The Igbo people’s ancient culture and tradition, which derives from their traditional religions, is the practice of circumcising infants on Igbo land. The removal of female genitalia or a simple fold of skin (the foreskin and prepuce) covering the head of an un-erect penis is known as circumcision.
The Igbo people used to circumcise both male and female children in ancient times. However, as modernization progressed, the Igbo people stopped circumcising or genital mutilating female children, but they continue to circumcise male children to this day.
In Igbo culture, male infants are circumcised on the eighth day after birth (Ibi Ugwu). Midwives and native doctors—in modern times, physicians carry out this procedure—are experts in the field. The fore skin that covers the head of the penis is removed during circumcision, and the operated area is treated to speed up healing and prevent infection. The healing process for male circumcision (Ibi Ugwu) takes five to seven days. In the meantime, some Igbos circumcise their children three days after they are born, while others outside of the eastern region of Nigeria perform “Ibi Ugwu” when they are adults but make sure to do so before getting married.
The Igbo practice “Ibi Ugwu,” or male circumcision, to prevent and treat the inability to retract the foreskin of the penis, which occurs when excess skin is not removed. Medical research has shown that male circumcision has numerous health benefits, including: lowering the likelihood of men coming into contact with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); treatment for prostate cancer; lowering the likelihood of developing urinary tract infections; treatment or prevention of foreskin retractibility. Additionally, circumcision can result in excessive bleeding, pain, injury, irritation, inflammation, and other negative effects.
It is regarded as a great shame for a man not to be circumcised in Igbo land on October 19, 2020. This clearly demonstrates how highly the Igbo people of eastern Nigeria regard “Ibi Ugwu” and Igbo culture as a whole.