(Okeh Mmoh) Ottenberg: American Anthropologist That Lifted Ehugbo Culture, Tradition; in present day Afikpo town

Do you know The story of Ehugbo, Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi State cannot be complete without American Anthropologist, Prof Simon Ottenberg. Ehugbo(Afikpo) was in the old Imo State and Abia State. When Ebonyi State was created, (Okeh Mmoh) Ottenberg: American Anthropologist That Lifted Ehugbo Culture, Tradition; in present day Afikpo town

Also it was carved out into the state. Ottenberg came into the area when it was in old Imo State and naturalized in the ancient city.

He was extremely daring in his determination to study, describe and analyze the people of Ehugbo and their culture. Professor Ottenberg gave meaning to the culture of the people of Ehugbo and gave it international outlook This ac- counted way Ehugbo culture is among the cultures that white men have imbibed and preserved internationally.

He came into our ancient city, fell in love with their cultures that most of the people saw as bad and got initiated into ogo cult. Ottenberg joined the Ikwu ( matrilineal group) system of Ehugbo called IBE OKWU and that is why those in that matrilineal group are called Bekee Ibe Okwu.

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The people in this group are called Bekee Ibe Okwu be- cause of the polished English Professor Ottenberg was speaking which was entertaining and educating the people of Ehugbo. As a man who felt at home with the people of Ehugbo, Ottenberg even got involved in the age grade system of Ehugbo which is seen in Igbo land as the most organized age system in the society.

He dresses and behaves like an Ehugbo man even in his old age. Ottenberg also speaks Ehugbo fluently. You can only know that he is not an Ehugbo man through his colour which is very fair in complexion. Ottenberg, was born on June 6th, 1923, in New York City. He got his Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin in 1948.

In December, 1951, at the age of 28, Ottenberg and his wife Phoebe, left United States for their PhD research studies among the Igbo. He initially had Ohafia in mind but was later posted to Ehugbo. Ottenberg fell in love with Ehu- gbo and their cultural practices, thus, he got initiated into the Ogo institution, and was adopted into one of the Ehugbo matri-clans — Ibe Okwu.

The Ogo institution is an initiation into manhood in Ehugbo kingdom. When a man or boy is initiated into the Ogo institution, such a person is seen as a complete and strong man in Ehugbo. Professor Ottenberg was initiated into the institution. In one of his books on Nde Ehugbo titled: Masked Rituals of Afikpo, Professor Ottenberg analyzed the different meanings of maa in Ehugbo (spirit).

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