Odu-okike

Artwork story

Medium:Acrylic on Canvass. Year:2024

Ọdu-Okike or Okike (Elephant Tusk) is usually recognized as the highest symbol of social status in Igboland.
It is carried by titled people and is further associated with cosmological and religious beliefs in Igboland, hence Chukwu okike means God the great creator.
The elephant is the largest and biggest animal in the bush, and its magnitude is associated with that of God symbolically.
It is a respected animal, and such respect and greatness are transferred to the social status symbols which are manifest in the ọzọ titled men.
The elephant, enyi, is not a common animal and should not be regarded as such.
Acquisition of its tusk means an end to social achievement in Igbo culture, meaning metaphorically that God-Chukwu, as elephant, is behind my success.
To an Igbo man, okike means creativeness, which includes pro-creation.

Therefore, an okike is not blown arbitrarily, but only on an occasion that symbolizes wealth and power. It is used during installations into ọzọ titleships, ofala and major festivals.