By

Okwoli Moses Elaigwu

Idoma tradition allow adoption of a child into a family to be counted in line of Genealogy who maybe  mentioned stylishly for differential purposes in some of the Alekwu chant saying Ɔyi né lɛ bi wɔgbā ō wú Ɔyi óbibā ɛgɛn ō meaning a child brought in line is no longer a stranger (outsider).

Ɔgbɔlɛ Ādūlé of Ɔtādā says Ɔcɛ éegbō  íyā Ābākūn meaning one person doesn't create  Ābābū kingdom, therefore both the child brought in line and  the children of Ōkó are all Ābākū because kingdom is larger than  a community.

Though, Idoma tradition accept adoption practice but the ritual process that changes the identity of the child brought in line remain secret to the outer world. The proposed father will go along with the child and some of the elders of the land to Adōkó (Alekwu shrine) on which the child will be made to kneel before the his new father and his ancestors as he will be presented before the ancestors as a child coming into the family line. The father will be made to perform the ritual which name I must withheld 7 times as a way of connecting such a child with the family. The father at the  process will enchant blessings on the child and at that point may decide to change the name of the child or add a title to the child’s name. By doing these the father and the entire family is under an oath to treat the child equally. Also  on know ocean will such a child be insulted or remind of his past. The ritual process Forbid the entire such an oath is bound on the entire community from treating such a child as an outcast since the child has been presented and accepted in the present of  their ancestors at the Adōkó or Ikpálēkwú (Alekwu shrine). The implications of this practice is that it unity the adopted child and the patrilineal children as one and the entire family as they are under oath.

 In Idoma tradition once this ritual processes are done in Adōkó (Alekwu shrine) traditionally it changes the DNA of the child to become a legitimate child of the land; though with stylish differentiation by the Alekwu in their chant in a way of bring such a child true history of non-patrilineal background. This happened especially when there is an argument between them and the need for countercheck arised.

Within each family genealogical chant are considered a thing of priority and in this chant only those who are traditionally inclined understand the lyrics when those brought in-line (adopted) are mentioned and when those with patrilineal origin are mentioned in the family trees.

This issue of paternity and adoption has been of great concern in many society and the way at which the society goes about it matters a lot. 

In the case of Idoma Nation why is it allow in the ancient time? Why are the ritual process considered secret? Why are people not allow to speak more on these? Is it true that there's no nation in reality created by one man according to Ɔgbɔlɛ Ādūlé who spoke to address this issue over two hundred years ago (200)? These words of his echoes in my heart.  I consider this true and a code of unity that bind a nation as one. A nation is built by unity, blood and sacrifices no matter where you come from;  to join the code of unity called a nation. No matter the part of Idoma Nation you are, remember something  hold us as one and it is greater than individual community because a nation is greater than a community. We must learn to accept each other in out diversity.