Mmá – Knife in Igbo culture
In Igbo tradition, Mmá (knife) is one of the most essential tools, used for everything from slicing yam to preparing offerings for ancestral spirits. Its presence in the home, farm, and shrine marks it as both a functional item and a cultural symbol. Whether held by a farmer, a healer, or a priest, Mmá carries out the will of its owner with quiet precision and sacred responsibility.
In daily life, women use Mmá to cut vegetables, prepare meals, and carry out household tasks, while men rely on it for carving, farming, and protection. Beyond utility, the knife also has spiritual weight. During Àjà (sacrifices), it is used to prepare animals or split kola nuts. In medicine-making, traditional healers use Mmá to slice roots or mark the skin during certain healing rites.
Igbo proverbs and folklore often use the image of Mmá to warn, guide, or teach restraint. A careless knife can cut the hand that feeds it—reminding us that power must be handled with wisdom. Even in masquerade preparations, Mmá is used to craft costumes or sharpen tools. In all its uses, Mmá is more than metal—it is the extension of will, skill, and ancestral knowledge.
