The word oriaku in Igbo

 The word "oriakụ" originally didn't mean "Mrs". The title "Mrs" had no place in Igbo culture which is represented by language.

Oriakụ was a name for both men and women in the past. How do I mean?

In 1977, a book was published in Igbo Language by A. I.  Akọma, an Ngwa man. It's a drama text entitled "Obidiya". The man who killed Ọnụma— Obidiya's husband over a land dispute that ruled in the favour of Ọnụma was Oriakụ by name.. Obidiya sworn to avenge her husband's death. 

I have read couple of literatures in Igbo backdated 60s and 70s, I realised that some names were unisex. Take for instance "Ụzọma". In the present-day Abịa and Imo, in some parts; Ụzọma is a masculine name. Then come to Ebọnyị State like in Ọhaọzara presently, Ụzọma is a feminine name. I used to think that Professor Inno Ụzọma Nwadike was a woman, not until I first spoke with him on phone 9 years ago. In some parts of ala Igbo, man and woman can be Ụzọma.

Another unisex name is Ogechi. A man is called Ogechi. A woman is called Ogechi, although some regard it more as feminine name. 

I have seen men bearing Chinyere, Chinenye, Onyinyechi, women too bear the name. 

Naming system in Igbo land is as a result of circumstances within the childbirth. 

Why then do we call women Oriakụ in the sense of Mrs.?

The colonial masters came with their language and culture as well as religion. Originally, women did not  answer their husbands' names, rather their fathers' names. I am Ogbonnaya Okoro for instance and my wife is Ogechi Obinna. She will be addressed as Ogechi Obinna in my own house not as Ogechi Ogbonnaya. Or, she could be addressed as "nwunye Ogbonnaya". If we have a child by name Ebuka, she could be addressed as "Mama Ebuka".  Women taken names after their husbands' is a western culture not an Igbo culture. Even children in Igbo land bore their mothers' names in the past, not their father's especially in a polygamous home. Children were identified through their mothers not fathers.

There was no room for "mrs" title. Our people wanted to translate it into the Igbo. They couldn't find other words, they settled with Oriakụ and Odoziakụ. Some women said no, they shouldn't be addressed as Oriakụ but Odoziakụ. This came into used in widespread in the 70s. Backdated to 1950s or 60s, Oriakụ never represented "Mrs". It was the Standardization Committee of the Society for the Promotion of Igbo Language and Culture in 1972, through the Metalanguage that introduced Oriakụ as "Mrs". When others questioned the use of Oriakụ owing to the fact that Igbo Women are not just house wives who sit down and expect to be given everything, "Odoziakụ" was introduced too.

This is just an etymology of this. But prior to that usage and time, Oriakụ has remained both a masculine and feminine name just as Ogechi, Onyinye, etc.

Credit: Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro