Many of Ndi-igbo are aloof of the signifance and essence of some ancient realities and beings that exist in our igbo society. The Igbo person especially, those umunne anyi who have become ndi-oyibo have very unfortunately stiffened their necks, thickened their skins and deafened their ears to whatever that has the mention of Igbo culture. Much more pathetic is that, those of us who hold sway to some dogmatic religious views of the irreconciliable difference and dichotomy between cultural ideals and the religious ones have thrown away the remains of our heritage after the colonial rape.

We need to shake-off our idiocy in order to accept our idiosyncracies; the uniqueness and uncommon cultural ideals,identities and essences that define us as a people. In this thread, we expose the fascinating truths and facts about the CHI-ANYANWU (GOD OF THE SUN) of Igbo.

We shall begin with the Igbo god of the SUN (ANYANWU)

In Igbo land, prior to colonial era, there were common cultural beliefs which, especially now that western education and religion have penetrated virtually all brains and hearts, some still hold as myths. One of those beliefs is that the days of ndi-igbo are governed by the god of the sun (Anyanwụ).

Anyanwụ, literarily translated to mean, ‘Eye of the Sun’, is the Igbo sun deity, arụsi igbo. Some igbo names that take after the sun are Iwuanyanwu & Ekeanyanwu.

Anyanwụ shares similarity with the Roman Sol Invictus, sun deity introduced into Rome through ancient Egypt. A festival called ‘Dies Natalis Solis Invicti’ was held during the last month of the year to mark the birthday of the unconquered Sun.

It was adopted by Germanic tribes colonised by the Romans and referred to as Sonntag. In the language of one Germanic tribe called the Anglo-Saxons (English), the day of the sun god Sonntag is known as Sunday.

Rome and by extension, all its colonies would later adopt Christianity but retained their ancestral heritage including the Sun god and brought to us through British colonisation.

So, Ndi Uka, if you must change your Anyanwu related names, you must also stop worshiping on a Sunday.

The beautiful sculpture (attached) of the Igbo sun god Anyanwu was made by Professor Ben Chukwukadibia Enweonwu and presented to the United Nations on the occasion of Nigeria’s 2nd Independence Day anniversary.

The sun is one of the most universally revered objects in human history. Just about every culture on the planet honors it for all the different gifts that it brings to our planet, bringing both the light and heat that make life on our planet possible.

For one, our method of keeping time is based on it, as for the majority of human history, our clocks were sundials. Most of our modern calendars (including days of the week ala Sun-day), are based off it, and lot of our major holidays originally started as solar equinox or solstice celebrations (such as Easter and Christmas respectively). Even western astrology focuses on a person’s sun signs. Needless to say, our lives revolve around the sun…literally.

Amongst Ndi Igbo, the Sun was referred to as Anyanwu (An-yan-wew). This is a combination of two different words. The first word, anya means eye. The second word, anwu, means light. Together, the phrase reads as “eye of light.”

Metamorphosing the sun as an eye is not an exclusively Igbo concept. Another famous example of this can be found in the ancient Egyptian character of Ra, who was depicted as a Falcon headed man who hand a sun disk on his head.

A modern example of a celestial eye can be found on the left side of a dollar bill. Here are some other examples found throughout different cultures:
Continue Reading: http://igbobia.com/?q=igbo-museum-collectionfacts-you-dont-know-about-anyanwu-igbo-sun-god-pt1.html

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Youngadvocate:
Many of Ndi-igbo are aloof of the signifance and essence of some ancient realities and beings that exist in our igbo society. The Igbo person especially, those umunne anyi who have become ndi-oyibo have very unfortunately stiffened their necks, thickened their skins and deafened their ears to whatever that has the mention of Igbo culture. Much more pathetic is that, those of us who hold sway to some dogmatic religious views of the irreconciliable difference and dichotomy between cultural ideals and the religious ones have thrown away the remains of our heritage after the colonial rape.

We need to shake-off our idiocy in order to accept our idiosyncracies; the uniqueness and uncommon cultural ideals,identities and essences that define us as a people. In this thread, we expose the fascinating truths and facts about the CHI-ANYANWU (GOD OF THE SUN) of Igbo.

We shall begin with the Igbo god of the SUN (ANYANWU)

In Igbo land, prior to colonial era, there were common cultural beliefs which, especially now that western education and religion have penetrated virtually all brains and hearts, some still hold as myths. One of those beliefs is that the days of ndi-igbo are governed by the god of the sun (Anyanwụ).

Anyanwụ, literarily translated to mean, ‘Eye of the Sun’, is the Igbo sun deity, arụsi igbo. Some igbo names that take after the sun are Iwuanyanwu & Ekeanyanwu.

Anyanwụ shares similarity with the Roman Sol Invictus, sun deity introduced into Rome through ancient Egypt. A festival called ‘Dies Natalis Solis Invicti’ was held during the last month of the year to mark the birthday of the unconquered Sun.

It was adopted by Germanic tribes colonised by the Romans and referred to as Sonntag. In the language of one Germanic tribe called the Anglo-Saxons (English), the day of the sun god Sonntag is known as Sunday.

Rome and by extension, all its colonies would later adopt Christianity but retained their ancestral heritage including the Sun god and brought to us through British colonisation.

So, Ndi Uka, if you must change your Anyanwu related names, you must also stop worshiping on a Sunday.

The beautiful sculpture (attached) of the Igbo sun god Anyanwu was made by Professor Ben Chukwukadibia Enweonwu and presented to the United Nations on the occasion of Nigeria’s 2nd Independence Day anniversary.

The sun is one of the most universally revered objects in human history. Just about every culture on the planet honors it for all the different gifts that it brings to our planet, bringing both the light and heat that make life on our planet possible.

For one, our method of keeping time is based on it, as for the majority of human history, our clocks were sundials. Most of our modern calendars (including days of the week ala Sun-day), are based off it, and lot of our major holidays originally started as solar equinox or solstice celebrations (such as Easter and Christmas respectively). Even western astrology focuses on a person’s sun signs. Needless to say, our lives revolve around the sun…literally.

Amongst Ndi Igbo, the Sun was referred to as Anyanwu (An-yan-wew). This is a combination of two different words. The first word, anya means eye. The second word, anwu, means light. Together, the phrase reads as “eye of light.”

Metamorphosing the sun as an eye is not an exclusively Igbo concept. Another famous example of this can be found in the ancient Egyptian character of Ra, who was depicted as a Falcon headed man who hand a sun disk on his head.

A modern example of a celestial eye can be found on the left side of a dollar bill. Here are some other examples found throughout different cultures:
Continue Reading: http://igbobia.com/?q=igbo-museum-collectionfacts-you-dont-know-about-anyanwu-igbo-sun-god-pt1.html

Even Jesus picture is depicted in sun over his face. Remove the hair, nose mouth (just to deceive you) you are left with the sun and the eye. Anyanwu. How did our fore father's know about the all seeing eye is still a marvel till today