Bad luck, Evil, Social Stigma: The untold challenges of being left-handed in Southeast Nigeria
“Ichuru igbuteriem ahia ojo? (Do you want to bring bad luck to my market?),” a tricycle driver told Eberechi Nwankpa.
“It was very early in the morning, and I was in a hurry to deliver a package to a friend. I’d stopped at my junction, but because I was holding the package with my right hand, I offered to pay the driver with my left hand. He refused, and no amount of explanation made him accept the money until I dropped what I was holding and gave him the money with my right hand,” Nwankpa told Neusroom.
This experience, as recounted by Nwankpa, who lives in Umuahia, Abia State, is common in Southeast Nigeria, where the use of the left hand has been culturally designated as evil, bad, and a sign of disrespect for elders.
From Ariaria market in Aba, Abia State, regarded as one of the largest markets in West Africa and nicknamed the “China of Africa” because of its versatility in the making of clothes and leather products, to Onitsha main market in Anambra State, business transactions are almost entirely conducted with the right hand as people, even left-handed individuals, refrain from attracting ‘bad’ luck in their business deals or coming off as disrespectful.
On Sunday, August 13, 2023, the world celebrated Left-handers Day, a day set aside to celebrate the uniqueness, differences, and challenges left-handed people face in the world.
According to recent research, about 10 percent of the world’s population is left-handed. Former governor of Lags state Babatunde Fashola and present governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu are prominent Nigerian political leaders who are left-handed. Two former presidents of the United States, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, are some of the known left-handed politicians in the world. Also, the former prime minister of Britain, David Cameron, is left-handed, as was Winston Churchill, who was the prime minister of Britain during World War II.
Left-handed individuals are often believed to be more creative and skilled in art or music than others, although there isn’t enough evidence to support this claim.
According to Chris McManus from University College London, who was quoted by the BBC:
“If you are left-handed, you might find yourself with a slightly unusual way your brain is organized, and suddenly that gives you skills that other people don’t have.”
Keanu Reeves, Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Caitlyn Jenner, and Justin Bieber are some of the famous people who use their left hand for tasks.
Although being left-handed comes with challenges in handling materials and designs that are primarily designed for right-handed people, some cultures attach superstitious beliefs to left-handedness.
In many parts of Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, and the Middle East, using the left hand to eat or give is often considered rude and sometimes seen as unclean.
In Igboland, using the left hand for tasks like eating, giving money, greeting, or performing cultural rituals (Ofo) is abominable.
Aroh Abuchi, a computer programmer, shared the social stigma he faced growing up as a left-handed person.
“I received several beatings because I used my left hand to either give or receive something from an elder,” he told Neusroom.
Azubuike Ebenezer, 76, a former customary court judge in Umuala Nsulu, Abia State, stated that it is considered disrespectful to give or receive something with the left hand from an elder, although the history of the culture might not be well known.
“Just like many other beliefs, you might not be able to put a finger on when this culture started, who started it, or why the belief even exists. The reason why it (the left hand) is considered evil might not be different from the same reason why ‘Umu Ejima’ (twin babies) were left to die in the past – abnormality,” he said.
He continues, “Very few people are born left-handed. So, as a parent, when you see that out of your eight children, for instance, only one is trying to eat and handle things with the left hand, you will try to correct that abnormality. A lot of things can be done, including connating spirituality, in order to discourage the kid from using that hand. I don’t believe it has any other deeper meaning than that.”
Felix, who lives in Owerri, Imo State, narrated how it feels growing up as a left-handed child in an Igbo family.
“My parents, when they noticed I was using my left hand to handle things, there was a lot of pressure on me. Then, if I started eating with my left hand, they’d flog me or beat that hand to stop me from doing it,” he said.
He continued, “There are activities I do with my left hand, and there are some I do with my right. Before, I used to write with my left hand, but my parents forced me to switch to my right hand.”
Now, Felix considers himself ambidextrous, with the ability to use both hands equally.
“I eat garri with my left hand, but once you bring rice or anything that involves eating cutlery, I unconsciously switch to my right hand. But if I want to handle things like a hammer or stone something, or anything that requires accuracy, I use my left hand,” he said.
Felix believes that his parents’ insistence on making him use his right hand contributed to his proficiency with both hands.
“When they were out or not monitoring me, I used my left hand. Eventually, they became comfortable with it,” he said.
Abuchi corroborated Felix’s claim about how stigmatization from people made him master how to use both hands with some degree of efficiency.
“I am kind of ambidextrous now because of the constant beating back then. I unconsciously switch to my right hand whenever I am dealing with people except in rare cases. However, for anything that requires strength or precision, I must use my left hand.”
While it remains unclear why right hands are associated with bad luck or frowned upon by Igbos, particularly elders in the community, some Igbo proverbs offer insight into this long-standing cultural practice.
“Onisi ka nda na aka ekpe,” which is literally interpreted as “the anus is closer to the left hand.” This proverb is often used to depict deplorable situations.
Prof. Francis Nwonwu captures how the left hand is linked to the anus in his book, ‘Philosophy of Proverbs in Igbo Culture’.
He wrote, “For the same reason of isolating the anus, human hands are recognized in relation to their traditional roles in Igbo culture. The left hand (aka ekpe), which is associated with the anus in the sense that it is more generally used for wiping the anus, is often treated as scornfully as the anus itself in some Igbo cultures.”
He added, “In such cultures, giving or receiving something with the left hand is regarded as a serious act of disrespect. It is even more abominable and unpardonable if a younger person uses the left hand to give or receive something from an older person. In Igbo culture, such an action is interpreted as equivalent to giving or taking something with the anus.”
