TRADITIONAL AND CULTURAL STRUCTURES AND PRACTICES
Obizi, as a people, shared many things in common. Obizi had a central shrine and worship center, Isi Ala Obizi, located at Afo Obizi community square. It was manned by a high priest (Onye –isi-ofo Obizi). Afo Obizi also served as the central market for Obizi. This was held on the third day of the eight market days that make up one week (Out Izu) in the traditional Igbo calendar.
Each village also had its own market day as well as a worship centre handled by the village Chief Priest (Onye Isi ofo or Onye ji Isi ala). According to Chief Onuoha Iroapali, at a point, the following were traditional chief priests in Obizi, with Chief Onuoha Iroapali as chief high priest, supported by the following: Nwaekeoma and Onwuasanya from Obokwu Okata, Oke Iwuoha, Nwaiwu Ehumadu and Isikaku from Amudi
TRADITIONAL MARKET DAYS IN OBIZI
In the traditional society markets were so uniquely organized to avoid clashes and give people time for farm work. Obizi centrally observed her market day on Afo-ukwu, which is the third day in the Igbo eight-day market calendar. The villages had their respective market days allocated as follows: Azuahia and her kindreds Umuire and Ekwereazu, Afo-nta, the seventh market day, Obokwu, Eke-ukwu, the first market day, Amaudi, Eke-nta, the fifth market day, and Umuosis, Orie nta, the sixth market day.
The markets for these villages were located as follows: Azuahia (Afo-ania), Obokwu (Eke Obokwu), Amudi (Eke Amudi), and Umuosis (Orie-Umuosis). It is important to mention that Orie-ukwu, the second market day, was for the entire Ezinihitte people. It is also a day set aside especially for elders’ meetings and consultations, while Nkwo, the fourth market day, was for the whole of the clans that make up Mbaise, hence the market, Nkwo Mbaise, located at Itu/Okuofe axis.