Months in Igbo phrasebook

Oguaro/afọ - Traditional calendar

The calendar of the Igbo people is known as Oguaro or Oguafor (lit. 'counting of the years'). Month in Igbo is ọnwa (lit. 'moon'), year is 'afọ'. The traditional Igbo year has 13 months which are usually named after their position in the year; most are named after a religious ceremony or after a certain deity such as Ana the mother alusi (deity) of the earth. The traditional 13 month calendar is rarely used in Igbo society, instead the Gregorian 12 month calendar is used. Below are the months of the year in the traditional 13 week Oguaro calendar and their Gregorian equivalents.

Months (Ọnwa)�

Gregorian equivalent

Ọnwa Mbụ (AW-wah MM-BOO)�

3rd week of February

Ọnwa Abuọ (AW-wah AH-bu-wor)�

March

Ọnwa Ife Eke (AW-wah EE-fay AY-KAY)�

April

Ọnwa Anọ (AW-wah AH-nor)�

May

Ọnwa Agwụ (AW-wah AH-goo)�

June

Ọnwa Ifejiọkụ (AW-wah EE-fay-jee-OR-koo)�

July

Ọnwa Alọm Chi (AW-wah AH-LOHM chi)�

August to early September

Ọnwa Ilo Mmụọ (AW-wah EE-low MM-MORE)�

Late September

Ọnwa Ana (AW-wah AH-NAH)�

October

Ọnwa Okike (AW-wah OH-kee-kay)�

Early November

Ọnwa Ajana (AW-wah AH-jah-nah)�

Late November

Ọnwa Ede Ajana (AW-wah AY-DAY ah-jah nah)�

Late November to December

Ọnwa Ụzọ Alụsị (AW-wah oo-ZOR AH-LUH-SEE)�

January to Early February