There is a widespread view among Igbos that money earned by selling land is not necessarily helpful; even when such money is invested in a business, the business does not succeed or progress.
Okey, speaking with Obinwannem’s media team on land sales, confirmed that this belief is true and not a myth. This is because, according to him, when one sells land, he or she is obligated to execute some traditional rights before using or investing the proceeds. Unless these traditions are followed, such money will never be helpful.
Therefore, what is this tradition?
The tradition is that after selling land, one should buy products such as goat kola nut and palm wine and give them to the elders of the land, informing them that he or she has sold a portion of his land. But first, he/she must show them (the elders of the Land) an area of his land where they will trespass to honour the Land; following that, they will kill the goat, crack the kola nut, and drink the palm wine after praying and spilling it on the ground.
Again, with the Palm wine the eldest person among the elders will pray to the ancestors, reminding them that the land which has been passing from one person to another is now in his custody, but it is wise that one uses any means within their reach that is not evil to take care of their need, which is the reason he is selling the land.
They (the elders)will ask them to bless him and present to them(the ancestors) what he brought to the elders. The elders will also instruct them (the ancestors) to vacate the land and move to another piece of land which they will be shown and settled there, so sending their blessings upon the money from selling the land and whatever it will be invested in.
This way he has given to everyone (both the elders and ancestors) what is due to them, Unless this is done such money can never be useful because you made the ancestors settle there to become stranded and at the same time disrespected them by selling their place of settlement without according to them any regards he concluded.
