Ògụ́àfọ̀ Ị̀gbò: 2024 Igbo Lunar Calendar with Symbolic Details for Odinani Practitioners!

The Igbo calendar is based on a lunar cycle, each week (Izu) is made up of four (4) market days; Eke - Orie - Afo - Nkwo, and each month/moon (Ọnwá) consists of at least twenty eight (28) days, which makes up seven (7) weeks, in total we have thirteen (13) moons and three hundred & sixty four (364) to three hundred & sixty five (365) days in each year, depending on the duration of each lunar cycle.

The goal of this post is to highlight the Igbo calendar’s new moons (months), and how they appear within the gregorian calendar for the year 2024 for those of us who would like to be better informed and aligned during the course of the year 2024. Before proceeding to list the new moons (months) and their gregorian dates in the 2024 calendar, there are somethings i would like us to take note of first. Such as;

• The titles of the moons which we will highlight in this post, originate from the Nri traditional system, and they may vary across Igbo communities, reflecting other local dialects. Igbo n'asu n'onu n'onu, mana anyi bu ofu/ovu/ohu. Igbo people might speak in different tongues or dialects but we are one people.

• Akwali Omumu, the equinoxes that occur twice each year, in March and in September. The equinox (Akwali Omumu) occurs when the feminine and masculine energy are at an even keel, when both principles manifest at an equal wavelength. Light and darkness merge into equality and balance. It is a great time to stay spiritually pure and aligned, to tap into that energetic balance in order to transcend human limitations, to give birth to your desires and birth something new, fresh and reformed within your life. A great time to manifest from your spiritual center. A time for renewal. For 2024 the equinoxes, when the night and day will be equal, will occur on the 19th/20th of March and 22nd/23rd of September.

• In Odinani, periods that lead up to or around this Akwali Omumu (equinox) energy are typically observed as periods of fasting, prayer, reflection and sometimes community cleansing rituals. You might have heard it referred to in online publications as “Ugani”, the 'hunger period', a period in which all must fast in sacrificial harmony to the goddess of the Earth, Ani/Ana.

• In some enlightened circles, the first Eke market day after the first equinox (20th March) is observed as the actual “spiritual” new year—Ikenga Igbo New Year. For the year 2024 that day—the first Eke market day after the initial equinox will be on the 23rd of March.

• A new market day i.e Eke, Orie, Afor, Nkwo, begins at sunset (the time in the evening when the sun disappears or daylight fades) and not at sunrise (the time in the morning when the sun appears or full daylight arrives). It is important to be aware of this if you follow the lunar calendar or are an Odinani adherent.

• Please do not confuse a New moon with a Full moon. A new moon occurs when the moon is on the same side of the Earth as the sun, so it appears completely dark. During a new moon, it is as if it doesn't exist at all as we are not even able to see it from Earth. In ancient Igbo communities, determining the new moon was a sacred science taught to only a select few, but thanks to the new age we live in now we have astronomical instruments that can accurately relay that information to us. The time between a full moon and a new moon is at least 14 days, which is half of the moon's cycle. Each new month (Ọnwá) begins with a new moon, it gives us a chance to start afresh or reset our energies, while the full moon is an opportunity to harness and realign with our energies. 

• The Odinani new year for 2024 fits into February because the Igbo lunar calendar is based around the moon, and we observe thirteen (13) months not twelve (12). The last moon and 13th month (Ọnwá Uzọ Árushi) of the previous year for us starts around 11th of January and concludes around the 8th of February 2024. This means our first new moon or month for a new year will begin around 9th of February 2024. Our lunar new year differs annually and usually falls between January 21st and February 21st in the gregorian calendar because a lunar month is around two days shorter than a western or gregorian month. The lunar new year is a good time to honor ones deities, ancestors and spiritual guides (Ezumezu). 

Okay, now let’s get to the list of months (new moons) in 2024 lunar calendar and the dates they match with in the gregorian calendar:

1. the 1st month, Ọnwá Mbụ/Mvụ, begins around 9th of February, 2024.

2. the 2nd month, Ọnwá Abụo, begins around 10th of March, 2024.

3. the 3rd month, Ọnwá Ife Eke, begins around 8th of April, 2024.

4. the 4th month, Ọnwá Anọ, begins around 8th of May, 2024.

5. the 5th month, Ọnwá Agwu, begins around 6th of June, 2024.

6. the 6th month, Ọnwá Ifejiọkụ, begins around 5th of July, 2024.

7. the 7th month, Ọnwá Alọm Chi, begins around 4th of August, 2024.

8. the 8th month, Ọnwá Ilo Mmụọ, begins around 3rd of September, 2024.

9. the 9th month, Ọnwá Ana/Ani/Ala, begins around 2nd of October 2024.

10. the 10th month, Ọnwá Okike, begins around 1st of November, 2024.

11. the 11th month, Ọnwá Ájá Áná, begins around 1st of December, 2024.

12. the 12th month, Ọnwá Ede Ajana, begins around 30th December, 2024.

13. the 13th month, Ọnwá Uzọ Árushi/Álusi, begins around 29th January 2025.

There you have it. In a different post, we will highlight the symbolisms and other details about the titles of each month and new moon in the Igbo calendar. We will attach the link to this post when it becomes available.

May 2024🎉🎉be prosperous for us all, Anyi ga adi ka echi na echi adighi agwu agwu! 🎉🎉

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Cool proverbs & axioms to ponder on:

• Ako bu Ije - Wisdom is the way.

• Agwu adighi mmadu agwu - Mankind cannot exist without Agwu

• Ewu nwuru n'oba ji abughi agu gburu ya - A goat that dies in a barn was not killed by hunger.

• Ife kwulu, ife akwudebe ya - When something stands/exists, something else will stand/exist beside it.

• Igbo bu ihe a na-eme eme - ‘Igbo’ is a lived experience, beyond being an identity it is all about action.

• Igbo n'asu n'onu n'onu, mana anyi bu ofu/ovu/ohu - Igbos might speak in different tongues or dialects but we are one people.

• Mgbe onye ji teta ụra bụ ụtụtụ ya - Whenever one wakes up is their morning.

• Ọnwa pụta otichaghị ọ da-anakpu - A new moon must complete its cycle before exit.

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Recommended Resources:

• Igbo Calendar | Ọgụgụ Afọ Ìgbò | Voice Of The Sun

• Iguafo Igbo: Igbo Calendar | Okwu ID

• What Your Igbo Market Day Says About You | Udochi Okeke (Article)

• The Magic of Eke, Orie, Afo, and Nkwo | Ugoebenaja (YouTube)

• Onwa Arushi of the Moon (and Ancient Igbo Calendar) Explained | Medicine Shell (YouTube)

• Mystery of the Four Market Days Explained - Why is The Sacred Igbo Calendar is More than a Calendar | Medicine Shell (YouTube)

• How Did The Market Become Sacred? - Role of Women in Igbo culture, Rivalry between the Agbara | Medicine Shell (YouTube)

• ONWA MBU: ATUMATU OZI ARO NKEA | NgoziChukwuKa Adaobuijele (YouTube)

• EKENE NGWUSI ONWA ABUA NDI IGBO | NgoziChukwuKa Adaobuijele (YouTube)

• NKOWA ONWA ABUA NDI IGBO V NWA BEKEE' S MONTH OF MARCH | NgoziChukwuKa Adaobuijele (YouTube)

• EKENE ONWA IFE EKE: Ikenga Mmalite | NgoziChukwuKa Adaobuijele (YouTube)

• ONWA AGWU/ARO | NgoziChukwuKa Adaobuijele (YouTube)

• OKWU ALULU CHI / ALU- KWU- SI | NgoziChukwuKa Adaobuijele (YouTube)

• 'ALULU NSI-ALUKWUSI' | NgoziChukwuKa Adaobuijele (YouTube)

• UZO ALUKWUSI (14) | NgoziChukwuKa Adaobuijele (YouTube)

• Believe The Hype - 2024 Energy Deep Dive With SiStar MyRah | Professor Melanie (YouTube)