Nzu - Native Chalk

Nzu (white chalk) is a very useful element in Igbo culture. It is a symbol of wisdom, peace, purity and clean heart. It is also a symbol of mystical powers capable of revealing the spirit world. A symbol is a sign which represents something deeper than the material object associated with it.This chalk is known variously as 'calabash chalk' In Igbo it is nzu, in Edo, orhue.This chalk is used in multiple ways – as an offering to the deities and ancestors, as a medicine, as a symbol of purity, of good fortune and hospitality. It is a sacred substance.Nzu is used instead of or alongside kola nut in welcoming guests in Ìgbò land. The offering of Nzu to a visitor signifies peace. It is, in fact, a sacred art. After a visitor is ushered inside the host's house and a seat is offered to him, Nzu may be presented and used for prayers.The native chalk is not only applied on the eyes but also on the feet and drawn on the ground during divinations or when calling on the gods/ancestors. Chalk around the eyes indicates that the person who wears it has the ability to see beyond the visible world and into the world of the spirits.