Afor

Afor is the name of one of the four traditional market days in the Igbo calendar, used by the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. The four-day cycle consists of Eke, Orie, Afor, and Nkwo, repeating in that order. The exact alignment with the Gregorian calendar varies by community, but the cycle functions as a timekeeping and scheduling framework for markets and social activities.

Historically, Afor markets operated as trading hubs where people bought and sold goods such as food, crafts, and livestock. In addition to commerce, these market days served as social spaces for greetings, negotiations, and the exchange of information. Many ceremonies, including weddings and naming events, were coordinated around market days to maximize attendance and community support.

In contemporary usage, Afor survives as a personal name and a family surname among Igbo-speaking communities and in the Nigerian diaspora. It also appears in place names and cultural references that preserve the market-day tradition. The concept of market days remains a notable element of Igbo cultural heritage and is sometimes invoked in modern events and media to signal tradition or community identity.