Akpu tree, known botanically as Ceiba pentandra, is a sacred tree in Igbo cosmology. Revered as a tree of fertility, protection, and ancestral presence, Akpu is believed to bridge the physical and spiritual worlds. From its use in healing and food to its deep role in rituals, divination, and community justice, this living shrine embodies the union of nature and spirit. With its role ranging from sheltering sacred groves, hosting the spirits of unborn children, to standing guard as a mystical protector, Akpu tree remains a significant symbol of life, continuity, and divine order in Igbo spirituality.

In Igbo spirituality, Ngwu tree is viewed as a sacred being, in some cases even as an alusi (deity) that embodies ancestral wisdom, spiritual protection, and divine authority. Found near shrines and family compounds, Ngwu is never planted by hand; it is believed to choose where it grows, marking that place as spiritually potent. Traditionally linked to healing, justice, and the Agwu mystical current, Ngwu is both a guardian and a judge used in oaths, ancestral rites, and fertility rituals. This teaching explores the Ngwu tree’s roles in medicine, land boundaries, ritual justice, and reincarnation, revealing how it stands at the crossroads of earth and spirit in Igbo cosmology.

In Igbo tradition, Ogilishi tree (Newbouldia laevis) is a sacred tree which acts as a symbol of life, healing, and spiritual power. It is used by Dibia for its powerful medicinal properties and revered in rituals for protection, purification, and communication with the ancestors. Also used for marking ancestral land, healing the sick, and warding off malevolent forces, this “tree of life” embodies the Igbo philosophy that nature is not separate from the sacred, but a direct conduit of divine presence and ancestral wisdom.