Project Milestone [Eke Ufo]

Editorial / OpEd
The picture above is a scanned page from Edmund Ilogu's book:
Christianity and Igbo Cultrue, 1974.
ISBN: 0-88357-031-9 (Paper Back)


Its inclusion here is as a project marker for the 100th Proverb point. It has  been lovingly called
'Eke Ufo' or the fabled Python. Other Igbo speakers call this snake (python) 'Ajụala', but since the Puff 
adder emulates the coiling behaviour of the Python too, we have used 'Eke' to differentiate between
the species.

Many cultures employ this symbol as a harbinger of wisdom, (familiar Hebrew, Mayan and
certain aspects of the Middle East, for instance). One can imagine its inclusion here, might
offend Christian sensibilities. But it need not offend, the Lord himself likened himself to
a serpent [See John 3 v 13,14). It is nonetheless the project marker.

The Royal python used to feature prominently in Igboland as part of its animal heritage
but its use was considered sparingly as part of a general fetish, since it was (even in the
wild) rare to see one of these animals. Dibias and Chief priests kept them as pets till
the establishment of Christianity in Igbo land. It's use in fables got supplanted by
the tortoise. And so, Mbe became the familiar, cunning sage figure in our bed time/
play time stories.  

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Contributed By Kelechi Isiodu, :-), Umunjam, Mbieri.

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