Igbo Culture

Igbo Culture
Despite the stereotypical belief, the African people's understanding of culture predated the
Europeans' arrival. Their customs prove the depth of their philosophical appreciation for the
culture's beauty. In fact, the pride they express toward their culture and traditions is exemplary. This
dignity is what the Europeans tarnished during the colonial times. Chinua Achebe echoes a similar
theme while helping the African people regain their self–respect. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe
portrays the Ibo people as dignified and sophisticated, thus disproving the western stereotypes. The
Ibo people's sophistication is highlighted through their traditions and rituals. Across the world,
greetings vary with varying cultures. In the Ibo society, breaking and eating a kola nut is a common
greeting yet it signifies in–depth philosophy. In fact, the Ibo often say, "[he] who brings kola brings
life" (Achebe 6). In the Ibo culture, this tradition expresses mutual respect between the host and a
guest. The kola nut tradition passes down from generation to generation which displays the Ibos'
sense of ancestral appreciation and expresses the respect people have for one another in a
community. The Ibo also demonstrate artistic ways of bonding during marriages. For instance, the
host family would sit in a half circle and the guest family would also "[sit] in a half–moon, thus
completing a circle" (116). Doing such represents the bonding of two families and their villages as
well as the
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Changes In Igbo Culture
A Changing Culture In the novel "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, the reader is introduced to
a time of crisis for the Igbo people, it is the beginning of colonialism there. Furthermore the reader
understands that the novel is mainly about rapid changes in the Igbo culture due to colonialism. The
rapid introduction of the new ideas of colonialism changes nearly every aspect tog Igbo culture. The
European colonizers are forcing the Igbo to change their ways from their religion and family
structure to the gender roles and relationships. Colonialism was the cause of many changes in Igbo
culture.
In "Things Fall Apart", and example of how the colonization is changing their culture is women.
Women were mostly bound to their home and had little decision–making power prior to colonialism.
During this time of colonialism the women suddenly found themselves as advocates of important
social exchanges in the between the colonists and the Igbo people. "His mother and sisters worked
hard enough, but they grew women's crops, like coco–yams, beans and cassava. Yam, the king of
crops, was a man's crop." (Achebe3). Nearly every feature of Igbo society is gendered, even crops.
For example, the yam, because it is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Europeans forced the people of umoufia to change their religion which in turn also changed a
lot of their culture. They connect their gods to the earth because they are very agricultural and they
rely on the seasons and natural things in order to survive. They worship the goddess of the earth and
are always careful to avoid committing sins against her for fear of vengeance that might wipe out an
entire generation. The Igbo emphasis on numerous gods associated with nature and also on ancestors
and somewhat divine contrasts sharply with the single God of Christianity which seems far less
directly relevant to the Igbo

Polygamy in Igbo Culture
POLYGAMY IN IGBO CULTURE In the whole world, there are five continents. Africa is the
world's second largest continent, with 80 percent of its area in the tropics. Africa is usually portrayed
as a dark continent historically and physically isolated from the rest of the world but it is not.
Nigeria is one of the most important country in Africa. It is located in western Africa, bordering the
gulf of Guinea between Benin and Cameroon. People living together in a community have their own
tradition and customs. Nigerian people do not stay away from this reality especially the Igbo
community. The Igbo community is one of the three ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Who knows what may happen tomorrow? Perhaps green men will come to our clan and shoot us."
142. The agriculture of the Igbo society was different than other societies of today. Yams were the
main nourishment through every meal and they called these yams "the king of crops." Furthermore,
people used the yams for every traditional celebration and used kola nuts to offer their "chi" or
personal god. These food, as Chinua Achebe had described, sometimes related to or involved with
the religion or ancestrial spirits. Sometimes there were certain celebrations for each specific kind of
food such as the New Yam Festival. Chinua Achebe used agriculture to express certain
characteristics of each festival and celebration of the Igbo society. Marriage is one of the most
important social customs.Throught it,kinship is formed, the lineage is maintained and expanded,and
and new household unit are created. The Igbo social order is patriarchal Marriage is both
monogamous and polygynous. In the past, polygyny was rather encouraged and supported while
today the support is at least tacit or implied since society still accepts

Igbo Society Is Uncivilized
A civilized society is when the culture has a social order characterized by a government, a system of
justice, a social structure, and some kind of spiritual belief system. In the perception of people who
do not live in Africa have deemed the continent uncivilized. In the story Things Falls Apart the Igbo
society is uncivilized because they send twins to the evil forest to die, they give women no rights,
and they band Okonkwo from Umuofia without a trial. The continent of Africa believes that all of
these acts are civilized because it is apart of their culture. To begin with, the Igbo society is
uncivilized for sending twins to the evil forest. In the story Things Fell Apart it says " Nwoye had
heard that twins were put in earthenware pots

Religion Of The Igbo Essay
Religion of the Igbo
Religion is something really big for everyone daily. Especially in the book Things Fall Apart. People
in this book believed in all sorts of gods for everything like an earth god or rain god. They worry
about them, and they are trying to live a good life so the gods do not punish them or disturb them.
Also when the white missionary men came to their villages to teach them about Christianity.
Christianity, and the Igbo are two types of religions, they are very different from one another and, so
it would be hard to try to do something like that. The two groups have a hard time understanding
each other by their beliefs. Also the Igbo people claim that their ancestors are like gods, and that
they worship them, that they are very important, and they pray for them for guidance, or help.
Especially when the missionaries came in, and try to teach another religion. It made him fierce he
did not want his people changing their beliefs, and how they were raised. Whenever the missionaries
bring up the main god who made heaven and earth, the Igbo people have a supreme god like that
and they ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Like this lady all of her life she had twins, and she couldn't be a mother because the Igbo people
think when you had twins it was a curse. She was tired of that she wanted to be a mother, and not
have to worry about her kids dying. According to New World Encyclopedia "The Igbo people
believe in many gods, some of which are responsible for the fortune or misfortune of their everyday
lives" ("Igbo People"). The gods usually bring misfortune to the igbo people's everyday lives. Or
people are just tired of the Igbo religion, they just want to change their lives. They were tired of the
rules, and the way they had to live their lives, they wanted to change their

Igbo Culture
In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the Igbo culture was diminished by the spread of
Christianity whom the white man began to scatter throughout the Igbo community. This expansion
was not controversial to the Igbo people at first until the Igbo people actually saw the missionaries
bad intentions. The Igbo people can relate to the Native Americans in such way that both were
forced to adapt to new religious beliefs, they had to face the fact that the white men were superior
and had to deal with the reality that their cultural traditions were dying out due to the Colonialism.
Originally published in 1958 the Postcolonial novel reflects amongst many other cultural people
whose traditions have died out. Utilizing themes, symbols , and diction ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
As an example is when the Igbo people believe that "When a man says yes his chi says yes also,"
(Achebe 27).This pretty much means when a man feels a great desire in accomplishing something
he will do it ,as long as he truly wants it his chi is referring to himself and his own thoughts. As for
diction Achebe uses very direct techniques to get his message across. Achebe purpose was to make
the people comprehend how the Igbo people saw their own culture and traditions as "normal"and try
to project their normality to westerners. The language would totally differs from the Native
Americans because they would not been able to explain the complexity of their culture during such
in an early time period limiting their intelligence and their ability of resources. The language would
be very difficult to comprehend and interpret. They may have many things in common but the
language is an essential part that

Igbo Dictionary
onaryDictionary of Ònìchà Igbo 2nd edition of the Igbo dictionary, Kay Williamson, Ethiope
Press, 1972. Kay Williamson (†) This version prepared and edited by Roger Blench Roger Blench
Mallam Dendo 8, Guest Road Cambridge CB1 2AL United Kingdom Voice/ Fax. 0044–(0)1223–
560687 Mobile worldwide (00–44)–(0)7967–696804 E–mail R.Blench@odi.org.uk
http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm To whom all correspondence should be addressed. This
printout: November 16, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abbreviations:
................................................................................................................................................. 2 Editor's
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
12 5.1 Alphabet
............................................................................................................................................... 12 5.2
Double vowels ......................................................................................................................................
13 5.3 Syllabic nasal
....................................................................................................................................... 13 5.4
Tones.....................................................................................................................................................
13 5.5 Word division
...................................................................................................................................... 13 5.6 A note on
'y' ......................................................................................................................................... 14 6.
Grammatical sketch
.................................................................................................................................. 15 6.1 Parts of
speech ..................................................................................................................................... 15 6.2
Verbs.....................................................................................................................................................
17 6.2.1. Types of verbs

The Igbo People
The Modified and Traditional Belief of The Igbo People
The Igbo homeland is located in Nigeria, Africa. The Igbo people are considered one of the largest
ethnic groups in Africa. Before British colonial rule, the Igbo were a politically diverse group. The
were divided into villages and clans. They had their own religion and culture viewpoints than other
culture. Today, the majority of the Igbo people are Christian, although many also retain belief in
their traditional religion. The Igbo religion is different now than what is used to be before the
missionaries came; the religion is similar to Christianity, they do rituals for the deities of the creator,
and it is heavily influenced by Christianity.
The Igbo tribe had a belief system similar ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The white missionaries bring a different set of beliefs and laws which are incompatible with Igbo
traditions and practices. The church which is built by the Christians, contributes to the destruction of
the clan. Many Umuofians decide to convert to Christianity, as they feel they will get more freedom,
comfort and they can be and do what the clan does not agree to. "Three converts had gone into the
village and boasted openly that all the gods were dead and impotent and that they were prepared to
defy them by burning all their shrines" (Achebe 116). This shows that the converts and the
missionaries no longer respect the views and beliefs of the Igbo clan. The converts know that they
are protected by the white men and the feel that they have a 'greater god' than the Igbo people.
To conclude, the missionaries from Europe have definitely had an impact on the Igbo people. Many
Igbo people today claim to be Christian. The Igbo people have a religion similar to the Christian
religion in that they believe in one main God. The Igbo people believe that that good has minor
deities to help on earth. These deities are Ala, Amadioha, Ikenga, and Ekwensu. With the arrival of
the missionaries to the Igbo region. The Igbo religion has been modified by the Christian religion.
Many Igbo people decided to convert in order to gain freedom and abilities that the rest of the clan
doesn't

Igbo Culture : The Igbo People
Unpiled
Chi
Quote:
The Igbo culture relies on a man trusting his gut. As the proverb says, "When a man says yes, his
Chi says yes also" (Achebe 19).
My Ideas:
The Igbo people refer their Chis their own personal god. A man should trust his own gut and mind in
the Igbo society and they know that his Chi will agree with what he do. This is also saying that men
should be responsible for their actions because ofthe fact that their Chi will always agree with them
and cannot change their mind.
Cleanliness
Quote:
The Igbo people thought of cleaniness as godly saying, "If a child washed his hands, he could eat
with kings" (Achebe 6).
My Ideas:
The Igbo people thought that cleanliness was very important. If they were clean, they were thought
to have honor and they could "eat with kings" because of the cleaniness that they had.
Eneke the bird
Quote:
Humans are compared to birds when "Eneke the bird says since men have learnt to shoot without
missing, he has learnt to fly without perching" (Achebe 16).

My Ideas:
In this proverb, animals are being compared to humans which is an example of folklore in Things
Fall Apart. It means that the bird will rest on the tree and won 't be seen by the man that is trying to
hunt the bird. Because of this, man would not be able to shoot without missing because he could not
shoot in the first place.
English
Quote:
English allowed Achebe to get his writings out to the rest of the world the by "Using English [he]
also allowed

Igbo Culture
Many people see others fairly balanced than others. In the Novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua
Achebe, states that their Igbo culture is important to them. Men focus on taking titles to show
supremacy and admiration, their culture runs on tradition, respect, and reputation. The novel takes
place in a small village called Umuofia, Nigeria in the twentieth century. Therefore, social groups in
the novel are represented by their successfulness, power, and credibility towards their role in the
Igbo culture.
Being successful can be by wrestling, wealth, titles, and wives to men in the Igbo culture which for
them is their personal achievement to have these in life. For example, "He was a wealthy farmer and
had two barns full of yams, and had just married his third wife"(8). This signifies the wealth the men
have with yams and by having a title in their clan they can have more wives to show that they are
able to support them and feed all of them. In contrast, Titles are a major symbol in men and their
reputation, unlike women, care more about their families. For instance, "among these people, a man
was judged according to his ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For example, "had been a great and fearless warrior in his time, and was now accorded a great
respect in all the clan"(57). At first, Ogbuefi was a warrior which meant he had power and was in
charge of Umuofia. By being a warrior, he was then rewarded with the privilege by receiving respect
from others. For instance, "Okonkwo encouraged the boys to sit with him in his obi, and he told
them stories of the land–masculine stories of violence and bloodshed"(53). Men in their culture are
supposed to be violent and tough to be able to rule their wives and household orders. Men are
basically given power when they receive a title and by allowing them to have this they tend to have
control over others. Nevertheless, power and privileges are given to the high and masculine

The Igbo Culture
The Igbo, one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa,they had to work hard to make sure that their
culture was not lost. Southern Nigeria is where most of the Igbo culture is still located. It is believed
that the Igbo originated in Niger and Benue Rivers, about a hundred miles north of their current
location. The Igbo language can be categorized into the Congo language. Specifically, it is a part of
the Kwa subfamily. Their language is difficult to understand due to the wide range of dialects, and
the complicated system of high and low tones, which indicate different meanings and grammatical
relationships. Even with the difficulties that the Igbo constantly faced, they were able to remain the
longest lasting and largest ethnic group in Nigeria. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The spiritual level includes the spirit Anyanwu who represents the sun, the spirit Igwe who
represents the sky, Andala who represents the earth, and other water spirits and forest spirits.
Through items called taboos, the Igbo forge mediatory category of relations with nature and certain
animals such as pythons, crocodiles, tigers, tortoises, and fish. The Igbo, sometimes referred to as
Ibo, are one of the largest single ethnic groups in Africa. Most Igbo speakers are based in
southeastern Nigeria, constituting about 17 percent of the population; they can also be found in
significant numbers in Cameroon and other African countries. It is believed the Igbo originated in an
area about 100 miles north of their current location at the confluence of the Niger and Benue
Rivers.The Igbo share linguistic ties with their neighbors the Bini, Igala, Yoruba, and Idoma, with
whom it is believed they were closely related until five to six thousand years ago. The first Igbo in
the region may have moved onto the Awka–Orlu plateau between four and five thousand years ago.
This Igbo site provides simple and easy–to–read insights into Igbo language and Igbo culture. Not
only does the guide describe the wide variety of the traditions in this part of Nigeria, attention is also
paid to normal day–to–day facets of life in the town and villages. The site contains a complete guide
on Igbo language, highlighted in sample conversations (including native audio clips), includes an
Igbo English dictionary and explains the basic Igbo grammar

Igbo Culture
Nigeria, during the nineteenth century, consisted of various villages and cultures. For instance, in
Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, Achebe depicts a small village named Umuofia of the Igbo
tribe by allowing his audience to read how European colonization extinguished the Igbo culture and
what roles the village members played. However, if Achebe would have written his novel during the
sixteenth century, as an Aztec man during the Spaniards colonization of Mexico, women would be
viewed differently, success would be given a different context, and the Igbo culture would be
portrayed divergently. Achebe interprets the Igbo culture through the perspective of the protagonist,
Okonkwo. Achebe lets his audience acknowledge that in the Igbo culture ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The language being spoken will consist of Mayan origins. Instead of being influenced to learn
English, they will be physically forced into an agreement with the conquistadors and then learn
Spanish. In the novel, Okonkwo viewed the villagers as weak and fools when he returned from exile
and noticed that most of the village had been converted. Even after he tried to start a rebellion when
he took one of the messenger's head off, he received no supports from his tribe. At that moment, he
realized that obtaining the status he once had was impossible. On the contrary, if the novel took
place during the colonization of Mexico, Okonkwo's view of the Aztecs would be different. Instead,
the Aztec members would voluntarily and gladly encourage and assist Okonkwo. Even if the culture
had been nearly extinguished and the land had mostly been conquered, the Aztecs will still be
strong, faithful, and at the end still try to preserve the culture. Up to this date, a lot of the Aztec
traditions are still preserved and alive in various small tribes. The Aztecs were successful in
preserving some traditions because not all Indians agreed to the physical force of the Spanish.
Instead, isolation was the key to the preservation of the Aztec

What Is Igbo Culture
IGBO CULTURE AND TRADTION The Igbo are the second largest group of people living in
southern Nigeria. They are socially and culturally diverse, consisting of many subgroups. Although
they live in scattered groups of villages, they all speak one language. The Igbo have no common
traditional story of their origins. Historians have proposed two major theories of Igbo origins. One
claims the existence of a core area, or "nuclear Igboland." The other claims that the Igbo are
descended from waves of immigrants from the north and the west who arrived in the fourteenth or
fifteenth century. Three of these are the Nri, Nzam, and Anam. European contact with the Igbo
began with the arrival of the Portuguese in the mid–fifteenth century. At first the ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, many of its practices are locally organised, with the most effective unit of religious
worship being the extended family. Periodic rituals and ceremonies may activate the lineage (larger
kinship unit) or the village, which is the widest political community. The Igbo believe in a supreme
god who keeps watch over his creatures from a distance. He seldom interferes in the affairs of
human beings. No sacrifices are made directly to him. However, he is seen as the ultimate receiver
of sacrifices made to the minor gods. To distinguish him from the minor gods he is called Chukwu
(God) –the great or the high god. As the creator of everything, he is called Chukwu Abiama. There
are also minor gods, who are generally subject to human passions and weaknesses. They may be
kind, hospitable, and industrious; at other times they are treacherous, unmerciful, and envious.
These minor gods include Ala, the earth goddess. She is associated with fertility, both of human
beings and of the land. Anyanwu is the sun god who makes crops and trees grow. Igwe is the sky
god, the source of

The Igbo Religion
The Igbo are one of Nigeria's largest ethnic groups. They are mainly found in the area of
southeastern Nigeria and have a population of around 20 to 50 million people. It was created when.
The Igbo's religion "Odinani" is a vehicle, used by all of the people who practice it, to help better
understand their world called "Uwa" (princeton.edu). Chukwu is the Almighty God of the Igbo
religion. The Igbo people think that all things come from Chukwu. They think he controls
everything on earth and the wind. He is the supreme deity and most powerful deity, as he
encompasses everything in space. He is also the source of all of the other deities since he assigns
them all their different tasks. These other spirits and forces exist in other parts of Igbo peoples'
beliefs and folklore (princeton.edu). Added to all of the other Igbo religious spirits and forces, the
Igbo also have certain religious ceremonies and traditions, have certain sacred places, and they faced
problems just like any other religion
The Igbo religion has many other spiritual forces and deities besides just their Almighty God,
Chukwu. The other minor deities still claim a very big part of the daily lives of the Igbo people.
These other gods are believed to be manipulated to protected and serve the interests of the people
(members.tripod.com). If the gods perform those duties, their faith continues on with the tribe.
When a deity isn't need anymore for its purpose, they get rid of the deity. Different parts of the

Igbo Culture
In his novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe describes the various aspects of Igbo culture.
Throughout the story, he illustrates the assertion that each kind of person had a specific role and
treatment in the community. Men of high rank commanded respect while albinos and twins were
treated as outcasts. Women were no exception; they had a role specific to them, and this role
determined their treatment from their community. However, their role and power was not always
reflected in their treatment. The paradox that is women's treatment is manifested in their
subordination, abuse and regard as property, and yet their symbolic and influence play a vital role in
the community's religion, trade and emotional well–being. In Igbo culture, "feminine" ... Show more
One religion was most common in Igbo culture, and the main, most powerful deity is a woman.
Everyone, including the men, feared her physical power. Complementing this, Chielo, the priestess
of Agbala, held significant symbolic power over Umuofia, even though she was physically weaker
than the men. This power is unique, for physical strength is crucial in the Igbo culture, in every
instance but this one. For example, Okonkwo, one of the strongest men of Umuofia, begged Chielo
to release his daughter, and there is "no other point in the novel in which we see Okonkwo plead
with anyone" (Piper Hiatt). His physical strength is useless when dealing with Chielo's symbolic
power. Women's symbolic power was not only in religion, but was also manifested in their influence
with trade of crops. Because of their monopoly on woman–exclusive crops like coco–yams, they
"had more direct contact with foreigners than did the men" ("Women, Colonization..."), which gave
them unique power over the economy. Without their efforts, Umuofian trade would have suffered,
and thus, so would have the community. In a subtler way, the women held symbolic power "as the
foundation of the clan" (Piper Hiatt). They were the mothers, nurturers, caretakers and educators of
the Igbo people, so their presence is vital for the well–being of the village. As nurturers, they were
"the constant

Igbo Culture
In Things Fall Apart, traditional Igbo cultures and traditions were eroded away at the end of the
book. There are many causes that are all linked together that ultimately ended Igbo culture, however,
they all lead back to one primary source of this destruction. The ultimate reason of Igbo culture was
destroyed was because of the influence of the British Christian Missionaries going to Umuofia and
forcing their culture and traditions onto the Igbo people, crushing their old culture and traditions in
the process. The first reason for the Igbo society breaking down was the Christian Missionaries
showing up in Umuofia. The reason that they were able to manipulate the Umuofia people was the
fact that they were very nice at the beginning. They ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In this moment, Okonkwo represents an individual deeply disconnected from his society" (Cobb
Tradition in Things). This means that Okonkwo was away too long from his clan and did not realize
the changes that happened to the majority of the clan by the missionaries christianizing them. He did
not figure out that their usual method of getting rid of bad things, killing it, was no longer an option
for the Igbo society. When Okonkwo finally realized this, he could not stand to see his society fall
apart, so he commited suicide the day after. There was nothing the Igbo people could really do to
save their culture once the missionaries came. The missionaries overall influence and power over the
Igbo was too much for them to handle. This destroyed all of the non–christian things in the culture,
including Okonko. Lindsay Cobb talked about this issue and stated,
"Okonkwo, represents an individual deeply aligned with his society. Okonkwo's strength and
presumed heroism within the novel derive from his ability to fully accept the clan's culture and
follow faithfully in its traditions" (Cobb Individual and

Igbo Culture Essay
Igbo culture includes the various customs, practices and traditions of the people. It comprises
archaic practices as well as new concepts added into the Igbo culture either through evolution or
outside influences. These customs and traditions include the Igbo people's visual art, use of
language, music and dance forms, as well as their attire, cuisine and language dialects. Because of
their various subgroups, the variety of their culture is heightened further. The Igbo language was
used by John Goldsmith as an example to justify deviating from the classical linear model of
phonology as laid out in The Sound Pattern of English. It is written in the Roman script as well as
the Nsibidi formalized ideograms, which is used by the Ekpe society and Okonko fraternity, but is
no longer widely used.[115] Nsibidi ideography existed among the Igbo before the 16th century, but
died out after it became popular among secret societies, who made Nsibidi a secret form of
communication.[116] Igbo language is difficult because of the huge number of dialects, its richness
in prefixes and suffixes and its heavy intonation.[117] Igbo is a tonal language and there are
hundreds of different Igbo dialects and Igboid languages, such as the Ikwerre and Ekpeye languages.
[5] In 1939, Dr. Ida C. Ward led a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Other instruments include opi, a wind instrument similar to the flute, igba, and ichaka. Another
popular musical form among the Igbo is Highlife. A widely popular musical genre in West Africa,
Highlife is a fusion of jazz and traditional music. The modern Igbo highlife is seen in the works of
Dr Sir Warrior, Oliver De Coque, Bright Chimezie and Chief Osita Osadebe, who were among the
most popular Igbo highlife musicians of the 20th

Consequences Of The Igbo War
No account of the naval explorations undertaken by Britain into the Lower Niger River, its adjoining
lands, and its delta, from the year AD 1800 exists. The British military expedition in the hinterland
of the Bight of Biafra between 1895 and 1912 which followed the naval explorations is barely
remembered by any of the generations of the Igbo born after 1920. That expedition, which sought to
disarm the Igbo peoples, wreak havoc on their lives, destroy their culture and their religion, and ruin
their economic activities and their way of life, leaving a trail of injury, chaos, mayhem, and death is
now all but forgotten. The war which the military expedition precipitated – the struggle for control
of the Igbo interior and its markets, roads and waterways – described pessimistically by the women
of Eastern Nigeria in 1929 after the Women's Revolt as 'The First Biafra War', is now barely
remembered by the Igbo peoples themselves.
Nothing of the history of the period, nor of the causes of the struggle and its consequences on the
lives of the ordinary people, especially in the period immediately after it, has, in the 100 years since
the fighting ended, been brought to the attention of the Igbo nation, or to anyone ... Show more
Imperfect, though they sometimes were – but shown time and again to be as dependable and useful a
resource as any others from which the historian had taken his bearings – these traditions have
enabled US to fill in gaps and doubts in the available British source material. They have stood up to
the challenge posed by inconsistencies thrown up by British Imperial official accounts and helped us
restore and give meaning to records that would otherwise have been lost to Igbo posterity. To these
oral traditions, and to those who left them to the race, the Igbo nation gives

The Rise And Fall Of The Igbo
The rise and fall of the Igbo is not agreed upon and rarely discussed in West African studies. Many
theories exist on how the Igbo gained power, but a majority agree upon one aspect of the Igbo's
ascent. Expansion occurred during the population migrations (Slattery), and Atlantic slave trade
migrations (Alagoa). What led to the Igbo's loss of power is better detailed because of foreign
involvement. Inadequate leadership began with the British's colonization of Igboland. Civil unrest
followed British reign and power exchanged hands too often for stability. The Igbo eventually
became involved in a civil war that gained international notice (Lamb 308) and finalized the Igbo's
descent. In conclusion, expansion drove the Igbo to power, with migrations ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
The Igbo people are an ethnic group mainly in Nigeria who share an eponymous language. Their
territory is referred to as "Igboland." A majority of the people live in the rainforest region, with
others inhabiting the coast. Known for their traditionally root–based diet, the Igbo find agriculture
important. Palm kernel and oil exports supported the Igbo throughout the depression that followed
the abolition of slavery. In addition, a high rate of literacy helped the Igbo prosper as a modern
culture after their civil war (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica) (Lamb 309). Leading up to the
war, British colonialism began with West African investigations in the early nineteenth century and
soon had Nigeria under colonial rule. A strong ethnic identity formed during British rule, as the Igbo
were essentially an ethnic empire of kingdoms under one language and further united by the British.
Previously separated such that travel was nearly impossible from how strongly the dialects varied
(Lamb 307), the Igbo were grouped together under one ruler for decades. Eventually the British left
and the unified whole of the Igbo had conflicts with neighboring cultures. A civil war soon followed
that brought the downfall of the

The Igbo Tribe
The Igbo people are a tribe that basis much of their beliefs around folklore. This folklore is a key
part of their daily lives and their religion. These stories passed from generation to generation teach
valuable lessons to the children of the tribe and prepare them for adult life. The following examples
are some of the most important beliefs and the stories that accompany them. First off, let's begin
with the story of the Earth and the Sky. The Earth and Sky were fighting and Sky "withheld rain for
seven years, until crops withered and the dead could not be buried because the hoes broke on the
stony Earth" (Achebe, 53). After many droughts and lost food, Vulture was sent to reason with Sky.
He received water, but his sharp beak pierced the

Igbo People
In things fall apart by Chinua Achebe he is able to portray the igbo people for who they really are. A
complex advanced civilization, rich in culture, with artistic traditions, social customs, and are
ultimately depicted as a harmonious part of nature. The ibo people were feared by all its neighbors ,
powerful in war, magic, and it's priest. But the igbo people were often depicted as savages by the
europeans but realistically they where never a primitive culture.
The igbo people had a strong belief for their gods in chapter 13 our main character okonkwo
accidentally kills a fellow clansmen on their. Which made the Earth Goddess extremely upset, so in
order to please the Earth Goddess, Okonkwo was to be banished. "Ezeudu's quarter stormed ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One of those social customs is embodied in the kola nut. The kola nut is a sign of respect but can
also be use in for other reasons as well, whether it's festivals or guest. "Nna ayi," he said. "I have
brought you this little koala. As our people say, a man who pays respect to the great paves the way
for his own greatness. I have come to pay you my respects and also to ask a favor. But let us drink
the wine first." As a guest, Okonkwo owes traditional gifts and respectful sayings to his host. He
goes through all the proper motions to make himself a respectable guest by offering the kola nut,
praying for the health of the host's family, calling him "our father," and declining to talk business
until everyone has eaten their fill. The Japanese practices of taking tea/tea rituals are often seen as
standard, symbolic examples of civilized behavior, we can draw a strong and direct connection from
tea rituals to those of the kola nut. Social norms like this one and many others help to define the
traditions and social life of the Igbo culture. Other norms regulate marriage, trade, agriculture and

Missionaries On The Culture Of The Igbo
Missionaries have had a profound and resounding effect on southeastern Nigeria that remains today,
missionaries still playing a significant role in the culture of the Igbo. Although missionaries were
initially synonymous with colonization, European coloniasts enforcing Christian ideals on the 'save'
natives in an effort to civilize them, missionaries remained in Nigeria even after it gained its
independence on October 1, 1960 through a series of constitutions legislated by the British
government. Despite the abolition of British colonial forces, missionaries remained, exerting
extensive influence on local culture. Missionaries promoted western education, which was widely
popular among the Igbo and viewed as a method to move up the social ladder.

Igbo Religion
The idea of religion is a controversial topic in a diverse group of people. In Things Fall Apart, by
Chinua Achebe, religion brought conflict and confusion to the Igbo people. When looking at the
differences in Christianity and the Igbo beliefs throughout the course of the story, one can see that
these differences in religion lead to the destruction of a society
The incoming white missionaries have the intention to convert the Igbo to Christianity. These
missionaries are devoted to one true God. For example, the white men believe that the Igbo people
worship false gods of wood. They preach the word of their God in hopes of converting the people
and "told them about this new God, the Creator of all the world and all the men and women"(145).
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Igbo worshiped many differents gods whereas the Christians worshiped one. The Igbo were also
not accepting as the Christians were. However, these differences did not stop the Christians from
spreading their teachings. The Igbo people began to stray from their gods for the Christian's God.
For example, Nwoye became very interested in the Christian beliefs when hearing a hymn. One day
Amikwu, Okonkwo's cousin, passed by the church and " he saw Nwoye among the Christians"(151).
By promoting their own religion the missionaries cause people from the Igbo religion to break apart
from their religion and join the Christian religion; consequently, leading to the society's destruction.
The missionaries built a church in Umuofia, in which was supposed to end in disaster because the
Igbo believed their gods would intervene. However, the missionaries survived what was believed to
be a doomful event. The missionaries survival of the Igbo gods amazed the people of the village.
Their survival weakened some of the villagers beliefs in their gods. For instance, once the people
heard the missionaries had survived the church "...won a handful a handful more converts"(151).
Due to the weakening of common beliefs because of Christianity the missionaries had drawn in
many followers from the village. Destruction was inevitable because the missionaries had converted
many of the Igbo religion's followers. In

Igbo Religion
Religion is the most sacred thing to a human. It's the belief and worship of a superhuman controlling
power. The soul of a human being is drawn to a religion that speaks to the mind. The novel Things
Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, includes worshipers of the ancient religion of the Igbo. All the
civilians in the tribe believe in one supreme god as well as some minor gods. The Igbo people also
worship spirits and ancestors, for which some are responsible for the fortune or misfortune of their
everyday lives. The Igbo attitude toward their deities and spirits is not one of fear but of friendship.
In the novel, Chinua Achebe shows the Igbo beliefs in gods, rituals of spirits and ancestors, and
connecting families and communities by worshiping. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Religion is what holds together the souls of the Igbo people. Even though there are various religions
in the world, the Igbo clan chose to represent their religion of worshipping the Gods. This is an
ancient religion which they have continued throughout the centuries. Achebe explains their belief
system through an Igbo's eye. He shows the variety of gods they have, as well as the special rituals
celebrated for their spirits and ancestors, and he shows how religion can bring communities and
families together to worship. Religion isn't just about the books, it's also a way to connect people
with others and to pass the word because united, everyone is

Okonkwo And The Igbo Clan
Downfall of Okonkwo and the Igbo Clan
Being manly can sometimes be good, but being too manly can lead to complications with family,
religion, and society. The author of Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe, portrays the protagonist
Okonkwo as a very manly and masculine man, as a result of his father's laziness and "feminine"
nature. He wished to acquire the noblest titles, and become a leader of the Igbo clan to show his
success as a man. Hiis short temper led him to beat his three wives and children, especially Nwoye,
to make sure he turned into a man who kept his women in check like himself. Chinua Achebe named
the book Things Fall Apart because Okonkwo is falling apart, the Igbo clan is separating, and
Umuofia is fighting the white missionaries. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Week of Peace is a time where no one does any work that week to celebrate the Earth Goddess
Ani, and villagers visit neighboring villages to drink palm oil, prior to the planting of new crops. As
the name suggest this is a week of peace with no violence, but Okonkwo became furious when he
found out his wife did not make his afternoon meal or feed his children, and as a result beat his wife.
The narrator said, "But Okonkwo was not the man to stop beating someone half–way through, not
even in fear of a goddess." (30; pt 1 ch. 4). Ezeani reprimanded him and he was looked down upon
for a short time by Umuofia. As a result he had to pay a fine to the Earth Goddess Ani to prevent her

The Igbo Research Paper
The Biafra; Secession of The Igbos and the Issue of a Disjointed Nigeria
Prelude to the War
In 1914, Sir Frederick Lugard amalgamated the Northern and Southern protectorates of the British
colony into one nation, present day Nigeria. This act was carried out without "due consultation of
the colonies or national conference on nationhood convened for the people to work out their own
destiny" . This was as a result of the scramble and partition of Africa by European powers. Each
clinging to its colonies and deciding its fate absent any representative of the people it ruled over.
This fact ever more evident by Flora Shaw naming the state Nigeria, name she had coined from her
own studies and observation, irrelevant of the history ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They are still getting killed and excluded from the governing of the country they call home, an
adopted country they would say. This time they killed not by their countrymen but by a terrorist
group known as Boko Haram, a Muslim sect based north wise of the country. Boko Haram has
ravaged numerous lives, more than 2,000 people have died at their hands in 2015 alone. Their
activities range from bombings to kidnapping (the missing chibok girls) and so much more. This
factored in with the lack of representation of the Igbo's in the recent government as a driving force
behind their cry for secession. It is not unusual for the Igbo's to want to be involved in their
government, they did practice a form of democracy before British colonization, they operated a
system of 'chiefdoms', where they elected a ruler known as the 'Eze' and he governed with the aid of
his prime minister and a group of chiefs that were all elected by the people. The crown was not
inheritable and it moved from family to family as they were elected. Taking this into account, it is
not unusual for the Igbos to want a piece of the national cake, having been deprived a share of
governmental office, they have come out again to seek their independence from Nigeria. This is
however not an anomaly, as seen in the case of Sudan and South Sudan. There are international laws
and provisions that make it possible for the Igbos to secede from Nigeria, however it would be a
difficult mission but not impossible. The Igbos is a united people, as seen with their fight against the
British; they were the only tribe in modern day Nigeria to withstand and successfully ward of the
influence of British forces. It was not until the British sought to bribe their way through that they
could successfully conquer them. The British would however go on to employ their already
democratic system to

Igbo Research Paper
Igbo land holds many festivities and cultural performances, most notably are the masquerades. This
festival has a very special clothes, and calendar time. The Masquerades festival happens every year
and it is usually every November. In their anniversary, they have social gathering and burial rites.
During this festival are geared in colorful robes and different styles of masks that made either with
wood or with fabric. Masquerades are very connected with spiritual elements that relate it to Igbo
belief or dead relatives, which show the uniqueness of masquerade festival as one of the well–kept
secret and preformed completely by men. As people would always take corrections from these
exposures, the masquerades were effective in keeping up with

The Culture Of The Igbo Tribe
The culture of the Igbo tribe relies heavily on traditional and structured gender roles. From
agriculture to legal issues, every aspect of the tribe is gendered. Women are seen as subordinate to
men, but still maintain some authority worthy of worship such as the ability to bear children. In the
Igbo tribe, the ideal man was is someone who is able to provide food and shelter for his family and
dominate the battlefield. On the other hand, women were expected to maintain purity for an
honorable man, to bear children and to be a submissive wife. Okonkwo's obsession with masculinity
and hostility towards femininity creates an unbalance within his character, and ultimately leads to
his demise. The novel centers around the idea of balance between masculine and feminine forces.
These masculine and feminine forces can be seen in the religious, legal system, emotional, and
agricultural traditions of Umuofia. Although gender roles seem to oppose each other in each of these
areas of Igbo culture, life in Umuofia would not exist if not for the balancing out of masculine and
feminine elements.
The first glimpse the reader gets of the roles of men and women in Umuofia is in their religious and
spiritual practices. The council of gods of the Igbo people consists of both male and female deities.
Agbala, a male deity is the "Oracle of the Hills and the Caves", and Ani, the female deity is the
"earth goddess" (Achebe 30). Each god, representing both sexes, are equally worshiped and

Igbo And Cometonigeria
The Unique People of Nigeria
There are many differences between societies in every country in the world. In Nigeria, the society
is vibrant and diverse. With over 370 ethnic groups, there are sure to be differences and similarities
between each group. The people of Nigeria are what make the country stand out from others.
Nigerian people have a unique culture, symbolic customs, and eventful daily lives.
Nigeria has a diverse, unique, and lively culture. Each ethnic group has their own culture, but all
have some similarities. The three largest ethnic groups are Igbo, Hausa–Fulani, and Yoruba, which
all have an appreciation of the arts. The Yoruba people have "developed a variety of different artistic
forms including pottery, weaving, beadwork, metalwork, and mask making"
(www.cometonigeria.com). The Igbo and the Hausa–Fulani both have strong musical influences.
The Igbo people's music focuses on "a melodic music style which incorporates various percussion
instruments" (www.cometonigeria.com), while the Hausa–Fulani enjoy singing "work songs", which
accompany them in the rural areas and markets. In the society of Nigeria overall, the culture
"reflects great changes in inherited traditions and adaptations of imported ones" (Falola and Udo).
The ethnic groups' cultures are influenced by inherited traditions. For example, the Nigerian people
have a strong love for modern entertainment such as television, movie ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Things Fall Apart. Penguin Books, 1959. cometonigeria.com. "Nigerian People And Culture –
Nigerian Culture." Guide to Nigeria Tourism, Local Culture & Investments, 2016,
www.cometonigeria.com/about–nigeria/nigerian–people–culture/.
Falola, Toyin O., and Udo, Reuben Kenrick. "Nigeria." Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia
Britannica, Inc., 16 Jan. 2018, www.britannica.com/place/Nigeria/Daily–life–and–social–customs.
Gibson, Karen Bush. We Visit Nigeria. Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2013.
Owings, Lisa. Nigeria. Bellwether Media,

Igbo Research Paper
Marlo Allen
Mr. Reichert
English 10 Honors
31 August 2015
A Change in Igbo Culture Thousands of years ago there was a tribe filled with people known as the
Ibo, now known as the Igbo. The Igbo were one of the first tribes to really be able to thrive and have
order in their villages. Igboland is now one of the most populated countries in Nigeria. Though
Igboland is now one of the most populated countries, it has managed to keep its historical charm.
Igboland is now a very well thriving country, but it is still facing many hardships regarding their
political system. The Ibo live in a country known as Igboland, located in Nigeria. Igboland used to
only have a population of only three hundred and fifty people per square mile, but now is one of the
most populated countries. Igboland is surrounded by many rational physical features including the
Niger river, the delta and the riverine. Igboland has a very wet climate creating very good fertile
farmland. Due to the delta lying lower than most of Igboland, it has the most fertile soil. The Igbos
main crop is the yam. They are also known for their maize and rice. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The Igbos used consensus to run their villages. They had the ndichie also known as the leading
citizens run meetings where they would argue about issues. The Igbo had set up a system to stop
men from achieving too much power. For men to be able to claim a higher title they would have to
pay money to to the poor. To be able to reach the highest rank in the tribe you had to pay the debt of
every man in the tribe, resulting in many men not achieving this rank. Unlike in many cultures,
women held a spot on the social structure. Daughters of the clan were known as the umuada, they
were the authority in the markets and they handled the civic. Men who abused their wives in public
were abused with hurtful signs from the women in the rest of their village(McDougal

Igbo Culture Essay
The Igbo culture as presented in Things Fall Apart is not a sympathetic culture, by any means– it is
misogynistic, deeply steeped in superstition that ultimately results in the deaths of innocent people,
and generally bloodthirsty. But in examining the culture of modern day America, can we truly say
that we are a more sympathetic culture? We have made massive strides in equality, specifically in
regards to gender relations, yet many of the actions widely accepted in modern day America are just
as barbaric as the acts committed in the novel Things Fall Apart that we are so quick to condemn.
This is not to say, of course, that the more 'barbaric' aspects of Igbo culture should be excused or
tolerated. The Igbo culture is forever marred ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Many aspects of the Igbo culture are widely seen as unforgivable, such as the arbitrary violence that
is unquestionably perpetuated against women and children, the most innocent members of society,
and by the continued persecution of people who fail to match up to the absurd expectations pushed
onto them by an oppressive society. The Igbo religion is not associated with positive acts, but with
the countless murders of innocent people in the name of nonexistent gods that are simply accepted
by society as a matter of faith. Certain aspects of the Igbo culture are harsh and even barbaric, most
certainly, but it genuinely seems, upon examination of certain aspects of our own culture, that the
American culture is equally barbaric. The very basis of the american culture is stolen from cultures
of minorities who we then proceeded to oppress for hundreds of years, even as we stole and flaunted
the aspects of their culture we deemed acceptable. Even disregarding the very origins of our culture,
the American culture can still be considered barbaric– in modern day America, the public simply
accepts unbelievably cruel practices such as the death sentence (which in 4% of cases

Igbo Culture
Simplicity can be observed throughout daily life. While easier to see in some cultures, daily life in
Igbo culture is more simple than other cultures. The Igbo culture shows simplicity through the many
traditions and customs in their culture. In the novel Things Fall Apart and research on the modern–
day Igbo people reveals similarities between how simple the culture was originally, and how the
culture continues to show that today. First off, like other cultures, the culture is full of ideas and
beliefs. These ideas are generally consistent throughout the story and show little variation. Some
people of other cultures believe that nothing happens after death, but this is generally not the case
for the Igbo people/ Achebe uses Okonkwo as a metaphor ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Like many other cultures, the Igbo generally have simple celebrations. Some celebrations are more
popular than others, but most people partake in the upbeat celebrations. There are also many
different traditions that are celebrated in different places. Achebe uses.... festivals, masquerades, and
kola nuts. This shows a few of the basic traditions the Igbo people have. These simple traditions can
be good, but may make people uninterested in celebrating. Another important part of the Igbo
culture is the folktales. Folktales play an important part in teaching lessons. Achebe uses children as
a metaphor for how simple lessons are taught when Ekwifi says, " ...a system of folk beliefs that
explain how everything in the world came to be" This evidence shows that folktales do a good job of
teaching lessons because of how widely folktales are used. Relying on the folktales however, reveals
a simplicity because parents do not have to come up with their own strategy for teaching

Igbo Gender Roles
In the book by Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, he focuses on Igbo society. In Igbo culture
women are thought to be the lesser gender. From a young age boys are told they are the superior
gender and they have to take care of their job and their families. The more money you have, the
more wives you can have, and the more wives you have the higher you are in the Igbo society. In
Western society, both partners have a say in the relationship, compared to the Igbo society. In Igbo
society men are allowed to beat their wives but in Western society that is frowned upon. Chinua
Achebe wrote this book not to shame the Igbo society or to flaunt it, but to inform people about
different ways of life in Nigeria. Gender roles are an extensive theme throughout the book. As soon
as a child is born to Igbo society they are told that men and boys are exceptional and that women
and girls are inferior. Each gender has certain rules and regulations to follow for their everyday
lives. Men are told that they need to have a great deal of money and as many wives as they can
afford in order to be successful in Igbo society. "The man who had contradicted him had no titles.
That was why he had called him a woman. Okonkwo knew how to kill a man's ... Show more
From the moment young boys were born they was treated better than the young girls. As the
children grow up their parents ways of life imprint on them and then the children grow up and treat
their children the same was the parents did so to them. The men and women were not aware of
different ways of life. Gender roles in Igbo society keep things from falling apart because their way
of life has been based off of gender roles for so long that if they were to change the whole justice
system and everyday life would fall apart. Because Igbo people have developed a different way of
life than others does not make them wrong or bad

Igbo Culture Essay
Many cultures around the world are often misinterpreted and seen as 'primitive' or 'uncivilized'.
Most people do not get the opportunity to fully understand the reasoning behind certain actions or
ways of living. This can cause a fair amount of misunderstandings which can lead to a dominant
group wanting to take over and 'civilize' the other. An example of this is shown in the novel Things
Fall Apart, that is based on the Igbo people of Nigeria. The Igbo culture is often misunderstood.
Many do not understand why they do the things they do. The Igbo culture is heavily revolved
around harmonizing with nature and pleasing their gods. They show their devotion by performing
daily rituals, having a certain dress code, and cultivation of crops to show their ... Show more
Sadly, it came to a halt when the Europeans arrived. Because the coming of the Europeans had a
long lasting influence, the Igbo is culture is no longer the same as it was before. Online research
about the modern day culture explains, "the yams are no longer offered to the gods , deities and
ancestors as done earlier, due to the influence of Christianity and modernity (¶ 5)". With Christianity
taking over, most of their old gods have long been forgotten. Another website states that due to
Christianity taking over, "a large number of churches (¶ 2)" are all over. It is safe to say that the Igbo
culture is far from how it used to be.
In general, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is an interesting outlet to the old ways of the Igbo
culture and people. The novel provides insight into the actions and behavior of the Igbo people that
we do not get to witness today. After doing online research, the difference between the past culture
and modern culture is obvious and sad. Regardless, they try to remain peaceful. Overall, everything
the Igbo did was to please their gods and try to live a happy peaceful life with the people and earth
surrounding

Igbo Gender Roles
Seneca Smith 11/17/14 African Studies Women's portrayal in Thing Fall Apart Many themes of
traditional Igbo life and culture have played a major part in the development of the book.it is greatly
expressed How gender roles factor into the Igbo life and are very important, especially the roles of
women. In the Igbo society the women is seen to be weaker than the Men however, they play very
important part in the running and growth of the community. Prior to colonializing Igbo women have
very little power or voice in decisions, however there is a sudden change is the role of women.
Women's job as providers of the home is still important however they play a larger role in the
production and selling of the crops they produce. We even made aware of the women's roles when
were are introduced to Okonkwo and the treatment of his wives. Igbo women's importance stems
from their ability giving birth, maintaining the family and house and being a good candidate for
marriage. For much of the book the we see the role of women through the life of Okonkwo and his
wives. Much of Okonkwo's early life he was made fun of and emasculated, after his experience he
has seen women to be inferior and weak. From this point on Okonkwo tends to consistently feel the
need to prove his strength ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As the key holders of life women are seen to be powerful in that sense, which allows them to be
important figures in the Igbo religion. Unlike many western religions the Igbo allow women to serve
as priestess. The idea of women is also highly revered in the sense that The Igbo believe in and
"earth goddess" that is seen to be a female. The earth goddess plays and important role due to that
fact that the whole Igbo society is based on crop. This all ties into the idea that women are providers
and are strongly needed for the society to function and

Family In The Igbo Culture
The importance of family in the Igbo culture
In today's society, family can be defined in so many different ways. Some might say family is a
group of people who share common ancestors, while others might say that family is a group
consisting of parents and children living together in a household. Although there are many
viewpoints on family, the author Chinua Achebe, portrays how family is important in the Igbo
Culture. The author illustrates this by showing how the Igbo culture shapes people and makes them
into the people they are. In the novel Things Fall Apart, the author Chinua Achebe portrays how the
rites of passages tie families together to show how the Nigerians share similarities with the Igbo
culture. He shows how family connects ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Although they're classified "differently" than men, that doesn't stop them from being hard workers
and spouses. Women play very important roles in the Igbo culture as well as in the novel by giving
birth, taking care of children, and doing domestic activities such as cooking food, and cleaning the
house. By women doing all of these things that is what has made them important pillars of their
society. Achebe writes, "A child belongs to his father, but if the father beats the child, the child seeks
refuge in the mother's house. A man belongs to his father's land when he has a good and sweet life to
lead, but in times of sorrow, his mother's house is the ideal area of comfort"(134).This further says
that a woman is seen as a protector in the Igbo society and looked upon as being very mothering,
loving, and nurturing. Although women in the Igbo society aren't looked upon as being strong and
superior like the men, they overpower the men in the Igbo society by taking on a bigger duty and
they are the ones who act as the basic foundation of people and the clan. Although this is just one of
the ways that women contribute to their society. An African woman named Sahndra Fon Dufe once
said, "Whatever you are looking for is also looking for you. You see, don't only look. Be available
and ready when it shows up." (That Igbogirl) I chose to use this woman's quote because I feel like it
ties in with how the woman

The Igbo People
In Nigeria there are many group of people with different cultures and traditions. Every group of
people has unique life style that makes them different from other group. In specific Igbo people have
their own life style. The Igbo people are the largest ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria. They have
lived in villages that surrounded by their farms. Igbo people believe in Ancestor. In Africa, ancestor
worship is the universal in this continent. They have many different festivals, but the main festivals
are called masquerades. In addition, those practices played important role to the structure of the
authority.
The Igbo people follow certain practices to worship their god. Igbo religion distinguishes between
three types of supernatural beings:

Igbo Religious Beliefs
Things Fall Apart: Religious Beliefs In the complex land of Nigeria, author Chinua Achebe tells the
story of an ethnic group of Igbo people whose pre–colonial religious beliefs were very strong and
spiritual. The Igbos religious beliefs greatly had to do with the representation of spirits through
physical people of a certain type. These are like their goddesses such as Ani, the earth goddess and
Ezeani her priest. Their beliefs and ways of doing things began to change after post–colonization.
However, their beliefs before that represent the Igbo people in a unique way, showing interesting
things that they felt strongly about. There are interesting views of medicine as well. The Igbo people
ultimately consult with and base their actions upon Agbala; the Oracle.
The Igbos religious beliefs greatly had to do with the representation of spirits through physical
people of a certain type. The Igbo people have a name and representation for medicine itself and
have shrines for medicinal purposes as well. ¨The active principle in the medicine had been an old
woman with one leg. In fact, the medicine itself was called Agadi Nwayi, or old woman. It had it´s
shrine in the center of Umuofia, in a cleared spot.¨ (Achebe 2) As stated in the text, near the barn
was a small house, the ´medicine house´ or ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
These internal problems had given a leeway for another faith to settle in. Umuofia had gone through
many changes as the European settlers came. The once devoted village had turned into a place
where two religions worked together in peace. The village had been turned over on its belly,
revealing all of the clan's weak spots like a turtle and its shell. The European settlers had convinced
the Igbo natives through their silence and peaceful

Igbo Body
In Africa, body modification is a sign of prosperity, wealth, power, and is a method of showing a
person's life story. The art form has existed for centuries and holds massive amounts of cultural
significance for African tribes. The village of Umuofia in Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart
is no exception. The Igbo utilize tattooing as a manner of reflecting the character and life
experiences of a person in a form visible to the people around them. In the novel, Okonkwo was the
epitome of manliness because of his athletic prowess and his position of power within the clan,
emphasized on page 26 of Achebe's work, " "He was talking about Okonkwo, who had risen so
suddenly from great poverty and misfortune to be one of the lords of the clan". ... Show more
Okonkwo, a leader of the village, left in exile after offending the earth goddess, shown on page 124
of Achebe's novel, "The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime
against the earth goddess to kill a clansman...". He was at risk of mortality, but hoped for
steadfastness in his decision and reconciliation with the gods. Consequently, combining the physical
representations of the demonstrated traits is what creates a tattoo revealing the Igbos attachment to
customs. Additionally, a tattoo also representing religion made with the symbols for guardianship,
the presence of gods, and trust is poignant when remembering the people of Mbanta's first reaction
to European missionaries. "These men must be mad, they said to themselves. How else could they
say that Ani and Amadiora were harmless" (Achebe 146)? Even in the face of change, the Igbo held
on to their religion and kept faith in their gods. Similarly, when the stories of Europeans were being
passed from village to village, relations with them were rare, wary and considered foolish, shown on
page 140 of Things Fall Apart, "'Never kill a man who says nothing. Those men of Abame were
fools'". Later however, Okonkwo experienced jealousy of the complete control the Europeans had
over his old village. A tattoo combining jealousy, relations, and wariness accurately depicts the
reaction of the Igbo to the

Igbo Culture

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Erica Baldwin

More from Erica Baldwin (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Igbo Culture