02075nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001653000800042653001400050653001700064653001600081653002200097653003200119653003400151653001200185653001200197653000800209653001500217653001100232653001200243653002100255653003700276653001000313100002000323700001600343700001500359245008300374856011800457300001200575490000700587520111100594022002001705                                       d10aAla10aAuthority10aChristianity10aColonialism10aDetarium elastica10aFestive events (ICH domain]10aIgbo of South-eastern Nigeria10aJustice10aOdu-atu10aOfo10aOfo-na-ogu10aPurity10aRituals10aSocial practices10aSpiritual and mundane dimensions10aTruth1 aNnamdi Ajaebili1 aOkonkwo Eze1 aPaul Omeje00aOfo: the tangible and intangible heritage of the Igbo of South-eastern Nigeria  uhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85126852230&partnerID=40&md5=a46a65fb383cdfcbdc8e08e9e83e60d0  a103-1130 v153 aThe ofo is made from a tree known as detarium elastica. Among the Igbo of South-eastern Nigeria, it is the material and mystical symbol of truth, purity, justice and authority. The fundamental principle inherent in the institution of ofo is that right is might; right here is defined as justice. Through the institution or cult of ofo, the traditional Igbo defend and apply this principle in their personal and social relations, ofo is thus the defender of the innocent. The weak can also be protected by this principle, but only if they are innocent, that is, if they have ogu on their side. This gave rise, in Igbo cosmology, to the twin principle of ofo-na-ogu (justice and innocence] which is the foundation of all the basic moral principles in Igbo traditional ethics, such as truth, justice, innocence, uprightness and moral purity. The purpose of this essay is to survey the mundane and spiritual dimensions of the age-old ofo institution which has been a bedrock in the sustenance of traditional Igbo society but which, unfortunately, is fast losing its relevance among some so-called  modern  Igbo  a19753586 (ISSN)