Onye Kwe Chi Ya Ekwe: Decoding the Igbo Proverb
Art by Agoziem
In Igbo language, Ilu refers to a proverb or axiom. An Ilu distills complex stories, values, and lived experiences into a few carefully chosen words. These concise phrases carry the essential wisdom of the situations from which they arise, allowing deep principles to be remembered, transmitted, and applied across generations.
Ilu bu nnu e ji eri nri, it is salt with which words are eaten. Ilu bu mmanu ndi Igbo ji eri okwu.
Onye Kwe, Chi ya Ekwe expresses the principle that whatever a person wholeheartedly agrees to and believes in, their Chi (personal spirit) also consents to. This reflects the cosmic law that governs the subconscious mind (Ikpa Chi), it cannot override the human will.
The will is a sacred faculty of the soul, it determines, inclines, desires, and chooses. It is part of what makes us distinctly human, a reflection of the divine capacity for self-determination. Through the will, our souls reveal themselves as higher reflections of God, our ultimate Source.
This ilu reminds us of the immense power of the subconscious mind. The subconscious is that deeper layer of your mental process which quietly shapes your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It is not passive, it is the hidden engine of your life.
In Igbo philosophy, the subconscious is understood as the very seat of your Chi. Let me emphasize that: your subconscious mind is where your Chi resides. It is the sacred dwelling place of your spiritual self, the bridge through which your Chi shapes your lived reality.
Your subconscious mind is like a vast memory bank, storing every experience and running the automatic programs that shape how you think, feel, and act. It doesn’t reason on its own, it simply accepts and carries out whatever your conscious mind impresses upon it.
This ilu teaches us that the subconscious, in this context your Chi, is malleable. It agrees with, permits, and amplifies whatever you truly believe about yourself. Whatever you embrace as your reality, your Chi has the power to manifest.
Onye kwe chi ya ekwe, implies that the future is not set in stone, it is not fixed, and that it can be influenced, or changed, by various factors.
This ilu provides us with the wisdom of multiple possibilities, the knowledge that at any given moment, the future exists as multiple possibilities, and can be influenced by our choices or actions. It teaches us that we have the agency and the power to shape our own destiny.
In Igbo reality, we have the concept of ‘Onataru Chi’, which is the concept of destiny, a purpose which each person has derived from their source (Chi Ukwu). It is the assigned life purpose given to each individual from their life force, to enable them thrive in this lifetime. It is believed that each person's experiences in life are shaped by their personal spirit (their chi), which is responsible for their fortune or misfortunes in life.
Onataru Chi, the Igbo concept of destiny, refers to the course of events set within a person’s life. While certain aspects may be predetermined, this destiny is not fixed; it can be shaped by our thoughts, choices, and actions—our very belief systems.
Importantly, Onataru Chi cannot be altered by a Dibia (master of mystic knowledge), because it is the direct link between your life force and your life path. It is the one realm where no one else can intervene. A Dibia may perform great wonders, but when it comes to your destiny, only you can align with it, shape it, and ultimately fulfill it.
This concept of destiny is often misunderstood, because it is easily confused with the idea of fate, as if the future were fixed and determined entirely by God or some higher power. But in Igbo cosmology, like all things, destiny is understood through the principle of polarity and duality.
Yes, there may be aspects of fate that are predetermined, but this does not mean life is rigid or unchangeable. Rather, we are also given the power of choice. We can shape how we meet that fate, how we walk our path, and how fully we realize our potential. Destiny, then, is not only about what is given, but also about what we create.
For clarity, polarity can be seen as movement, while duality is standstill. We do not have to choose between light and darkness, we carry both. This principle teaches that everything in the universe exists with its opposite. Polarity is the existence of these opposites, while duality is the experience and integration of them.
As our ancestors (Ndi Mvu na Ndi Egede) understood, recognizing polarity and duality deepens spiritual growth and expands consciousness.
Onataru Chi also points to what we have received directly from our Source. At its purest, this gift is the ability simply to be—to embody divinity in the world as co-creators, expressing the power of God through whatever we do.
No one else can interfere with this process once it is embraced. People excel most in the areas where, knowingly or unknowingly, they feel most at home expressing their highest self—the divine spark within. That is the point of Onataru Chi: your destined path.
When you discover that area in life where your spirit flows most freely, walk in it with conviction. On that path, no outside force can stand in your way.
Remember this Igbo proverb as you embark on your life’s journey: Onye Kwe Chi Ya Ekweee.
Leave a comment below, share what this ilu means to you. Yagazie!
Recommended Resources:
Cymatic Waves (Onye kwe, Chi ya Ekwe) | Ọdịnala Institute (Article)
If You Are Seeking Your Life Purpose Read This | An Ode to Chukwu Okike | Udochi Okeke (Article)
Akaraaka: The Purpose of Your Life | Brian Ewuzie (Article)
Chi Is An Autoring Mechanism | Igboheritage Tv (YouTube)
