The Igbo was sedentary agricultural communities
The Igbo dwelled in small independent villages linked to one another by trade but not politics. Living in sedentary agricultural communities, they relied from year to year on the success of their harvest. Yam was main staple crop of the Igbo diet.
The Igbo believed in a hierarchy of gods ranging
From Chukwu, the all-powerful
to the chi an individual’s personal god
when a man says yes, Chi says yes also. In other words, a man’s wish and chi work together.
to the chi an individual’s personal god
when a man says yes, Chi says yes also. In other words, a man’s wish and chi work together.
The Igbo believed in the importance of their ancestors.
Their Political organization was based on their ancestry within the independent villages.
The smallest unit, the nuclear family was under the rule of the husband.
Igbo lifestyle is highly stylized, from its ritual speech to the actions performed for certain ceremonies. Most of these formalized interactions occur in an attempt to show respect to some external being – another man, an ancestral spirit, or a god. Respect and knowledge of one’s role in society is very important in determining such customs. Another institution that rituals address and honor is the family unit. Stylized language, in particular, seeks to hold the family together by means of promises.
Reputation is extremely important.
Personal reputation is publicly denoted by the ankle bracelets men wear, which signify the number of “titles” they have earned. Reputation is based on merit – men gain reputation through bravery in battle, skill at wrestling, and hard work as seen through the size of their yam harvest. Reputation earns men positions of power and influence in the community as well as numerous wives.
