Revered as the patron spirit of the dibia (diviner-healer) and the source of inspiration for exceptionally talented individuals, Agwu is closely associated with humanity's pursuit of fulfillment in society.
This page explores the nature of Agwu's possession, considering it as the culmination of his impact on human beings and examining its manifestation in individuals' experiences.
The suffixes isi and nsi, denoting head/first and poison respectively, serve as onomatopoeic expressions representing specific orders of relationships, characteristics, and effects associated with the spirit.
Functioning as a provider of solutions for humans, Agwu is involved in herbal medicine and divination, offering means to address various problems.
[2] It has been asserted that Agwu has the power to positively influence individuals by elevating their status in society, symbolized by the ability to "blow hot and cold" for people.
Described as "muo nkpasa" or the spirit of confusion, Agwu is seen as a deity that selectively chooses devotees, granting them the knowledge of medicinal herbs, particularly in the context of fortune-telling.
[2] The typologies of Agwu found across communities are rooted in ecological conditions, social organizations, ideals, and occupational engagements.
This prominence is underscored by the fact that, among all the spiritual entities acknowledged in Igbo cosmology, including Ala, only Agwu is ascribed an elaborate story of epiphany in visible human form.
Agwu Ojoo is described as the aggregation of human spirits considered evil because they belong to individuals who, due to serious shortcomings in their earthly lives, did not receive proper funeral rites.
It is explained as the collective and determined will within a family lineage to secure advantages that would enable it to maintain a certain monopoly in economic, political, social, or medical matters.