Igbo people and culture
Where the Igbos migrated from
has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt. The ancestry of the Igbos has
bothered many people for a long time. Many historians, philosophers,
sociologists, archaeologists and anthropologists have raised a lot of dust on
this issue.
Igbo culture (Igbo: Omenala ndi Igbo) are
the customs, practices and traditions of the Igbo
people of southeastern Nigeria.
ART
Igbo Art is known for
various types of masquerade, masks and outfits symbolising
people animals or abstract conceptions.
Alusi, also known as Arusi or Arushi, are
minor deities that are worshiped and served in Igbo mythology.
YAM
The yam is
very important to the Igbo as it is their staple crop. There are
celebrations such as the New yam festival (Igbo: Iwaji) which are
held for the harvesting of the yam.
TRADITIONAL ATTIRE
Traditionally, the
attire of the Igbo generally consisted of little clothing as the purpose of
clothing then was to conceal private parts, although elders were fully clothed.
v Kola-Nut -- Symbol of Hospitality
At any village
function, the titled man or a village head is presented with kola-nuts, which
play a very important social and ritual role in the Igbo culture.
Igbo Marriages
Marriage in Igbo land
is an arrangement which enables individuals (man/woman) to live together and
cooperate in an orderly social life. A marriage in Igbo land or any African
country goes beyond sexual union.
IGBO BASICS RECIPEE
(ABACHA/JIPKU/NSISA/ACHI)
or BIAFRAN SALAD
- The ingredients consisted of four wrappings of slightly fermented oil beans locally called "Ugba" or Ukpaka.
- A cigarette cup of fresh local salad fruit known as anara seeds
- About two small bundles of local salad leaves "leaves of solanium family
- Two cigarette cups of sliced and dehydrated cassava locally known as achi or abacha, or jikpu or nsisa, a pinch of potash
- Four table-spoons of palm oil, salt to test, three table spoons full of water
- Half a cigarette cup of dehydrated and powdered shrimp or lobsters, and a teaspoon of powdered pepper
- Wash the local salad fruits and leaves thoroughly in luke-warm water containing a pitch of salt or few drops of milton, drain in a colander also wash the sliced dehydrated cassava achi and leaf in a colander to drain a get soft, slice the drained fruits and leaves to reasonable sizes, roast the oil bean wrappings in open fire for about five minutes, grind the pepper and potash to be mortar done, add desired level of water and oil to the mortar powdered products while stirring vigorously with the addition so as to produce a nice, smooth mixture of orange color stuff called ncha add salt to taste. Put the sliced cassava, sliced local salad leaves and fruits, roasted oil beans, and powdered shrimps to the ncha, mix thoroughly to get the finger licking, saliva-watering, anti-kwashiokor Biafran salad.
IGBO TRADITIONAL
CEREMONY AND CULTURE
Birth, marriage and burial are considered the three most important
family events in most cultures, and Igboland is not an exception to that.
Naming after market days
Newborn babies were
sometimes named after the day of the week when born. This is no longer the
fashion. Names such as Mgbeke (maiden [born] on the day
of Eke), Mgborie (maiden [born] on the Orie day) are commonly seen among the
Igbo people. For males, Mgbe is replaced by Nwa or
"Okoro" (Igbo: Child [of]). Examples of this are Solomon
Okoronkwo and Nwankwo Kanu, two popular footballers.
IGBO MASKS AND MASQURADES
There are two basic
types of masquerades, visible and invisible. The visible masquerades are
meant for the public. They often are more entertaining. Masks used offer a
visually appeal for their shapes and forms.
RELATIONSHIPS
Two
criteria shape interpersonal relations: age and gender.
Respect is given to males, and to older persons. Children are always required
to offer the first greeting to their elders.
Social
status is based on wealth, regardless of occupation. The Igbo distinguish
between obgenye or mbi (the poor), dinkpa (the moderately
prosperous), and nnukwu madu or ogaranya (the rich).
