OFO ( Ofo Chukwu – Staff of God)

"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Speak to the Children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod by their kindreds, of all the princes of the tribes, twelve rods, and write the name of every man upon his rod."

Numbers 17:2

"So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand."

Exodus 4:20

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Ofo is an age-old symbol, the staff of God, which was in place even before the time of Moses among Ndi Igbo (the Igbo Nation). As can be seen from the above quoted passages in the Bible, both in Exodus and Numbers, this symbol of Chi Ukwu’s power, this link between Yah and Umu Chukwu (Yah’s children), this symbol of Truth and Justice, was and continue to be an important link between, Chineke, Chukwu Okike, Yah, Yah Nwe, Yah Nwe Uwa, Ama Ama Amasi Amasi, and Umu Chukwu (Yah's Children).

Ofo is the central symbol of Igbo spirituality. It is a sacred staff of authority, and an emblem symbolizing the links between Chukwu Okike (the Creator of all) and man, the dead and the living, the living and the unborn.

Ofo symbolizes justice, righteousness, and truth. It plays many important roles in the social, political, and spiritual life of the Igbo. No serious rite of ceremony can be performed without Ofo.