The rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people is not only reflected in language, art and festivals — it also lives in the way time is measured. On this page you’ll find the traditional Igbo calendar, built for modern websites while honouring ancient rhythms. Visit it here: Igbo Calendar.
What is the Igbo calendar?
Unlike the seven-day cycle of the Gregorian calendar, the Igbo calendar uses a four-day market week comprised of: Eke, Orie, Afo, and Nkwo.
Meanwhile the year is divided into twelve months known as Ọnwa. Some examples include Ọnwa Mbụ, Ọnwa Abụo, and Ọnwa Ụzọ Alụsị.
This system remained central to Igbo cultural life — market days determined when clans met, when festivals happened, when decisions were made.
Why bring it online?
- Cultural revival: It helps visitors to your blog connect with Igbo heritage in a tangible way.
- Interactive experience: The calendar on our site allows you to navigate through months, observe market-days and even add your own events.
- Visual appeal: It’s designed with vibrant colours and modern UI while staying respectful to tradition.
How it works on our site
Using the calendar tool here:
- Use the « ‹ » and « › » buttons to move between months (Ọnwa).
- Each day block shows the number and the market-day name (Eke, Orie, Afo, Nkwo).
- Click on any day to add your own event or note — stored in your browser so you can come back anytime.
Bringing innovation to tradition
As a programmer and blogger I (Shedi) believe in pulling culture into the digital space in smart, respectful ways. That’s why I built this calendar with:
- A full grid view with four-day cycles,
- Colour themes inspired by Igbo palettes (deep reds, golds, warm earth tones),
- Full responsiveness so it looks great on mobile and desktop,
- Event support to make it more than a static display.
How you can use it
- Link to it in your blog posts when writing about Igbo festivals, seasons or markets.
- Embed the shortcode
- Encourage readers to use it to mark important cultural dates (new yam festivals, community gatherings, etc.).
- Use it as a teaching tool: explain the four-day cycle to students or younger readers.
Conclusion
Time is more than just minutes and hours — it’s culture, it’s connection, it’s heritage. The Igbo calendar shows us how this culture measured time, shared rhythms, and organised life.
Explore it now at Igbo Calendar — and make it part of your digital journey.