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IYIOJA

1/31/2022

*Iyioja: An early Religious scam on our people*

From what I was told, Iyioja is a fake deity brought on our people by Arochukwu people. When thy brought the prototype of the oracle, they assembled our people in market places and sold the usual religious/powerful dummy that this deity (later termed Nnenne by our people) that it has the power of protecting and enriching our people. The prototype was supposed to create some magic. Several communities subscribed to this scam, each struggling to have it installed for them before others.

On the day they brought the big box with Iyioja inside, the people were asked to gather in market squares with all sorts of goodies, food stuffs, money (the more you bring , the more Nnenne will prosper you) but ensure they do not lock your house (Nnenne will protect your house). This likely happened between 1940 and 1950.

The Aro people were thieves, so while everyone were there, their boys went around taking whatever thing they could from people's houses. In fact, they were informed that Nnenne will visit their houses and can only enter if thy leave their houses open.

They kept the people long enough enough with all sorts of games and *enwa-nwa-shi* for as long as it took their boys to rampage the village.

Now how did our pople know that Iyioja was fake?
(1) Their things were stolen
(2) They later found out that sound from the the box was from rats that were inside it

I am not a good historian but people born within that time are likely the *Iyioja Age Grades*. In fact, since people had no way of writing dates then, people when trying to find out who is senior would often ask *have you been born during Iyioja?*, or *do you know Iyioja?*

I received the above oral tradition from my father and his friends someday we were in the farm and they mentioned it and I asked questions.

ProfESObe, Dean of Engineering, UNN

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