WHY ATTA IS A WOMAN

The Atta, though a biological man is seen and treated as a woman. In fact, he has a husband.

It has been the tradition of Igalas that the Atta pieces his ears and wears wool earrings. This is not the only feminine thing Atta does, he also has a husband! Yes, a husband! This might be strange but it is true. The person holding the title of Ach’adu is the spiritual husband of the Atta. 

It is important to give an insight on how and why an Atta is expected to exhibit characteristics of a woman.

It is not of doubt that Atta must be a biological man; however, in the spiritual realm, Atta remains a woman. The age account for this has been challenged by few persons of the Ach’adu family, probably because of the seeming stigma the account subjects them to.

How Atta became a woman

The first Leader of the Igala kingdom, Ebulejonu, a fierce woman, possibly conquered and established the dynasty hundreds of years ago. 

Once upon a time, Obulejonu started having affection for one of her several slaves. He was slave-named Acho. The young and handsome slave; believed to be of Igbo extraction was better known as “Acho-Adu” meaning Acho the Slave.

The news of Ebulejonu having an affair with a slave boy started like a rumour and latter snowballed into a serious headache for the entire kingdom. It was not just shameful, it was considered a taboo. 

Not for too long, the Chiefs (members of the ruling council) couldn’t take it again hence the scheduled a council meeting with her to trash out the issue. At the meeting, it was obvious to everybody that the agenda was strictly “Acho” the slave boy! 

Atta and his husband, Ach'adu

For fear and respect, they didn’t directly accuse her of having an affair with the slave boy rather, they said they were not comfortable with the false news going round that she is having an affair with a mere slave boy.

In her response, she didn’t only admit that she was in love with the slave boy, she also announced that she was going to marry him to hurt who ever cares!

It was a fertile opportunity for her to execute her long desire. She married Acho! This didn’t go down well with the Chiefs. When she noticed their dissatisfaction towards Acho, she decided to do the unimaginable. She gave Acho a beaded title and by this, Acho became a member of the Ruling Council.

Like every other Chief in council, Acho now wears four tight blue beads on both hands and one round the neck. Though Acho seats with the chiefs at council meetings, he was not given proper recognition. Outside the fact that Acho suffered serious self inflicted complex, the Chiefs also despised him.

One of the Chiefs in a rather ridiculous move requested that Acho be renamed. How could he have been bearing Acho as a slave and also bear same as a chief? Ebulejonu got angry and in that anger, she made declarations that now form a major part of the igala tradition till today. She declared that his name shall remain Acho-Adu meaning Acho the slave. His title shall be Ach’adu Oko Atta meaning Acho the slave and the husband of Atta.

As if that was not enough, she further declared that the Ach’adu shall be the second in command in the entire Igala kingdom.

Afterwards, the office of Ach’adu became properly established and successive. Till today, whoever holds the title of Ach’adu oko Atta is seen as the spiritual husband of Atta. In the same vein, the Atta pieces his ears, wears wool earrings, and has a husband in honour of Ebulejonu.

Note: This account of history has been challenged by few persons but it is not far from the truth.