26/03/2026
IGBO LUNAR CALENDAR (แปNWA NโAFแป IGBO)
1. What is the Igbo Lunar Calendar?
Igbo:
Kalenda Igbo bแปฅ usoro แปgแปฅ oge nke dabere na แปnwa (moon), แป bแปฅghแป naanแป anyanwแปฅ.
English:
The Igbo calendar is a lunar-based system of timekeeping, structured around the cycles of the moon rather than the sun.
๐ This means:
Each month (แปnwa) begins with a new moon
Time is cyclical, not linear
*2. Structure of the Igbo Calendar*
A. Four-Day Week (Izu Igbo)
The Igbo week has 4 market days:
Eke
Orie (Oye)
Afor
Nkwo
Igbo:
แปคbแปchแป anแป a na-achแปkwa ndแปฅ ahแปa, mmemme, na omume mmแปฅแป.
English:
These four days regulate trade, rituals, and spiritual activities.
B. One Month (แปnwa)
1 แปnwa = 7 Igbo weeks
7 ร 4 days = 28 days
Igbo:
แปnwa Igbo nwere แปฅbแปchแป iri abแปฅแป na asatแป.
English:
An Igbo month has 28 days, aligned with the lunar cycle.
C. One Year (Afแป Igbo)
13 months (แปnwa iri na atแป)
Total โ 364 days
3. The 13 Months of the Igbo Calendar
Here are the traditional months and their general meanings:
1.แปnwa Mbแปฅ
Igbo
Mbido afแป, แปkwadebe ala
English: Beginning of the year, preparation of land
2. แปnwa Abแปฅแป
Igbo: Uto na nhazi
English: Growth and consolidation
๐ This is the one youโre celebrating
3. แปnwa Ife Eke
Igbo: แปkแปฅ ihe ubi amalite
English: Beginning of planting season
4. แปnwa Anแป
Igbo: แปrแปฅ ugbo na-aga nโihu
English: Active farming period
5. แปnwa Agwแปฅ
Igbo: Njikแป mmแปฅแป na mmemme
English: Spiritual activities and rituals
6. แปnwa Ifejiแปkแปฅ(Ahiajoku)
Igbo: Emume ji (New Yam Festival)
English: Yam festival and thanksgiving
7. แปnwa Alแปm Chi
Igbo: Njikแป chi na mmadแปฅ
English: Alignment with personal Chi
8. แปnwa Ilo Mmแปฅแป
Igbo: แปsแปpแปฅrแปฅ ndแป mmแปฅแป
English: Honoring the spirits
9. แปnwa Ana
Igbo: Idozi ala na omume
English: Focus on land and morality
10. แปnwa Okike
Igbo: Mmegharแป na okike แปhแปฅrแปฅ
English: Creation and renewal
11. แปnwa Ajana
Igbo: Nchedo na แปkwadebe
English: Protection and preparation
12. แปnwa Ede Ajana
Igbo: Mmechi nke afแป
English: Closing phase of the year
13. แปnwa แปคzแป Alแปฅsแป
Igbo: แปrแปฅ arแปฅsแป na mmemme mmแปฅแป
English: Spiritual rituals and deity reverence.
Onwa mbu (First Month) starts in February. This is when ndi Igbo celebrates their new year. Onwa abuo in in March and so on and so forth