Traditional Title In Onitsha, Anambra State

Do you know it is forbidden for an Onitsha man that is not a red cap chief (Onye Ichie) to put on the red cap, especially on his traditional marriage?

In the olden days when a person that is not an Onicha Red Cap chief wore the red cap on the road, youths & able-bodied men will tell him to take it off & not disrespect the title, this happened to most people that were not even Onitsha people. It is forbidden for an Onitsha man to wear it if he’s not a Red Cap Chief titled man (Onyichie).

Also, an onicha man that is not an Ozo titled man is forbidden to wear the Ozo cap with a feather on it. You can wear the Ozo cap without the feather on it.

An Ozo man has gone through processes, both spiritual and physical that prove him worthy & fit for such authority. These processes in our modern-day time amount to millions of Naira which varies depending on the village of the initiate For one to be conferred as Onye Ichie, He must have taken the Ozo title & must have been found worthy by the Agbogidi & the Obi-In-Council before he is given the honors of a title.

These procedures & activities involving the red cap, thereby make the wearing of the red cap sacred with regards to the traditional importance attached to it.

©Culled From Igbo History