo. Unlike the Gregorian calendar which has 7 days in a week, the Izu Igbo calendar has 4 days in a week. 

In the Igbo calendar, Onwa(month) has a total of 7 weeks in a month, which makes up 28 days in a month. The months which are mostly named after Igbo gods are known as Ọnwa Mbụ, Ọnwa Abụo, Ọnwa Ife Eke, Ọnwa Anọ, Ọnwa Agwụ, Ọnwa Ifejiọkụ, Ọnwa Alọm Chi, Ọnwa Ilo Mmụọ, Ọnwa Ana, Ọnwa Okike, Ọnwa Ajana, Ọnwa Ede Ajana, Ọnwa Ụzọ Alụsị.  

The Igbo calendar Structure

The calendar also has 13 months in a year, 91 weeks in a year and 364 days in a year. In the last month of the year, an extra day is added. The Igbo calendar is described as ” something not written down but followed”. Although the traditional timekeepers are the priests or Dibia, the calendar is rather being observed in the mind of the people.  

The year in Igbo traditional calendar begins on the third week of February, on the 18^th of February.  

Special days on the calendar

The beginning of each year is celebrated with a festival known as Igu Aro. Ọnwa Anọ is when the planting of seed yams starts. Onwa Ife Eke is a month dedicated to the people fasting in sacrificial harmony to the Goddess Ani of the earth. Many communities during this time hosted competitive wrestling events. The new yam festival is celebrated on Onwa Ifejioku 

Each day is assigned as a market day for different communities and towns. For example; in the city of Awka, Eke is the day chosen for market days; Mgbakwu Nkwo day is chosen as the market days; in Ebenebe, the Orie day is chosen as the market days; in Umunya and Onitsha, the Afor day is the chosen as the market days.  

Here’s an example of the market days against a Gregorian Calendar 

download the 2021 Igbo calendar here

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