The spider, ududo okwanka, serves as a metaphor for the creation of the universe in Igbo folklore. It represents the creative force from the supreme being that wove a web, eventually forming the cosmos. Everything in the universe is connected through these threads.
During mmanwu performances, ududo symbolizes the creative power behind the masquerade costumes, shaping lives and stories. Young initiates are threatened with dismemberment and being sewn back together by ududo in the ekwuru, where the masquerades rest.
The Milky Way is often compared to a spider’s web, and some communities believe the first weaving was inspired by observing the spider’s craft. The cosmic spider, ududo okwanka, is the weaver of ideas, continually pulling things together to create something new.
Key Symbolisms:
1. Cosmic Creation: Ududo’s web-weaving signifies the supreme being’s creative power.
2. Connectivity: Threads represent the unity and interdependence of universe’s components.
3. Masquerade Performances: Ududo symbolizes creative power shaping lives and stories.
4. Initiatory Rites: Ududo threatens dismemberment and reassembly, emphasizing transformation.
5. Celestial Inspiration: The Milky Way’s resemblance to a spider’s web inspires cosmic understanding.
Cultural Significance:
Ududo okwanka represents:
1. Creative Force: Weaver of ideas, continually creating anew.
2. Cosmic Order: Maintaining balance and harmony.
3. Ancestral Wisdom: Guiding generations through folklore.
References:
Ugwu, A. (2009). Igbo history and culture. Onitsha: Africana Publishers.
Cole, H. M. (1982). Igbo Arts and Culture. Los Angeles: University of California Press.
Ottenberg, S. (2006). Igbo: Art and Culture. New York: Prestel Publishing.
Ukpuru (2017). The Cosmic Spider [Digital Image].
