📌 Who is an Ogbuefi? by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS

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In Igbo culture, Ogbuefi literally means “the one who has killed cows” in title reference. It is not about slaughtering a single animal for ceremony, but a recognition reserved for those who have undergone the rigorous Ozo and Nze rites, where the killing of cows is both symbolic and compulsory.

The title signifies elevation into the class of elders entrusted with moral authority, communal guidance, and the preservation of Igbo values. 

Before anyone is called Ogbuefi or Otigbuanyinya (“killer of horses”), they must first pass through the Ozo—an elaborate rite considered the climax of the “first degree” of Igbo aristocracy. 

Ogbuefi and Otigbuanyinya among others, then stand on the same pedestal as higher degrees, representing the culmination of wealth, generosity, and service to the community.

The cultural weight of the title is best understood through the proverb, “Nwanne dị na mba, ọbuna o zuo, o mara onye ga-ebu ya.” Literally, it means that even though there may be good friends in the diaspora or far away from home, when the true moment of test comes, such as when a corpse begins to decay, it will be known who must carry it. 

Friends and outsiders may withdraw, but true relatives cannot escape responsibility. 

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Killing of cows in Igbo culture: Family Use vs. Title-Taking by Remmy Nweke

In the same spirit, an Ogbuefi is one who does not step aside in times of communal need, but whose resources, intellect, or professional standing are devoted to uplifting his people.

Thus, an Ogbuefi may be a successful farmer, a wealthy trader, a respected pharmacist, or even a literary icon. 

What matters is not only personal achievement, but the ability to transform that achievement into cultural guardianship, kinship responsibility, and community service.