“Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs” – Thomas Wolfe 

“If we are to preserve culture we must continue to create it” – Johan Huizinga.

Okpatu-ukwuedem is very rich in culture and tradition ranging from marriage, masquerade, food, lifestyle, occupation.
Our rich cultural heritage is seen clearly in the burial and funeral rites, mode of dressing, language, marriage ceremonies, native monthly feasts, title initiations, age grade (Ogba) etc.
A funeral rite of a deceased lasts for five days. The third day which must be either ‘Afor or Eke’ (a market day) is the Ikwu – na –Ibe’ (the day for relations and well-wishers). This day is the climax of the funeral rites. Just like in most Igbo culture, relations and well-wishers visit the deceased family with wine, money and live animals like Cow, Horse, Pig, Ram , Goat, etc. There is a current drive in the town to streamline the funeral rite to one day as seen in many neighboring communities as the old long funeral rite might have been formulated when majority of the population were rural farmers and lived within the town.

Marriage rite is equally made to encourage young people of marriageable age to bless their union and seek parental and relatives’ consent and blessing. The marriage ceremonies involve seven wine-carrying rites. This ranges from
‘Mmaya Ajuju’,
‘Mmaya Igba Affa’,
‘Mmaya Okwu’

Marriage introductory rite is to be performed within a window period of seven months. This is taken to be an honor heralding the return of Odo masquerade. The community called it “Isu – Ukwu – Oji”.

Odo Masquerade:
The name Odo as some scholars noted implies peace. Odo is a common phenomenon among virtually all the communities in old Odo-ozo local government and its environs.
Before the advent of Christianity to Igboland, African Traditional religion was the only type of religion practiced by Okpatu people, Odo and its rituals was seen as means of communication between the living with the dead that lived right while on earth. The Odo masquerade was used immensely in the enforcement and maintenance of law and order in the community. The cult was also used as social protector for communities that are been oppressed. This practice has been on the decline since the advent of Christianity. In recent times there has been move by some youths in the community to make it less shredded in secrecy and have much of the entertainment angle of this tradition showcased for its tourism potentials.

There are three calendar times in the Odo masquerade season
i) The return of Odo from the land of the spirit, this takes happens with the 2 months
ii) The sojourn of Odo among the living , this last for 6-7 months
iii) The return of Odo back to the land of the spirits, this also occur within 2 months.
These complex activities are not clear-cut, but one gradually and naturally flows into the other. They are so planned to fit in with the traditional native calendar (thirteen lunar months)

• Calendar Seasons:
  Like every other community in Igbo (a major tribe in Nigeria) land, Okpatu has Orie, Afor, Nkwo and Eke market days that make one traditional week. It has two seasons: – the Odo season and non – Odo season (called Efeke). The two seasons combine to form the community traditional calendar months as follows

1.Onwa Ekani – Month of Ekeani is for recreational activities
2.Onwa Essa – Observed but not celebrated
3.Onwa Ukwu – Ikwe Month for the feast of the feet.
4.Onwa Offiajioku Month for the new yam festival.
5.Onwa Ugwu Month for the feast of Ugwurerenkwu hill. It is amonth of peace.
6. Onwa Ugwu – Okpo Month for the feast of Ugwu Okpo hill. (mostly celebrated by Ubegu and Amoka villages)
7. Onwa Obodo Month heralding the return of Odo masquerade.
8.Onwa Affia Month for the feast of ‘Affia’ stream

• Initiation into Ozo Title:
  Just like many Igbo community, Ozo title are reserved for men of proven integrity. It is a special day in the lives of the persons that will be bestowed Ozor title. During the title rituals, the candidate will take a philosophical name which has in-depth meaning to him and people around him. They are revered and respected as they are expected to stand on the side of truth every time. It is also a show of God’s blessings as it involves much financial requirements
• Religion:
  Okpatu is predominantly Christians of which a large majority are Catholics. The catholic mission has two parishes Holy family parish Ikeghe Okpatu and St. Joseph’s parish Ibite-Okpatu, while the Anglican communion has the Christ Church Ibite-Okpatu and St Luke’s Anglican Church Ikeghe Okpatu.
  Some Pentecostal churches are gradually cropping up in the town. The traditionalists are not left out as well.
• Governance:
  Okpatu administration is more of a democratic arrangement in which there is a community leader called Igwe, the Igwe also have some village representatives, called “Igwe in Council”, they work with the Igwe to formulate community policies. We also have town development unions, this is organization established for the development of the town, we have town unions in different cities and towns in Nigeria and in diaspora with OPU USA being most prominent outside Nigeria.