Wealth is the accumulation of valuable resources, including material possessions, money, and other assets, owned by a person, community, company, or country. It is the state of being rich and affluent, having a great quantity or store of money, valuable possessions, property, or other riches.
Odinani, which is the way of life, the philosophy of culture as well as the spirituality of Ndi Igbo has always provided principles which are fundamental truths, beliefs, and ideas on wealth creation that can guide the average person willing to follow them diligently to achieve great results. Here, we have highlighted some principles in Odinani which when followed can transform the lives of those who implement them:
1. Mụta Aka Ọlụ: This means to learn a skill, or handwork. There has always been a value for hard work within the Igbo community from time immemorial, but it has never been just about hard work. This principle teaches that it is not enough to just work hard aimlessly, but that one has to gain expertise in a specialized field of work by learning through service under someone else who is already an expert in that chosen field for a couple of years before setting off (with the assistance of that mentor) to start their own practise or by committing some time to go to an institution of knowledge to acquire a specific skill of interest. The principle of mụta aka ọlụ, holds that after a certain age each person in the society should be assigned to a mentor or sent to an institution of training to learn a skill they can rely on in life, to contribute to the upkeep of their community and family.
2. Igba Mbo: Its literal meaning is the dance of diligence and effort. This principle teaches one to hustle, it emphasizes hard work but again not in aimless pursuit. Igba Mbo encourages each person to try to obtain results with their natural talents or skills they have acquired, by energetic and consistent activities of persistence, to sell or promote their abilities energetically and confidently, it encourages us to make strenuous efforts to obtain the results we want to see in life. This is the principle that teaches us not to give up easily, and to recognise that failure is simply a vital step in the dance of diligence or determination.
3. Igo Ọfọ: This principle encourages one to be true and just in all they do, it teaches us to commit all of our affairs into the hands of our God, our progenitors, and all the natural forces assigned to guide us in life. The ofo is a tool used to invoke blessings or curses, it signifies authority as well as administration of justice. This principle teaches us that as we go about our business affairs we must remain fair and just, and we must also remember to consider those unseen factors that affect our affairs and do right by them. This includes the universal laws which we must keep and the forces of nature we must not violate while doing our work to earn rewards. One must also always declare blessings over themselves and their business, and not curse that of others.
4. Nwanne Bụ Chi: This principle teaches us to be our brothers keepers first. It encourages us to treat our neighbors the way we want to be treated. Essentially, it guides us to first consider those within our communities for work or opportunities especially where the skill is available before outsourcing them. And when we find the skills lacking to fulfill our needs within our communities, to try to assist at least one person to gain such a skill for the benefit of the community. The principle teaches that one’s own chi is sustained when they help sustain the chi in their own kin.
5. Isalaka: This is the principle of Almsgiving , that is the act of giving charity or help to another person who is unable to repay the kindness. It is not done to receive public thanks or acknowledgment, but rather from a genuine willingness to improve the destitute state of others as well as the overall welfare of our communities.
6. Ịchụ Aja: This principle teaches one to make offerings and sacrifices by giving back in gratitude to the forces that are believed to contribute to their success and sustenance in life. It encourages one to practice thanksgiving occasionally towards the unseen higher forces that stand for us in the realm of the unseen.
7. Sụpụ Asụsụ: This principle encourages us to make efforts to learn our mother tongue and always try to improve our knowledge of our language and culture in stories, music, and all forms of art, as these mediums can help those who do so maintain the good values in our societies as well as understand how to reform and improve traditions without destructively disrupting cultural context.
These are some of the principles we can remember and learn from in Odinani, which when understood and followed have proven overtime and throughout ages to be able to help people who adhere to them collectively build and sustain generational wealth