When you search “Ofor”, Google returns diverse images of items presented as Ọfọ. Images were often at variance with what multiple sources describes. But I found that many of the images bear similarity with the description of Alor made by Amanke Okafor and quoted below:
Alọ had three meanings in Ọka (Awka). It was a god of that name. It also meant the Spear – the ubiquitous spear – used for war and hunting, which formed an integral part of the Oka man’s life. And it also meant the movable altar of the god, Alọ, and was the symbol of authority in every man’s house. The Alo, as an altar of the god, was shaped like a spear. It had a long wooden shaft tipped with an iron head shaped like a sword. The Alọ was always in the Obi of the man, along with his Ọfọ, and was the sign of the power and headship of the family. Alọ was not carried about, like title-staffs, but remained in every man’s Obi. And when the Ọka (Awka) man died, the last rite before he was put in the ground was for his Ọfọ and Alọ to be put into his hands, and taken from his hands, and put into the hands of his eldest son – the inheritor of his Obi – to guard and dispense truth and justice (respectively) in his father’s compound.
From the above, you’ll find the following distinctions between the Alọ and Ọfọ:
- Alọ is made from any wood (usually hard wood). The Ọfọ must be made from branches of Ọfọ or Ogilisi trees.
- Alọ has a metal part but the Ọfọ is made wholly from plant materials.
- Alọ may only be used for sacrifices specifically to Alọ the deity but the Ọfọ is a universal alter.
You may recognize some of these Alọ and Ọfọ names.
This is a single source article. Let me know if i missed anything.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Ozo Amanke Okafor (1992) ‘Awka People’