what are some igbo customs

According to the Ndigbo traditions and customs, the Igbo traditional wedding/ marriage involves the following stages:

1. Marriage Introduction/ Proposal/ Inquiry ( Iku Aka or Iju Ese ) – This happens pre-wedding, and here, the bride and groom’s family get to meet and be formally introduced;
2. Consent From Her Umunna / Extended Family – This is the traditional marriage proposal . ...

Full Answer

What are the customs and traditions of Igbo culture?

Culture. 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.

What kind of art do the Igbo people make?

The Igbo produce a wide variety of art including traditional figures, masks, artifacts and textiles, plus works in metals such as bronze. Artworks form the Igbo have been found from as early as 9th century with the bronze artifacts found at Igbo Ukwu.

Who are the Igbo people?

The Igbo land rests on the lower Niger river, with its language divided into numerous dialects unique to subgroups within the Igbo tribe. You will find the Igbo indigene dominating the fields of farming, their most important crops being yams, cassava and taros, craftsmanship, trading, business and marketing.

What are some of Igbo traditions or customs?

Igbo people are also famous for their architecture, wood carving skills and their talent for drawing traditional ornaments called Uri or Uli. The latter is more often done by women who practice it on their own bodies before some festive events in their settlements.

What are Igbo customs and traditions in things fall apart?

In Things Fall Apart, which is set in Nigeria in the early 1900s, Chinua Achebe describes Igbo culture, which encompasses polytheistic religion, father-son inheritance, farming traditions, and belief in evil spirits.

What are 4 values of the Igbo culture?

Traditional Igbo culture emphasizes values such as community, family and respect for elders, life, and hospitality. But these cultural values come into strong confrontation with the western influence through globalization.

What are Igbo people best known for?

With a population of around 40 million throughout Nigeria, they are one of the biggest and most influential tribes. Igbos are well-known for their entrepreneurial endeavours, both within Nigeria and around the world.

What is Igbo customs to avoid war?

The religious values of the Igbo emphasize the shared benefits of peaceful, harmonious relations. The Igbo always consult the Oracle before declaring war, for they fear punishment from their gods should they declare war without just cause. Their religion also emphasizes the individual's obligation to the community.

How do you know a guy is Igbo?

An Igbo man is one who always perseveres in his struggle to make ends meet. He is extra resilient to retrogressive factors of life. No matter the ups and downs in his struggle to survival, an Igbo man believes that giving up is not the best, so the end determines the means. This is a reflection of Ikenga symbolism.

How do the Igbos greet?

In Igbo tradition there are no specific greetings for afternoon and evening - ndeewo or daalụ are the traditional Igbo greetings during the day. Mgbedeọma / ụtụtụọma / ehihieọma are a modern trend by some people who made literal translations of the English greetings good morning / good afternoon / good evening).

How are females treated in Igbo culture?

Igbo society is a patriarchal society; men are the heads of families. Family inheritance is shared among the male children of the family. The female children are excluded because when a female child is married out of the family, her position shifts from her father's family to that of her husband's family.

What is Igbo traditional attire?

Modern Igbo traditional attire is generally made up, for men, of the Isiagu top which resembles the African Dashiki. Isiagu (or Ishi agu) is usually patterned with lions heads embroidered over the clothing, It can also be plain, (usually black).

What is Igbo slang?

the full meaning of IGBO is I GO BEFORE OTHERS.

What are the traditions in Umuofia?

The Umuofia follow a traditional ritual to determine a bride-price; the bride's family presents the groom's family with a sum (represented by broomsticks) and the other party adds or subtracts sticks as they see fit. They exchange the bundle of broomsticks several times, until the two groups finally agree.

What role does tradition play in Things Fall Apart?

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart details the traditions of the Igbo culture and Umuofia clan. Traditions are customs or beliefs that are passed down through generations. In the novel, these traditions connect the present-day clan to the roots of their culture, language, and history.

How did Igbo traditions help maintain order and peace in their communities?

SPIRITUAL GUIDE AND A PERSON IN THE IGBO SOCIETY The notion of spiritual guide in the traditional Igbo society comprises of the institutions traditionally set up by the people themselves. This allows for the maintenance of law and order in the society.

Is the Igbo culture in Things Fall Apart a civilized society?

In Things Fall Apart, the Igbo society is civilized because it established a justice/ government system as well as gender roles/ relationships. The Igbo community is developed because they have fair ideology practice.

What is the Igbo culture?

Igbo Culture & Traditions: Art. Igbo art (Igbo: Ǹkà Igbo), is visual art originating from the Igbo people.

What are the Igbo's artifacts?

The Igbo produce a wide variety of art including traditional figures, masks, artifacts and textiles, plus works in metals such as bronze. Artworks form the Igbo have been found from as early as 9th century with the bronze artifacts found at Igbo Ukwu. Igbo Culture & Traditions: Daily Life.

What is the history of the Igbo people?

Igbo Culture & Traditions: Historical Background of Ndigbo. History and archaeological evidence discovered in Igboland which includes pottery, metal wares and prehistoric artefacts from Davidic times suggests that the Igbo people lineage can be traced back to the patriarchal Eri the fifth son of Gad; son of Jacob.

What is the Igbo god called?

The ancient Igbo religion and traditions are known as Odinani. In Igbo mythology, which is part of their ancient religion, the supreme God is called Chukwu (“great spirit”); Chukwu created the world and everything in it and is associated with all things on Earth. Chukwu is a solar deity.

What do Ibos believe?

The Ibos also believe in reincarnation. And since the Ibos believe that everything in life is controlled by higher powers, there are also diviners in a village that attempt to predict the future. Each village has priests and priestesses who help in all spiritual matters, conducting ceremonies and rituals.

Where is Igboland located?

Present Igboland covers the geographical map of south eastern states of Nigeria namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. Settlement of Igbo communities could also be found in Rivers 60%, Delta 50%; and traces of Igbo language speakers in Akwa Ibom, Byaelsa, Benue and Cross Rivers States

How many Africans were shipped across the Atlantic?

Current estimates are that about 12 million Africans were shipped across the Atlantic, by the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Spanish, the Dutch Empire, and the United States. The sequel British colonialism of various African Kingdoms negated the amalgamation of the Igbo kingdom of Nri in the modern day Nigeria in 1914.

What are the traditions of the Igbo people?

These customs and traditions include the Igbo people's visual art, music and dance forms, as well as their attire, cuisine and language dialects.

How do Igbo work?

After the time spent with the family, the head of the host household, who is usually the older man who brought the apprentice into his household, will establish ( Igbo: idu) the apprentice by either setting up a business for him or giving money or tools by which to make a living.

What is the Igbo religion?

While today many Igbo people are Christian, the traditional ancient Igbo religion is known as Odinani. In the Igbo mythology, which is part of their ancient religion, the supreme God is called Chineke ("the God of creation"); Chineke created the world and everything in it and is associated with all things on Earth. To the ancient Igbo, the Cosmo is divided into four complex parts: 1 Okike (Creation) 2 Alusi (Supernatural Forces or Deities) 3 Mmuo (Spirit) 4 Uwa (World)

How many days are in a week in Igbo?

In the traditional Igbo calendar, a week ( Igbo: Izu) has 4 days ( Igbo: Ubochi) ( Eke, Orie, Afọ, Nkwọ ), seven weeks make one month ( Igbo: Ọnwa ), a month has 28 days and there are 13 months in a year. In the last month, an extra day is added. The names of the days have their roots in the mythology of the Kingdom of Nri. It was believed that Eri, the sky-born founder of the Nri kingdom, had gone on a journey to discover the mystery of time. On his journey he had saluted and counted the four days by the names of the spirits that governed them, and so the names of the spirits ( eke, orie, afọ and Nkwo) became the days of the week.

What is the Igbo altar?

Igbo ceramic altar for the new yam festival. Complex wooden carving depicting images of power and daily life, such as horsemen, imported goods, military insignia, Europeans, rifles, wild beasts and masqueraders. Alusi, also known as Arusi or Arushi, are minor deities that are worshiped and served in Igbo mythology.

What type of music did the Igbo people play?

The Igbo peoples have a melodic and symphonic musical style, which they designed from forged iron. Other instruments include opiotherwise known as Oja[5]a wind instrument similar to the flute, igba, and ichaka. [6]

How did Igbo women carry their babies?

Women carried their babies on their backs with a strip of clothing binding the two with a knot at her chest. This baby carrying technique was and still is practiced by many people groups across Africa, including the Igbo. This method has been modernized in the form of the child carrier. In most cases Igbo women did not cover their chest areas. Maidens usually wore a short wrapper with beads around their waist with other ornaments such as necklaces and beads. Both men and women wore wrappers.

What are the main crops of the Igbo people?

The other crops they grow include corn (maize), melons, okra, pumpkins, and beans. Among those still engaged in agriculture, men are chiefly responsible for yam cultivation, women for other crops.

What are the main exports of Igbo?

The principal exports are palm oil and palm kernels. Trading, local crafts, and wage labour also are important in the Igbo economy, and a high literacy rate has helped many Igbo to become civil servants and business entrepreneurs in the decades after Nigeria gained independence.

What is the Igbo religion?

Traditional Igbo religion includes belief in a creator god (Chukwu or Chineke), an earth goddess (Ala), and numerous other deities and spirits as well as a belief in ancestors who protect their living descendants. Revelation of the will of the deities is sought by divination and oracles.

What are the main cultural divisions of the Igbo?

The Igbo may be grouped into the following main cultural divisions: northern, southern, western, eastern or Cross River, and northeastern. Before European colonization, the Igbo were not united as a single people but lived in autonomous local communities.

Where do Igbo women live?

Traditionally they have lived in small and often isolated... Except for the northeastern groups, the Igbo live in rainforest country.

What are the Igbo traditions?

When speaking of Igbo traditions, we refer to their practices in arts, dance, food, marriage and death rituals, government, laws, language and fashion. These traditions modify the school of thought of its people, factored with western influence to form a unique group. The modern day eastern tribe is predominantly Christian religious wise, ...

What are the Igbo people?

The Igbo people are unique in their own way, though they have similar traditions to fellow Nigerian and African tribes however, there are many other traditions the general public do not know or understand.

What are the most important crops of the Igbo people?

You will find the Igbo indigene dominating the fields of farming, their most important crops being yams, cassava and taros, craftsmanship, trading , business and marketing. They are highly industrialized and urbanized in some modern cities and towns namely, Onitsha, Awka, Aba, Lagos, Agbor, Abakaliki, Umuahia, Asaba, Owerri, Enugu, Nsukka and more. The Igbo people are unique in their own way, though they have similar traditions to fellow Nigerian and African tribes however, there are many other traditions the general public do not know or understand.

What is an elder in Igbo?

The elders are authorities in Igbo land. Like law makers, being an elder is a noble thing in society. They help in the governing of the community. Certain offenses may not be committed against and elder. For example, causing an elder to fall is a taboo, and the offender must kill a goat for ritual or he may never grow to the present age of the aged one.

What are the most popular festivals in Igbo?

The Igbos are known to celebrate numerous festivals. Most popular are the new yam festival and the week of peace.

Where is the Igbo culture?

Igbo tradition is evident in their norms, dressing on certain occasions, festivals, and historical facts. The Igbo land rests on the lower Niger river, with its language divided into numerous dialects unique to subgroups within the Igbo tribe.

Where are the Igbo from?

Igbo Traditions. The Igbo tribe a beautiful ethnic group native to South Central and South Eastern Nigeria. Natively called Ṇ́dị́ Ìgbò, the Igbo tribe is one of the largest in Africa. The great concept that is the Igbo culture and history, is dynamic, as years go by they evolve and change. Igbo tradition is evident in their norms, dressing on ...

What are the three most important family events in Igboland?

Traditional Family Ceremonies. Birth, marriage and burial are considered the three most important family events in most cultures, and Igboland is not an exception to that. It is common to get invited to a traditional marriage (Igbankwu) and certainly worth witnessing one. Marriage in Igboland is not just an affair between ...

What is marriage in Igboland?

Marriage in Igboland is not just an affair between the future husband and wife but also involves the parents, the extended family and villages. First the groom asks his potential partner to marry him. Assuming that this is affirmative, the groom will visit the bride’s residence accompanied by his father.

What is the Igbo culture?

Many different aspects of Igbo culture, which is an ancient African culture that encompasses polytheistic religion, father-son inheritance, farming traditions, and belief in evil spirits, are described in Things Fall Apart. This includes polytheistic, or worshiping many different gods and goddesses that oversee every aspect of life, ...

Why is family tradition important in Igbo society?

In fact, understanding father-son inheritance traditions in Igbo society helps the reader understand several major events. The son is supposed to help his father on the farm, and eventually the father is supposed to give the son a start on his own farm by giving him starter seeds for yams and a barn to store them in. Knowing this, we can better understand Okonkwo's character.

Why did Okonkwo start his own farm?

There was no barn to inherit.' Because his father was broke, Okonkwo had to start his own farm from scratch by begging prominent village members for yam seeds, which he paid back after harvesting. In addition, the fact that Okonkwo had to work harder than anyone else to start off with helps us understand his fierce pride in his farm, and his desire to have his son continue the Igbo father-son tradition.

What does it mean to take evil children to the forest?

By taking them to the forest, they trap the evil spirits in the forest and prevent them from haunting the village. This includes twins, 'evil' children who return to haunt their mothers, and people who die of 'the swelling.'. We see an example of 'evil children' with Ekwefi.

Is Igbo tradition an act of kindness?

It is not an act of kindness. In Igbo tradition, this is a place of evil, and they expect that the evil of the forest will send the Christians away faster than anything else could. So we see that Igbo traditions are described not only to characterize the society, but also to shed light on different events in the novel.

What is the Igbo dowry?

The Dowry / Bride Price Payment ( Ime Ego) – The dowry is a presentation of the customary list of gifts by the groom to the bride’s family, to ask for her hand in marriage.

How far apart should Igbo be engaged?

The Igbo traditional engagement ceremony is in stages, but they can be done a few days apart – it all depends on when you (the groom) get the engagement gifts ready. If you’re on a low budget, and your future wife understands, you can skip one of the stages – read on to find out which one that is.

Is marriage a communal thing in Igboland?

Marriage is a communal thing in Igboland, like everywhere else in Nigeria, so you (the groom) are expected to ask her clan for her hand in marriage in accordance with the Igbo custom and tradition.

Is dowry accepted in Igbo culture?

It is only accepted if the family accepts the groom/ finds him worth y to marry their daughter. The dowry is not an exchange or money to buy the women but has a significance in Igbo culture. Dowry is also practiced in many parts of the World, even during Biblical times.

What is the Igbo language?

The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. The Igbo language is a part of the Niger-Congo language family. It is divided into numerous regional dialects and somewhat mutually intelligible with the larger " Igboid " cluster.

Where are Igbos from?

The Igbo people ( English: / ˈiːboʊ / EE-boh, also US: / ˈɪɡboʊ /; also spelled Ibo and formerly also Iboe, Ebo, Eboe, Eboans, Heebo; natively Ṇ́dị́ Ìgbò In Nigeria, Igbos are indigenous to various states. Igbos are majorly found in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States. A good population of Igbos are found in Delta and Rivers States while Igbos are a minority in Akwa ibom, Benue, Cross River, Edo and Kogi states. Large ethnic Igbo populations are found in Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, as well as outside Africa. There has been much speculation about the origins of the Igbo people, as it is unknown how exactly the group came to form. Geographically, the Igbo homeland is divided into two unequal sections by the Niger River – an eastern (which is the larger of the two) and a western section. The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.

Why did Igbo people change their names?

For instance, the town of Igbuzo was anglicized to Ibusa. Because of discrimination, many Igbo had trouble finding employment, and during the early 1970s, the Igbo became one of the poorest ethnic groups in Nigeria.

What is the creation myth of Igbo?

The Nri people of Igbo land have a creation myth which is one of the many creation myths that exist in various parts of Igbo land. The Nri and Aguleri people are in the territory of the Umueri clan who trace their lineages back to the patriarchal king-figure Eri. Eri's origins are unclear, though he has been described as a "sky being" sent by Chukwu (God). He has been characterized as having first given societal order to the people of Anambra. The historian Elizabeth Allo Isichei says "Nri and Aguleri and part of the Umueri clan, [are] a cluster of Igbo village groups which traces its origins to a sky being called Eri."

Why is the Igbo language so difficult to learn?

Igbo language is difficult because of the huge number of dialects, its richness in prefixes and suffixes and its heavy intonation.

Why did the Igbo people convert to Christianity?

The Igbo people were hesitant to convert to Christianity initially because they believed the gods of their native religion would bring disaster to them. However, Christianity gradually gained converts in Igbo land, mainly through the work of church agents. These men built schools and focused on persuading the youth to adopt Christian values. The Igbo people today are known as the ethnic group that has adopted Christianity the most in all of Africa.

How did colonial rule affect Igbo culture?

Colonial rule brought about changes in culture , such as the introduction of warrant chiefs as Eze (indigenous rulers) where there were no such monarchies. Christian missionaries introduced aspects of European ideology into Igbo society and culture, sometimes shunning parts of the culture. The rumours that the Igbo women were being assessed for taxation sparked off the 1929 Igbo Women's War in Aba (also known as the 1929 Aba Riots), a massive revolt of women never encountered before in Igbo history.

How many steps are there in Igbo marriage?

SEVEN STEPS OF IGBO WEDDING. S even steps of Igbo wedding are the required traditional process steps that couples complete to be considered married in Igbo land before their religious/church wedding can take place. Even if engaged couples get married civilly at a courthouse; they are still required to complete these steps in Igbo culture.

What is the ceremony called when the bride carries the wine from her father?

In Igbo culture, the traditional wedding is called Igba Nkwu (The Wine Carrying Ceremony) and it’s an important part of the wedding process when the bride carries the wine from her father to look for her groom.

Overview

Igbo Culture ( Igbo: Ọmenala ndị Igbo) are the customs, practices and traditions of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It consists of ancient practices as well as new concepts added into the Igbo culture either by cultural evolution or by outside influence. These customs and traditions include the Igbo people's visual art, 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.

Music

Art

Mythology

Yam

Traditional attire

Chieftaincy Title

Apprenticeship