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Ọnwá

Ọnwá is a digital adaptation of the traditional Igbo lunar calendar. It presents the 13-month, 28-day structure used by the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria and aligns it with the modern Gregorian system. The Igbo year begins with the new lunar cycle that falls between late March and early April.

The app provides a clear interface for exploring Igbo timekeeping, market days, festivals, and cultural heritage. It is designed for users interested in Igbo traditions, researchers, and anyone learning about indigenous African systems of knowledge.

Calendar View

The Igbo calendar divides the year into thirteen months of twenty-eight days, arranged as seven weeks of four market days: Eke, Orie, Afor, and Nkwo. Each month follows a traditional naming sequence: Ọnwa Mbụ, Ọnwa Abụọ, Ọnwa Ife Eke, Ọnwa Anọ, Ọnwa Agwu, Ọnwa Ifejiọkụ, Ọnwa Alọm Chi, Ọnwa Ilo Mmụọ, Ọnwa Ana, Ọnwa Okpukpe, Ọnwa Uzo Alusi, Ọnwa Ede Ajana, and Ọnwa Ụzọ.
Daily cards display the Igbo date, the corresponding Gregorian date, and the current market day. Users can swipe between months and years to review past or future cycles.

Moon Phases

The calendar integrates a simple lunar visualization showing new, waxing, full, and waning moon phases. This reflects how the Igbo calendar is based on moon sightings and how lunar patterns traditionally influenced farming, ceremonies, and communal life.

History and Context

A reference section explains the development of the Igbo calendar as a pre-colonial system tied to agriculture, spirituality, and trade. It describes how market days structured economic and social activities and how the system differs from the Gregorian calendar, which contains 365 days and leap years.

Festivals and Observances

The app includes an outline of annual Igbo events such as the New Yam Festival (Iri ji or Iwaji), held in Ọnwa Ifejiọkụ (around July–August) to mark the harvest season. It also lists other regional and community observances, coming-of-age ceremonies, and masquerade festivals. Selected national holidays, such as Nigeria’s Independence Day and Easter, appear alongside traditional dates for context.

People of Note

A reference directory highlights historical and contemporary Igbo figures across politics, scholarship, arts, and enterprise. Each profile provides brief biographical details and contributions to Igbo and Nigerian society.

Proverbs, Riddles, and Folklore

Collections of Igbo proverbs, riddles, and folktales are included for cultural learning. Users can read, search, or receive random selections that convey moral lessons, humor, and community values.

Design and Accessibility

Ọnwá is optimized for iOS with an intuitive layout that supports offline access for essential content. The interface combines traditional symbolism with a clean, modern presentation suitable for educational and cultural reference use.

Purpose

The goal of Ọnwá is to document and make accessible the Igbo understanding of time, seasons, and human activity as expressed through the lunar calendar. It serves as a learning resource and a tool for preserving indigenous knowledge in a contemporary format.