Itu Nzu Okilikili: Why Igbo Women Threw Nzu in Circular Motion

Itu Nzu Okilikili is the simple act of throwing white chalk in a circular motion, but behind it is a meaningful practice in Odinani. When Igbo women performed this gesture, they were marking a space with peace, purity, and order, while simultaneously invoking potent layers of divine feminine energy. The circle signaled protection, calm, and a return to balance. Even without knowing all its layers, watching the act makes it clear that it was more than a routine motion, it was a way of setting the atmosphere, inviting harmony, and reminding everyone that life moves in cycles. The full depth of the practice opens up only when you look closer. This teaching expounds on this practice.