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Igbos are quite hospitable. Visitors are greeted with Kola-nut, a gesture that is uniquely Igbo and reserved exclusively for men. Women are not formally expected to present kola to visitors. The elder or husband usually presents the kola nut to visitors, and prays to God and the ancestors for blessing. The ancestors, as a matter of tradition, are invited to share in the eating of the nuts. Igbos believe that whoever brings kola-nut brings life.
Igbo men have to pay a bride price or dowry to have a wife. This is a prescriptive process to reward both the parents and kinsmen for the loss of a daughter. Marriage in Igboland, often arranged but not exclusively so, is almost a cultural obligation to those who have reached of age. It follows strong, traditionally prescriptive process that sees the man and woman’s lineage and background investigated for compatibility. Marriage as a social obligation fosters family and tribal continuity through procreation. Having a son seals the marriage as the hope of continuing the family is assured. Marriages used to be exclusively traditional, but today with the incursion of western idiosyncrasies, marriages are today carried out in both civil courts and churches. The need for a traditional marriage, for many Igbo men, is a matter of significance and sometime that has to be done to make a marriage complete. There is also increasing concern that because a man has to pay dowry to marry, it has put women in a position of subservience and essentially objectifies married women.
The Igbos observe a number of rites of passage, all of which I will not delve into here because of time constrain. Iwa akwa or Ima akwa (wearing clothes) is one of the significant rites of passages that parachutes young Igbo boys and girls into adulthood. This is epochal because an Igbo child, growing up, is typically considered naked until a certain age (generally between 12-18years) when he or she is deemed to merit this social transformation into adulthood. Another rite of passage is female circumcision and male circumcision. While male circumcision is generally acceptable (typically 8 days post birth) due to its Biblical relevance, which is generally a part of Jewish tradition; female circumcision is deemed abhorrent and though still practiced in parts of Igboland, is a violation of the Human Rights of the girl child. Many countries and the United Nations have banned female circumcision or female genital mutilation. It has Islamic roots (Sunna) and claimed to help cleanse a girl and make her less promiscuous on attaining adulthood. This claim of sexual restrain has not been scientifically substantiated and the mutilation of girls after few days of birth or pre-teen to remove her labia (minora and majora) by crude butchery is an affront on humanity, and a part of Igbo culture that has garnered support for legislation. Female genital mutilation results in emotional as well as physical scar that intrinsically hinders the girl child from achieving her greatest human potentials.
As the culture has evolved and metamorphosed, many Igbos are speedily loosing their heritage. Many have traveled overseas as economic migrants and had children abroad who understand little or nothing about their roots. The Igbos are known to be the least of all Nigerian tribes to speak their native tongue to their children born overseas. The ones still in Nigeria have migrated en mass to major cities as traders and civil servants. Some of the custodians of the culture, the Eze’s and Igwes are handing the reverenced chieftains titles to dupes and criminals that have amassed wealth through dubious means. With rapid westernization of Igbo culture, there is doubt that though there may still be a lot of people born into the Igbo tribe, in half a century, there may not be much left to be considered uniquely Igbo culture.
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Writer Profile
Pedus
I was born in Nigeria and was educated in Nigeria, USA and Australia. I am the founder and president of Christina-Mae Recruitment Consortium Australia and the author of the book "When Things Go Wrong: Concepts of Change". I am also the co-founder of Child Aid Survival and Development International (CASDI). As a freelance journalist, I have contributed to a number of professional journals and newspapers, as well as worked in a number of e-journalism projects. I have traveled extensively and currently call Australia and the USA home with extensive involvement in African Human Rights issues.
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Comments
circumcision Malek Qtaish | May 30th, 2007
I Just red about female circumcision in u article Its true some muslims do that but it hasnt to do with the sunna muslim school . or at least I think so propobly an other school . sunnis actually focus on things the prophet mohammed said peace on hem and I dont think female circumcision is some thing he mentiond .
umeche, chinedum ikenna | Jun 4th, 2007
wonderful piece
umeche chinedum
Ndewo! Henry Ekwuruke | Jun 15th, 2007
I appreciate ur insight in helping us understand more. I appreciate! Thanks bro. Ndewo.
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