There are two major markets at Oraifite - The Nkwo-ozulogue and Nkwo-Edo. The Nkwo Ozuluogu is situated at Ibolo and it is only on Nkwo day that people go there to trade. This means, it is on at every four days.

Many people from all over the neighbouring towns attend this market. The Atani, Odoekpe and the riverline people, Olu attend this market. It still maintains the link between Oraifite and the Aboh people.

They trade mostly on fish and yams.

The Nkwo edo is fuller on Orieh day even though that people who trade at Nkwo Ozuluogu in the morning on nkwo day may likely go to Nkwo Edo for the rest of the day's business.

On the other two market days of the week - Afor and Eke, the sub markets in the villages are operational.

The most prominent among them is the Ozuda Ezumeri. Most sub markets serve the villages on minor tradings for local use, while the major markets yeild a lot of revenue.

Apart from farm work, fishing and tapping wine, there is another group that generate revenue in Oraifite, they are the medicine men or herbalists and the artists.

The occupation of medicine men, know as dibia is the major work of Ezumeri and Ifite.

They do not display their goods in the market, rather people go to them to seek for cure of aliments whether physical or spiritual.

There are two groups of these herbalists, the dibia afa and the dibia afifia (oracle player and pure harbalist). The dibia afa plays oracle to tell people their fortunes and now to curb evil spirits.

Whilst, the dibia afifia cures with herbs, removes poisons, cures snake bites or scorpion bites, and helps to protects evil spirits.

One can be dibia afa as well as dibia afifia but sometimes, people fear that they play some tricks by not really telling the truth of what the spirits dictated.

It is better to do it at different levels. These people generate fund through their practices.

People from neighbouring towns visit them. The third group of these medicine people are the ndi-otu, known as Mamy Water Messengers.

They perform both at their houses and the nearby streams. At Irefi village, there is a big lake called Omelu nwa ogbuagu. It is reputed to be vested with powerful water spirits.

Almost all streams in Oraifite are belived to be vested with water spirits and their placation by the ndi-otu medicine men and women brings children, long life and wealth to the inhabitants.

Here are pictures taken at Nkwo Ozulogu Market: Selling dry fishes

Selling sacks of palm oil nuts. Note: these nut are used to make palm oil.

Looking at the market in the middle of the road. Note: I'm asking for trouble!

Selling soft drinks at closing time.

Selling varities of vegitables, e.g. tomatos, peppers, onions, etc...

Selling varities of plastic containers

Selling several bunches of plantains

Selling stock fishes

THE NKWO OZULOGU MARKET RAFFLE DRAW

The O.D.A (Oraifite Development Authority) made a plan to develop Nkwo Ozulogu to dail market with lock-up shops.

To this end, the Authority planned to survey the market, make an architecture plan of the market showing detailed shop layout, and then prepare specifications for constructing individual shops.

It was the intention of the authority that when those plans were completed, there would be ballot exercise for all interested potential shop owners.

The winners would then be required to construct their own shops in accordance with the specifications to be given by the Authority.

The plans were yet being deliberated upon when the Chairman of the Authority travelled out of the country for two weeks t attend a certain convention in Holland.

Hurriedly, some members of ODA, taking advantage of the temporary absence of the Chairman, went ahead without the knowledge of the secretariat of the Authority to print raffle tickets which they also hurriedly sold to unsuspecting citizens purporting same to be for the allocation of shops at Nkwo Ozulogu.

A lot of money was collected as a result by this group which was allegedly led by one Mr Amizu from Ifite-Oraifite, who also was a member of the Authority.

It is interesting that the Treasurer of ODA Mr Joel Unigwe confirmed this story and expressed his non-involvement in this exercise.

In other words, both the Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer of ODA knew nothing about the raffle draw held for the Nkwo Ozulogu shops.

The Chairman told me that he has no knowledge that anybody ever presented such money as collected fro the raffle draw to the ODA until its suspension 1975.

We're still doing some research about Nkwo Ozulogu Market of Oraifite.