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What is Ishi Among the Enuani People?

 What is Ishi Among the Enuani People? 


- Pen Master

(Emeka Esogbue)

Ishi also called Ifi means "spiritual retribution," in the belief of the Enuani people of Anioma in Delta State.  


In general terms, it is a spiritual punishment either for doing what one was not supposed to do or for not doing what one was supposed to do. Either way, one suffers from the misconduct. 


In line with marriage, a woman who sleeps outside the home may suffer ishi not because the bride price is on her head but because her husband still considers her married to him and they live under one roof while he feeds on food cooked by her. If a bride price is on the head of a woman but they have separated and gone their way, there could be nothing like ishi. Ishi only happens because the woman still sleeps with her husband and cooks for him to eat. And even if they both live under a single roof as a husband and wife the woman is flirtatious, the man will only avoid two things, eating her food and sleeping with her to avoid ishi. 


Consequently, ishi could only happen when she goes back to her matrimonial home to resume her matrimonial duties. 

There will now be 'iju chaa ishi,' a ritual process in which a fowl may be openly slaughtered in front of the matrimonial home by Umu Ada before she steps into the house again to play in to play her wifely role.

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